The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-13
BISHOP ENGLAND

Born in 17S6-ordained in 1903
consecrated Bishop of Charleston,
S. c., in 1924 Great Prelate, Writ
er and April
II, 1842.
Last Thursday, April IL, was the
SEVENTEEN anniversary of the death
of the Right Reverend John England,
d. D., first Bishop of Charleston, South
Carolina. He was one of the most
noted prelates of his day and in still
regarded as one of the greatest among
archy. In the early years of the last
century he did yeoman service in
the cause of religion and by his writ
ings and addresses helped to make
the Catholic Church known and re.
pected throughout the United States.
Bishop England was born in County
Cork, Ireland, on September 2S, 1856,
and after studying law under an emil
nent barrister, entered the College of
Carlow on August 81, 1903, to prepare
for the priesthood. He was ordained
in 1908 and in 1912 was president of
the College of st. Mary. On Sep
tember II, 1920, at st. Finbars Cathe-
dral, Cork, he was consecrated Bishop
of Charleston, S. c., a see just Gre
ated, embracing an area of 125,0O0
square miles, and containing about
1000 Catholics. Nothing daunted,
Bishop England's first work was to
acquire an extensive lot on which to
erect a temporary wooden church. He
found the Catholic body in America
defenseless. The secular press was in
the hands of persons so utterly en-
slaved by the delusions of that con-
spiracy against truth, the history and
literature of England for the last
three centuries, that writer's were
often unconscious of giving offence
while promulgating the most injur.
ious misstatements or senseless alb
surdities. He established The United
States Catholic Miscellany, and found
time amidst his immense and various
occupations to supply it's columns with
vast amount of original matter, al
ways resistless in reasoning, charming
by it's fervid eloquence, overwhelming
with it's accumulated erudition
''The Miscellany he said "is intended
to contain the simple explanation and
temperate maintenance Of the doc.
trines of the Roman Catholic Church,
in exhibiting which, it's conductors are
led to hope, that many sensible per-
sons will be astonished at finding that
they have imputed to Catholics doc
trines which the Catholic Church has
formally condemned, and imagined
that they were contradicting Catho-
lies when they did Catholic doctrine
themselves" Almost Immediately af-
ter his arrival at Charleston, he issued
a pastoral and set out on his first
visitation of the three States COM
prising his diocese. He went where
ever he heard there was Catholic,
organized the scattered focks, min.
istered to their spiritual needs, ap-
pointed persons to teach cathechism
and, wherever possible, urged the
building of church. In 1926 he de-
livered by invitation an eloquent dis
course before the Congress of the
United States. 1t was the first time
that Catholic priest was asked to
perform that function. In 1922 he
organized and incorporated a Book
Society to be established in each con.
gregation. After "The Strangers
Fever" numbers of orphans were left
and the State erected an asylum for
these, but as this fell under sectarian
control the Bishop founded a school
in Charleston, where Catholic, Prot
estant or Jew could receive an edu
cation. He introduced the best teach
ers from Europe, and the school
fourished for seven years. He was
deeply interested in the care of friend
less slaves. To reach the wealthy
classes he brought Ursulines from
Black Rock, near Cork. In 1841 he
visited Europe for the fourth time in
the interest of his poor diocese, and
paid his respects to the Holy Father
In the autumn he bid adieu to his
sister, the superioress of the Pres
entation Convent in Cork, and his
brother, Rev. Thomas England. Wher
he landed in.Philadelphia he was sicl
unto death. Still he delivered lee
! lures and preached seventeen night:
, in succession with his usual force ant
| brilliancy. Next he preached five
! sermons in Baltimore. He arrived
i home in firno for fhn rbr;c+~,ac oalo
J bration. He died on April IL, 1912
A new edition Of .The Works o.
} Bishop England" in seven volume,
i edited by Archbishop Messmer of Mil
Waukee. was published few year,
-iago.