How the Lord Chief Justice Died.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 25, 19 June 1902, Page 2

How the Lord Chief Justice Died.

Lord Russell of Killowen, the late Chief Justice'of,England, who belonged as is well known to a family which has given several gifted sons and daughteis to the Church, was himself a man of the most simple faith and deep and earnest piety. the biography recently published by Mr. Barry O'Brien many interesting examples are given of the fidelity and fervor with which he attended to his religious duties. On the occasion of his very last circuit — little more than a fortnight before his death — happening to have a free day while at Carnarvon, he went in the afternoon to see Carnarvon Castle and later on paid a visit to the Catholic priest of the district, which is thus described by the author of ' My New Curate' :—: — ' A few days ago,' wrote Father Sheehan to Father Russell, S.J., 'one of our priests was travelling in I, North Wales, and came across the footsteps of the Lord Chief Justice. In one case the old priest at Carnarvon ;'told,him with enthusiasm how Lord Russell, a few days before, had clambered up to his eyrie, had asked for Confession, and had left £2 for the mission. He was at Mass and Holy Communion next morning.' * The account of the closing scenes of Lord Russell's life, as given by Mr. O'Brien, is very touching and very characteristic of the whole-souled piety of the man. On the Sunday preceding his death he asked to see a priest, and on Monday made a general Confession to Rev. Father Tyrrell, of Farm street. After many medical consultations it was decided on the forenoon of Thursday that Mr. Treves, the famous surgeon, should perform an operation that evening. At half-past six Lord Russell requested the surgeon to prepare a diagram showing the nature of the operation. He looked over the diagram with Mr. Treves, asked many questions, tapped the paper with his glass, as was his wont, and sought all information that could be given to him. Afterwards he expressed a wish to receive Extreme Unction before the operation was performed, and Father Basevi, of the Oratory, came and administered the last rites of the Church. The Chief asked Lady Russell to help him to make the responses, saying he felt his voice very weak. But as a fact he answered clearly and distinctly, and when the priest told him to make an Act of Contrition he began at once to say aloud the old familiar prayer which he had learned at his mother's knee, "Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry that I have offended Thee, and I detest my sins most sincerely because they are displeasing to Thee." 'On Thursday evening the operation was successfully performed, and the patient seem d to have borne it well. Throughout the night the Chief reminied in a broken slumber, half sleeping, half waking. Towards imrning the patient grew a little more uneasy and restless; yet thire were no alarming symptoms. Then a change appeared in the face. The bludows had fallen suddenly, the night was quickly closing in. The end was near. It had come swiftly. And as the dawn broke, with his wife and children praying by his side, and on his lips the words, " My God, have mercy upon me," Chides Russell passed away, dying, as he had lived, full ot courage and full of hope.'