LECTURE ON ARCHBISHOP MacHALE

New Zealand Tablet, 9 August 1917, Page 33

LECTURE ON ARCHBISHOP MacHALE

(By Father O'Neill.)

Invercargill, July 30. At the initial meeting of the recently inaugurated literary club in connection with the Hibernian Society it was decided to name the club in memory of that illustrious prelate and Irishman —Archbishop John Mac Hale.

Bro. the Very Rev. Father O’Neill, addressing the large gathering, spoke in part as follows: The subject of my address this evening should have an all-absorbing interest for Southland Catholics, by reason of the large numbers of his spiritual children who have- made homes for themselves in this the remotest quarter of the globe. Some of you were confirmed by him and the parents of a number now listening to me had the advantage of his fatherly care and were well acquainted with his zeal for God’s glory and the faithful discharge of the onerous and responsible duties that fell to his share. Perhaps those friendly relations between pastor and people and the familiar intercourse which he in his goodness encouraged, may have caused some to fail to appreciate the grandeur of that character which has left its impress indelibly marked on the history of Catholic Ireland in the nineteenth century. How often when travelling along at the toot of some of those majestic snow-capped mountains that are scattered in such profusion throughout the length and breadth of this romantic land of our adoption, have we not failed to realise the soaring heights to which those cloud piercers rear their lofty summits. Not till we have gone out for miles and taken in a comprehensive view of those rugged sierras, have we begun to understand what a mighty work of the God of Nature we are beholding.

So with the great “Eagle of the West,’’ whose saintly life, matchless eloquence, clear and limpid writings, inflexible constancy, and unbounded love for his people have made him in a sense national property. His admirers throughout the whole extent of Ireland were not confined by creed or classs. 11 is career was watched with loving interest by thousands and (lionsands of his countrymen in exile in every quarter of the globe. The mails that brought his published utterances abroad were eagerly devoured in the back woods of America, in the mining camps of California, along the prairies and pampas of the great Western Republic, and in the cities of the English-speaking world and those of many foreign European countries. Born in 1789. while the penal laws were still en- * forced by brutal officials in many' parts of the Old Land, his earliest recollections of his life in his native Mayo were intertwined with sad memories of the ruffianism of jacks-in-office who were usually as cowardly as they were cruel. The priest who baptised him and for whom he later served Mass, Father Andrew Conry, a man beloved by all who knew him, who constantly warned his flock against the red revolutionists of France, where he had been educated, and bade them not associate themselves with those enemies of God and religion, should the threatened invasion of Ireland take place, was hanged before the eyes of his distracted people by a ruffian named Brown on a trumped-up charge of communicating with France for rebellious purposes. The recollection of the beloved face of his spiritual father as the remains lay in the poor little parish church contorted by the fearful agonies of the death he endured, never left the mind of the young lad who with the people was overwhelmed with the sorrow of despair. The brave boy registered a vow at the side of his dead parish priest’s coffin that whatever gifts and abilities God should be pleased to bestow on him he would use to the last day of his life in opposing the tyranny and injustice that permitted such things to occur in his beloved land. Education was in those days banned in Ireland, a price was still on the head of the teacher who should be seized in the act of surreptitiously imparting knowledge to the young. The hedge school was the only

thing left to the poor down-trodden people, and in such a seminary did .John Mcllale begin his education. His classical training was taken in hand by a highly respected teacher, Patrick Stanton, of Castlebar, who secretly taught aspirants to the priesthood, and we may judge of the proficiency of the youth in studies when later we find him entering Maynooth College, then in the first decade of its existence, and passing a highly creditable entrance examination. The years at Maynooth flew by all too rapidly. Study was the greatest pleasure of his life, and he cheerfully sacrificed his summer vacation that he might enjoy the advantages of the college library and devote himself to various branches of knowledge outside the prescribed course. Languages ancient and modern had a great fascination for him, after he had made an exhaustive study of English literature. Towards the close of his career as a student his professor fell ill and by the unanimous wish of professors and fellow students he was put into the chair of dogmatic theology and lectured with marked success to those who had been his companions „up to then. The position of teacher of theology he continued to occupy after his ordination to the great. benefit of some generations of students, who in after life when on the mission were wont to testify in many practical ways their gratitude for the painstaking manner in which he prepared .them for their life’s work.

The first fruits of his apostolate of the pen appeared in 1820 when he commenced a series of letters to the press over the signature of Hierophilos (lover of the clergy). From the first these letters attracted the attention of men in every walk of life. They gave evidence of deep thought on the subjects that engaged the attention of statesmen, publicists, educationists, leaders in Church and forum. Written in a clear, vigorous style, graceful and replete with appropriate references to classical and literary models ancient and modern, they quickly gave evidence that the long night of Erin’s literary silence was over, that a new spirit was coming into her sons, that education so long denied was now to be harnessed to the chariot wheels of a nation that was emerging into the light after centuries of gloom. Alj the records and monuments of Ireland’s ancient proficiency in letters, and arts had been demolished with a Hunnish ferocity : but a few escaped, and they remain, isolated though they be, to prove ineoutestib!y Ireland’s claim to have been for centuries the island of saints and sages. The language of the invader was henceforward to be* made the vehicle for carrying on a campaign against injustice, spoliation, with all its inevitable train of degradation and misery. The genius of Moore burst out on the world about this time and waking the lire that long had slept he wedded English words to Erin’s soul-thrilling melodies turning from indifference to sympathy many English to whom Ireland had hitherto been a sealed book. Gerald Griffin and other writers of fame took up the cause of the renaissance and shed light on the homely virtues and fidelity of the people he loved in his beautiful volumes. O’Connell with his intimate knowledge of the language of Ireland and with all his love for it was forced to make use of English, which he so well utilised in the cause of liberty, as the surest means of focussing the attention of the world upon the manifold injustices under which his countrymen labored. From the earliest days of his public career he joined heartily with Dr. Mac Hale, and till the day of his death he had no more trusted, beloved, revered helper than he whom he had often referred to as the “Lion of the West.”

One of the earliest letters of Hierophilos was addressed to the Catholic clergy of Ireland. In that letter he sounded the first note of warning against the insidious methods of the Kildare street propaganda of Biblical instruction, and called the attention of bishops and priests to the proselytising work that was going on with the object of robbing the children of their faith. As was to be expected his manly exposition of the principles of the Church aroused a storm of indignation and replies were published by the champions of the proselytisers and indignation meetings for the discussion of the matters in question took place in Dublin. The

young Maynooth professor went to Dublin to attend one of these meetings, but all his efforts to secure admission were ineffectual. The promoters knew better than allow their hoodwinked followers and supporters to hear the other side put in the fearless, logical, and convincing manner in which he would not fail to display it. Several series of letters came in rapid succession from his prolific pen. One addressed to the English people, another series to the statesman Canning on the necessity of granting Catholic Emancipation. These letters exercised a powerful influence on English public opinion and largely helped to hasten the approach of the day when the Catholics of the British Empire ceased to be slaves and helots and acquired the rights of citizenship and the untramelled exercise of their religion. At this time Dr. Mac Hale was engaged on a work which he published later entitled the evidences of Christianity, a work which was praised by Popes and universities, translated into German and other European languages, and excited the admiration of the leading English journals for its research and profundity. In June, 1825, Dr. Mac Hale was made Coad-jutor-Bishop to Dr. Waldron, who ruled the diocese of Killala. Much work awaited him in his new sphere of labor. The erection of- a splendid Gothic cathedral claimed his attention and by his strenuous efforts the necessary funds were raised and a building constructed that could compare with the noble edifices that had studded the land before the spoiler came to raze them to the ground or convert them into heretical fanes. Ceaseless visitations of his diocese organising the people, preaching continually and working with an ardor that never could’ be quenched, were the main features of his life during the years he spent as Bishop of his native diocese. It pleased - Providence that a wider field of labor should open for him, and so we find him raised to the Archiepiscopal throne of Tuam in 1834. This promotion did not take effect without a strenuous effort on the part of the British Ministers to prevent it. John Mac Hale had always opposed the designs of the British Government to get a voice in the appointment of Irish bishops. In conjunction with O’Connell he had exposed and defeated the attempt to get sanction at Rome for this measure of policy. The rescript of Monsignor Quarantotti, which purported to be issued with the approval of Pope Pius the Seventh at the time when he was an exile from Rome,

weakened by relentless persecution at the hands of Napoleon, seemed to give the British Government the victory they so longed for, but they little understood the temper of the Irish people, or the determination with which they were prepared to fight to keep their clergy from becoming the paid hirelings of the crown. The movement came to naught. Bishop Murray in Dublin denounced the whole cabal and spoke for Ireland in rejecting the Government offer of salaries. John Mac Hale not only fought against the veto but he denounced in measured terms the treacherous nature of the educational dole which was meant to undermine the faith of the youth of Ireland. Such an outspoken advocate of the people was sure to incur the hostility of the ruling powers and so they left nothing undone to prevent his appointment to Tuam. Gregox-y the Sixteenth had personal knowledge of the high gifts and qualifications of Dr. Mac Hale and resisted all attempts to turn him from his determination, and so to the great benefit of religion and justice the Bishop of Killala was transferred to Tuam.

He continued the work of his life, denouncing proselytism and woi’king in the dearest interests of the

flock committed to his care. He never would countenance godless schools whether primary, intermediate, or university. His determined opposition was sometimes misunderstood, and many thought that with proper safeguards mixed education might be permitted in order to lessen the burden of the cost of education on the people of Catholic Ireland. All the compromises proposed and all the safeguards offered failed to move him one inch from his opposition. The Holy See, which proverbially acts with slowness and caution, hesitated before condemning what many who knew the circumstances of the country considered might without risk to faith be permitted, but time, the condition for equalising all injustices, was on the side of John MacHale, and eventually the danger to faith was fully recognised, and mixed education for Irish Catholic children and youths was banned. If time permitted it would be profitable to dwell on the many proofs of zeal for Catholic education given by Dr. Mac Hale in the large number of religious communities for teaching established by him throughout his diocese. His work for his stricken people during the famine period can never be forgotten. The noble language of remonstrance addressed by him, time and again, to the callous Government that allowed the people to die in hundreds of thousands brought shame to the rulers and compassion and sympathy from the civilised world. Throughout the whole of his long career, which ended in his ninety-second year, he worked unceasingly, giving an example of apostolic devotion, true piety, generous forgiveness of enemies, and consistent devotion to his lofty ideals. The principles of his youth were those he held in old age. He never had occasion to retract a single public utterance, for all were informed by the guidance that came from on high. The grandest, the noblest, the most 'revered figure that Ireland produced in the thrilling and troublous times that came to the Catholic Church in

Ireland in the nineteenth century, like another Moses he led his people out of the bondage of worse than Egyptian slavery and left after him a name that will go down the course of ages coupled with that of Ireland’s national apostle, to whom in his spirit of selfcrucifixion, zeal, love, and fortitude he bore a striking resemblance. May we all profit by the lessons of his life, and as you brothers have placed your literary club under the protecting name of Ireland’s great literary champion, may your reverence for him increase with your knowledge of what he was to Ireland and the Catholic Church.

At the conclusion of the address the Very Rev. speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Bro. J. J. Furlong. During the evening items were rendered by Bro. the Rev. Father Woods and Master R. Taylor. Bro. T. Pound contributed Sullivan's lines ending with the verse— Ah ! men will come and pass away Like rain-drops on the sea, And thrones will crumble to decay And kings forgotten be. But through all time in every clime, The children of the Gael Will guard the fame and praise the name Of glorious John Mac Hale.