The Irish standard., 1911-01-07

thor Of the Ecclesiastical History OF
Ireland" was born near the historic
Rock of Cashel, in 1858. At the age
of sixteen he sailed for Rome, and
his career at the Irish College was
so remarkable for ability that he at
tracted the notice of many eminent
men, among them the learned Tam
burini of Pavia, by whose influence
he was appointed Professor of He
brew, Ecclesiastical History, and
Divinity in Pavia. The fame of his
lectures caused Joseph H., Emperor
of Germany, with other potentates and
Princes, to attend the classes of the
Irish boy professor" He was soon
regarded as the most eminent of all
the professors, and Tamburini was
accustomed to designate him the pill
lar and brightest ornament of the es-
tablishment.
While thus engaged Lanigan pub
lished his Prolegomena to the Holy
Scriptures. 1t Immediately took its
place in literature as the class-book
for the study of the Scriptures in
most of the colleges and Universities
of England. In 1894 his learning and
exemplary life received due recogni
ton in the degree of Doctor in Divin-
ity. He obtained his degree in good
time, for two years later the Univer-
sity ceased to exist. In the war Of
1896 the professors of the univer-
sity were scattered in all directions.
and DR.. Lanigan arrived safely In his
native land, short time before St.
Patr1ek's College,. Maynooth. was
opened, and he was offered the Chair
of Sacred Scriptures and Hebrew,
then vacant, but under conditions
which he declined.
He was now in Dublin, almost in
penury, when fortunately Gen. Val
lancy, with whom DIR. Lanigan had be-
como acquainted in Italy, came to his
rescue. The General was Vice Presi-
dent OF the Royal Dublin Society, and
through his influence DR.. Lanigan was
employed in that institution at the
salary Of a guinea and a half per
week. His duties seem to have been
multfarious-to act as librarian,
translating from German and French,
correcting proofs, making catalogues.
His services were also rewarded with
occasional grants, and his great learn
ing and social qualities seem to have
been appreciated by the citizens Of
Dublin. With the comprehensive
spirit of an enlightened mind he
shared his friendship with those who
did not share his creed, and several
clergymen of the Church OF England
were most intimate with him.
effort made in his time for the pro-
motion of Irish literature, and espe-
cially in the Gaelic Society of Dublin,
founded in 1908. The object of this
society was the development of the
history, literary and ecclesiastical, of
ireland. Among those that shared IN
DR.. Lanigan's labor in this direction
were Rev. Paul O'Brien, Gaelic Pro-
lessor at Maynooth; Theophi!us
O'Flanagan, of Trinity College: and
William Halliday, whose premature
death, at the age OF twenty-four, is
Justly lamented in the epitaph LAM
gan composed for his tomb. Lanigan
thus refers to this early genius: "He
anticipated the progress of years in
TIE maturity of understanding, the
acquisition Of knowledge, and tAe sue.
cessful cultivation Of a mind gifted by
Providence with endowments of the
highest order" Another member OF
The Gaelic Society whose name ought
to be held In grateful remembrance
was Edward OReilly, whose Irish Die.
tionary is valuable work
While discharging routine official
duties In the house of the Dublin So
ciety, DR.. Lanigan's thoughts and
pen were seldom idle. He prepared
for publication the first edition of the
Roman Breviary ever published in
ireland, with Latin preface worthy
Of the days of Augusta. He also
wrote some controversial works, un.
der the signature OF "Irenacus," which
were published In 1909. They show
him to have united profound &C
quaintance with the theological lit
erature Of the Catholic Church, with
knowledge of the most eminent
writer's OF the Anglican, such as Burn
EFT, Chillingworth, Danberry. Firing
ton, Forbes. Magee, Parr, Tillotson
and Usher. He occasionally wrote an
article on politics; and in the Irish
Magazine" of May, 1911. letter ii
printed, signed "1renacus," "On the
Imbecility and Break-in-up of the
Present Ministry"