BISHOP GRIMES DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 64, 16 March 1915, Page 7

BISHOP GRIMES DEAD.

POPULAR PRELATE'S CAREER.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

News was received from Sydney yesterday afternoon of the death of Bishop Grimes, after an operation for appendicitis.

Bishop Grimes Was born in Middlesex, England, on February 11, 1842. He spent bis boyhood and days of youth with the Marist Brothers, who, when he was about thirteen years of age, established themselves at St. Anne's, Spitalfields, London. It was their influence that induced him to devote hi 3 life to tbe Cbruch, and it was in their chapel at St. Anne's that be was admitted as postulant and novice. After completing bis preliminary studies he went to college at Bar le Due in tbe department of Meuse in France. From France he went to Ireland, where the theological part of his education was taken in hand. He was professed in the Society in 1867, and at twentythree years of age was ordained to tbe priesthood in the University Church, Dublin, by Archbishop Whelan. He began Hue career as Professor of Literature and Classics at St. Mary's College, Dundalk, but after a few years he decided to leave Ireland and volunteer for the same class of duties at New Orleans, United States. Later he was appointed professor at Jefferson College, Louisiana, and became rector and president of that institution. While he was helping the clergy in the neighbouring district in 1878, he was attacked by yellow fever, which was very prevalent there at that tune. He bad a surprising recovery from the disease, and would have continued bis work in America but his superiors called him to take charge of the missionary training college belonging to the Society of Mary at Paignton, South Devon, England.

While lie was working there the Church was making progress Xew Zealand. At that .time Christchureh was part of the Wellington diocese, under the charge of Archbishop Redwood.

In the early "eighties'' it was felt that Christchurch should be made a separate diocese. Pope Leo Xn. agreed to this, but the Australian prelates. with Cardinal Moran at J their bead, asked him to make no appointment until after a plenary council bad met in Sydney, in 1885.,,-. The council..unanimously decided to petition the Apostolic See to erect "Wellington into a metropolitan see and create a new diocese, with Christchurch as its seat. Amongst the names of those submitted ito tbe Pope as suitable for appointment to the charge of the diocese was Bishop Grimes. Hia Holiness accepted the recommendation, and made the appointment on' 3fay 7, 188 L At iiret Bishop Grimes shrank from the responsibility the Pope wished to place upon his shoulders. He asked that he should be spared the burden of the episcopate, a burden which he said the greatest saints of the Church were unwilling to accept. He was urged to yield, bowever, and reluctantly did so.

The consecration ceremony was conducted on July 20 in the same year, in the chapel of St. Anne ? s, with which his early life was so closely associated. The new bishop did not leave England until the end of the year. He arrived at Lyttelton on February 12, 1888, accompanied by Archbishop _Redwopd, Dean Ginaty,; and other priests who had welcomed him in Wellington, and has laboured here ever ... . >.r

He was a pleasant and vigorous preacher and a good conversationalist. He. did a good deal of.literary work, publishing "several theological pastorals and controversial ■ pamphlets. He believed that ..priests; :should foster the public spirit amongst .those -who came under their caA, and ihe took an active interest in" the public affairs of this city. He was'a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College for many years, a' member of the Philosophical Institute, and vice-president ot ! the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.