The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-20
FATHER SEARLE IS DEAD
WAS NOTED CoNVERT-DIsTIN-
GUlSAED AS ASTRONOMER
PROFESSOR AT ANNAPOLIS AND
AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
WAS SUPERIOR GENERAL OF
PAULlST FATHERS.

The Rev. George NJ. Searle, one
time superior general of the Paulist
Fathers, died Sunday, July Z, at the
Paulist house in New York City.
The Rev George NJ. Searle, c. S. P,
was lineal descendant of Winthrop,
first governor of Massachusetts. He
was born in London, June, 1899, while
his parents were on visit to England.
He came to this country with his
parents a few months after his birth,
and up to the time of his conversion
resided in Brookline, Mass. His par
ents both died when he was very
young, and he and his brother Arthur,
now professor in Harvard University,
were reared by an aunt. She was a
Unitarian, and as far as young Searle
had any religious instruction it was in
that faith. HIS early education was re-
ceiVed in private schools until he en-
tered Harvard University at the age of
IA and graduated from there in the
class Of 1857.
After his graduation he devoted
himself to astronomical observation
work at Harvard and at the ObserVa-
tory in Albany, n. Y. While there he
became interested in religion through
Bible reading and became a communi-
cant of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. Afterwards, not fully salts
fed, he determined to examine the
claims Of the Catholic Church, and by
reading the Catechism Of the Council
Of Trent he was converted. After his
conversion he taught mathematics in
the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis for few years. He then
visited Rome for six months and de-
voted his time to the study of the
Catholic religion. Upon his return to
the United States he entered the order
Of Paulists and was ordained to the
priesthood in 1871. During the early
years of his priesthood Father Searle
taught moral theology and rubrics
and was further occupied with
| parochial work in the Paulist parish
of st. Paul's Church, New York. Fa-
! Their Searle never lost his interest in
! higher mathematics, especially astron-
Omy. After the opening Of the Catho-
lie University at Washington, D. c., he
! became professor of these branches in
that institution.
Under the three Superiors General,
! Fathers Hecker, Hewitt and Deshon,
! he was for many years cOnsultOr.
Upon the death of Father Deshon in
/
perior General, which Office he held
until 1909. Since that time he has
! lived in the Paulist houses at Berke-
! ley, Cal, San Francisco, Cal, and at
the Apostolic Mission House in Wash
ington, D. c. His funeral took place
sermon was preached by the Rev.
Thomas F. Burke, c. S. P, pastor of
St Mary's Church, Chicago.
AS scientist Father Searle had an
international reputation. His knowla
edge of astronomy was profound. He
not only knew the map of the heavens,
but calculated mathematically the rel
atiVe position of the whole celestial
sphere. He was frequent contributor
to the Astronomical Review, and was
familiar with the results of observa-
tons in every part of the world. When
noted astronomers published their
mathematical compilations there was
no surer proof of their accuracy than
the fact that they had been all gone
over and verified by Father Searle.