The Irish standard., 1920-01-31
A PROVOST OF TRINITY.
Only Once In Its Long History Has
Catholic Filled That Position.

The death, sometime ago, OF Mr..
Arthur w. Mahaffy, Administrator of
Dominica, and elder son Of the late
Rev. Sir John Pentland Mahaffy, Pro-
vost of Trinity College, Dublin, re-
calls the interesting fact that only
once during the three and a half cen.
turtles of the existence of Trinity Col
lege, Dublin, has Catholic been pro-
vost of that institution. 1t adds to the
interest of this not generally known
fact regarding Trinity's history that
it's only Catholic provost (Dr. Michael
Moore) was a native of Dublin and
a learned priest with Continental
reputation for sound scholarship. DR..
Michael Moore was born in Bridge
street, Dublin, in 164O. He began his
studies for the priesthood at Nantes
under the Fathers of the Oratory, and
completed his course with great dis
tinction at the University of Paris,
where he took his M. A. degree. He
was appointed professor of philosophy
and theology at the College De Gras.
sins, one of the ancient colleges of
the University of Paris. After hav-
ing held that post for 10 years he was
appointed professor of Latin. and
Greek and master Of students at the
Royal College de Navarro, the alma
mater of Henry Nv and Boussuet. He
held this post until he was recalled to
Ireland in 1859 by Richard Talbot,
lord lieutenant under James II, and
appointed provost of Trinity College,
a post which he held for two years.
He gave offense to King James II by
some expressions used by him in
sermon preached at Christ Church,
Dublin, at which the king was pres
ent at Mass Christ Church had then
been restored to Catholic worship),
and King James Immediately ordered
him to quit the kingdom. DR.. Moore
returned to Paris and on James re-
turn to France he (Dr. Moore) went
to Rome where he was held in the
greatest esteem by two Popes, limo.
cent XII and Clement XII. Cardinal
Barbarigo appointed DR.. Moore rec
tor of the seminary established by
him at Montefiascone. After the death
of James II he returned to Paris and
+; resumed his place at the university
there. Later on he was appointed rec
tor Of his alma mater. In the records
kept by the censor, Moore's election as
rector of the University Of Paris is
thus recorded:
ION October 10, 1901, the election
of rector took place. They elected as
rector the most wise and pious master
Michael Moore, dean Of the Most Con-
stant Nation, and the election was
hailed with the applause and the
greatest Joy by all.'
DR.. Moore was very kind and gener-
GUS to the many Irishmen who came
to Paris to prepare for the priesthood,
and was largely responsible for the
establishing and equipping Of the
Irish college there. It was to the Irish
college, Paris, he bequeathed his valu-
able library, and it was there, at his
own request, his remains were laid to
rest. He died in Paris August %,
1926, in his eighty-fourth year.
Harris, in his edition of Wares
works, gives a long list of DR.. Moore's
theological and philosophical works,
all written in Latin. There is short
sketch of DR.. Moore in Alfred Webb's
Compendium of Irish Biography
webb writes the name "Moor"), and
a most interesting and we'll written
sketch of his life and works in Vol.
V of "Archivium Hibernicum," from
the able pen Of the Rev. Patrick Boyle,
G. NJ, of the Irish College, Paris.
THOMAS ClANCY