Death of Archdeacon Slattery, Geelong

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 9 July 1903, Page 6

Death of Archdeacon Slattery, Geelong

Many of our readers on the West Coast and qther parts of the Colony, who spent some years on the gold fields of Victoria, will hear with keen regret of the death of the Yen. Archdeacon Slattery, D.D., who passed away suddenly at St. Mary's presbytery, Geelong, on Sunday, June 21. An old friend, Mr. Charlton, was reading to the venerable priest when he suddenly fell into a swoon and expired before medical assistance arrived. The death of the Yen. Archdeacon Slattery (says the ' Geelong Adveitiser ') leinoves a notable figure and famous controversialist from the Catholic Church in Victoria. Some vear.s ago there was no more prominent clergyman in Catholic circles in Victoria, and his denunciatory sermons on the Education Bill for secular education in the State school, and his more recent controversy with Bishop Moorhouse, then Bishop of Melbourne, on the question of prayers for rain, made him famous throughout Australia. The deceased celebrated his 73rd birthday last St. Patrick's Day (March 17th). He was born in Nenagh, Tipperary, and had a brilliant course at Maynooth College, where he was ordained as a priest. For some time he was stationed in the Cashel diocese in Tipperary, and afterwards went to England, where he was attached to the Catholic mission in London. Later he became chaplain to the Catholic forces at Aldershot. The number of priests in Victoria at that time was too small for requirements, and deceased, with other clergymen, responded to the appeal of Bishop Goold, the then Catholic Bishop of Melbourne, and come out to Victoria. For a part of a year he was stationed at St. Francis', ami was then appointed to the Daylcsford mission, where he was a zealous worker for nine years. The last 32 years of his life he spent at Geelong, and he loved the town and people with all the fervor of a warm Celtic heart. There were many turbulent spirits in Daylesford when the deceased entered upon his labors there, and frequently he had to play the part of a peacemaker — a work attended with considerable difficulty amongst foreigners. In his young days he was possessed of great strength, and was a fearless horseman. Physical infirmities have since left their impress only too plainly, and the attenuated figure of the deceased clergyman now calmly resting in death can hardly bring to mind the deceased as he was in all the vigor of his young manhood and great strength.

A Brilliant Theologian, a great public speaker and thinker, and, above all, an Irishman — the Archdeacon was a decided acquisition to the Catholic Church in Victoria, and it was not long before his many varied scholarly attainments marked him. out for distinction. Perhaps he will be best remembered for his scathing criticism of the Education Bill, introduced by Wilberforce Stephen, the then Minister of Education. He denounced the Bill in no unmeasured terms, and it was during this time that he used the phrase ' Free and flashing sword,' which will keep his memory ever green. Owing to advancing years, Bishop Goold did not possess the vitality to actively engage in controversial matters, and Archdeacon Slattery practically became the mouthpiece of his Church in Victoria. He was a fluent speaker and wielded a facile pen, and proved an able controversialist. He repiesented Archbishop Goold at the first Plenary Council in Sydney in 1885. Soon after Archbishop Carr armed in Melbourne he made Archdeacon Slattery Vicar-General of the avchdiocese. About three years ago bodily infirmities compelled him to retire from the active discharge of his sacred duties, and the Yen. Archpriest McKenna was appointed to the position. The deceased clergyman was

A Generous Benefactor to the Poor, and no deserving case brought before him was allowed to pass unnoticed. The extent to which he drew on his purse to help others will never be known, as he made it a rule to do, acts of charity unostentatio/usly. At one time he donated £500 each to the funds of St. Vincent's Hospital and the Little Sisters of the Poor, and he gave £500 to the Cathedral Building Fund. He could not hold money, and he has died leaving behind him very little indeed of this world's goods. The children were the object of his special care, and the late Archdeacon saw to it that the Catholic schools wanted nothing to render them thoroughly efhcient. To a heart so large and generous the interests of the orphan were necessarily of much concern. The locat orphanages for boys and girls were regularly visited, and nothing was left undone to render the lot of the fatherless as happy as circumstances allowed. The godless education system of Victoria found in the venerable priest an unrelenting opponent, and the claims of the Catholic body to a fair quota of the educational grant were set forth with a master hand in the columns of the ' Advocate and of the Melbourne and Geelong daily papers. On taking charge of the Geelong mission the archdiocese found t>t. Mary's Church in an unfinished state, and he set to work to raise funds to complete it. He expended £7500 on the church, the cost of which to date is about £22,000. The Obsequies. The body was removed to St. Mary's, where it remained 'until Tuesday. Some 2000 people visited the church as a last tribute of respect to one whom in me they so loved and revered. Solemn Office and Requiem Mass were celebrated in St. Mary's on Tuesday morning. There was an overflowing congregation, including members of all denominations. His Grace the Archbishop

presided. The funeral procession was a long and representative one, and included the St. Augustine Orphanage boys, the members of the Hibernian Society, the Confraternity of the Holy Family, and the Catholic Yt>ung Men's Society. The burial service was read by Dean Hegarty. The remains were temporarily laid in a vault beneath the present mortuary chapel. A well-attended meeting,' representative of all denominations, was held later on in St. Mary's schoolroom, Geelong, to consider what should be done to perpetuate the memory of the late Archdeacon Slattery. Letters ot sympathy were read from several Protestant friends, including the Revs. Canon Goodman, Henry Kelly, and J. Hunter Potter. It was decided that the memorial should take the form of a mortuary chapel in the Eastern Cemetery, ihe cost being- estimated at £.500, and £300 was subscribed in the room. All the speeches were characterised by great admiration for the deceased clergyman.— R.I. P.