The Late-Lord Brampton

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 21 November 1907, Page 7

The Late -Lord Brampton

In his * Reminiscences ' the late Lord Brampton gives the following account of his conversion to the Uatholic Faith :—: — , -•■Cardinal Manning was a real good friend to me, 1 he says, ' and, I often spent an hour with him on a Sunday morning or afternoon discussing' general topics. -At my request, when I had no thought of being converted to his- Church, he marked in a biook_ol prayers which he gave me several "of his own selections which I have carefully preserved ; but 1 can truly say he never uttered one word, or made the least attempt to convert me. He left me to my own free, uncontrolled, and. uncontrollable action. My reception into the Church was purely bf my own free choice and will and according .to the exercise of my judgment. I thought for myself, and acted for " myself, or I should not have acted at all. I have always been, and am satisfied that I was right. - • ' ' It, was Cardinal Vaughan who received me into the Church after the death of my dear friend Cardinal Manning, which -was a great shock to me. It was announced on the very morning of my hearing of the .death of an illustrious Prince, whom I reverenced' and loved, his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. This also - gave ire a great shock. 'As to Cardinal Manning, his extreme good sense and toleration were my admiration all times, and I shall venerate his memory as long as I live. His kindness was unbounded. ""When the late Cardinal Vaugban was showing Lady Bramipton and myself over that beautiful structure, the new Cathedral, I thought I should like to erect a memorial chapel, and made a proposal to that effect. My offer being accepted, I resolved to build it, after consultation with Lady Brampton, and to dedicate it to St. Gregory and St. Augustine. The style of decoration adopted is v Byzantine. The walls are embellished with many and various beautiful marbles. The eastern side has a representation of Pope Gregory sending St. Augustine with his followers to preach the Gospel m England. Another scene is St. Augustine's reception by King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha in the isle of lhanet. ihe panels of -the reredos contain pictures of St. Gregory and St. Augustine, with their four contemporaries, St. Paulinus, St. Justus (Bishop of Rochester), St. Laurentius, and St. Mellitus (Bishop of London). On the north are figures of St. Edmund, St. .Osbald, and the Venerable Bede ; whilst opposite are St. Wilfred, St. Cuthbert, and St. Benedict. On the west are St. John the Baptist and St. Augustine, and below these figures of women pouring water • from pitchers, symbolical of the -River Jordan. Under the arch of this side -are most artistically designed panels containing %he names of the four rivers of Paradise. The floor is inlaid, and the windows, which are of opalescent glass, throw over the structure a soft white light, admitting of the perfect harmony of colors which everywhere adorn this very beautiful > chapel '