The sun., 1918-07-08
DR.. SEARLE, AUTHOR
AND PRELATE, DIES
Former Head Of Paulists Had
Won Fame as Educator
and Astronomer.
CHANGED FAITH THRICE
HOnored by Universities and
Prominent Figure in
Catholic Church.

The Rev. George Mary Searle, C. S.
r., author. astronomer. former Superior
General OF the Paulist order and one Of
its most distinguished members, died
early yesterday at the Pnulist Fathers
House. 415 West Fifty-ninth street. He
was 70 years old
Eight months ago when on visit
to Washington DIR. Searle suffered a
stroke OF paralysis. About the middle
Of June. feeling that he had sufficiently
recovered. he returned to New York and
few days later was stricken with
angina pectoris, which resulted in his
death.
In the Paulist church in West Fifty
ninth street mathis and lauds will be
sung Tuesday. Solemn requiem mass
will be offered Wednesday at IL a. NJ,
the celebrant being the Very Rev. John
J. Hughes, present Superior General Of
the Paulists. The funeral sermon will
be preached by the Rev. Thomas +.
Burke. c. $. p, of Chicago. The body
will be buried Wednesday afternoon In
the church vaults
For many years Or. Searle. who had
an unusual religious career being sue
cessively member OF the Church of
England. the Unitarian Church. the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Amer
lea and the Catholic Church. was recog-
nized as one of the ablest theologians
among the Catholic clergy, as we'll as
one of the most brilliant astronomers in
the country.
Declined Offer From Rome.
His writings explaining the Catholic
faith. including plain Facts for Fair
Minds and How to Become a Catho-
lic." had widespread circulation. while
his achievements in the astronomical
field attracted SO much attention that he
was asked to assume the dictatorship OF
the papal observatory at Rome. which
is under the immediate direction of the
vatican, an offer which he declined. pre-
ferring to remain in the United States.
Or. Searle was born in London on
June 27, 1889. during the temporary
residence OF his parents there, and was
baptized into the Church of England.
His parents returned to America a year
later. and both. of them died when the
son was years old. He was reared by
his elder brother and sister in the Uni
tartan faith. His family were descend
ants OF one Of the oldest New England
settlers. his earliest known ancestor
being Robert Searle. who lived in
Dorchester. Mass. in 1862. and who was
the first Lieutenant Governor, and after
ward Governor. Of Massachusetts Bay.
DR.. Searle was educated in Brookline
High School and Harvard University,
from which he was graduated in 1857 at
the age of Is years. From Harvard he
went to the Dudley Observatory at AL
bany. where on September II. 1853. he
discovered the asteroid Pandora. Har-
ward conferred upon him the degree of
A. NJ In 1850. and in 1896 the Catholic
University of Washington made him a
Phi. u.
In 1859 he returned to his early faith,
joining the Episcopal Church. The same
year he became a calculator for the
United States Coast Survey, a position
which he held until 1862. when he was
elected" assistant professor of mathe-
matics at the United States Naval Acad-
envy. then at Newport. where he re-
manned for two years
became "a Catholic In 1862.
1t was In 1862 that he again changed
his religious convictions and became a
Catholic. In 1866 he went to Europe,
where he studied theology for n year
Returning to America In 1866 he be-
came assistant In the Cambridge obser-
vatory. resigning this position at the
end OF two years TO study with the
Paulist Fathers. He was ordained a
priest March 25. 1871. His first work
with the order was as professor of
theology in the Pauist Scholasticate.
which was maintained by the fathers in
West Fifty-ninth street until II was
merged with the Catholic University
when the latter was Incorporated in
Washington in 1883. Father Searle was
made professor of Municipalities in the
university and established its astronom-
cal observatory.
After five years he returned to Paulst
headquarters and became first assistant
to the late Father Deshon. the Superior
General, In 1904 he was made Superior
General OF the order. retaining this Of
flee until 1910. Though during his later
years he confined himself largely to re-
ligious work, he never lost interest in
his scientific researches. He contributed
to the Astronomical Journal. wrote
treatise on geometry. patented a naval
range finder, used by the navy for a
long time, and invented various photo
graphic appliances,