BISHOP LENIHAN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 750, 24 February 1910, Page 8

BISHOP LENIHAN.

PREMONITION OF DEATH. THE LAST TOUCHING SCENES. (By;Telci:raiih.—Special GorresDondentl Auckland, February 23. Father Patterson, who accompanied the :late Bishop' Lehihan- on the. visit to Whangarei, returned to Auckland by tie Ngapuhi this morning.. ,116. states that it had. been arranged.on -Monday' night that the Bishop should say the first Mass on the Tuesday morning and Father Patterson the second'. Early in the morning •Fatter Patterson went into the church and found that • the Bishop had not yet appeared. • He therefore the 'first Mass himself, thinking that " the Bishop was perhaps overtired as. the-re-sult'of the previous day's 'exertions. ' At' the conclusion of the service his Lordship was still abset)C and, knowing tlie Bishop's habits as an early riser, Father Patterson had a that some-; '.thing'must :be wrong. ■ •

Proceeding to the presbytery, he entered the Bishop's room,' and found him lying in an attitude .as ;though still. peacefully , asleep., : The .bed; clothes, , we're not disarranged, and' : it '.is ..evident that Bishop .Lenihan passed; quietly'away, in his sleep! 'The,, body was, quite cold, and, though 'Dr. Good was sunjmoned, ho could only' Certify that death had taken place some ih'ours previously. ''

:■ On the Monday the late Bishop drove 32 miles to and from : Maungakaramea, and the heat wasintense. Ho complained of feeling very tired on the Monday night, but, nevertheless, maintained his: usual cheerfulness throughout "the social .tendered in'his honour.; on. Monday, .evening. He : , spoke : during tlio - ovon■ing, of t the Church • and ' educational •matters,'and expressed great pleasure, at 'the cordial : relationship "existing: \be-; •tween himself and .the/congregation,.'and 'also at' the good 'feeling .existing between the CatMio and . other churches in' Whs?; ngarei. His last , words-in • the .'address were; in. reference to his predecessors in office, and, afjer enumerating their many trials,' pointing out. their ..splendid qua'lijties; and' speaking 'of his' own; : 'pleasant' relations, with' his flocki'. ho said"l hope. I that v good- feeling 'aid' mutual love will exist .till .'death; do ,ris', part."' • .'V,. One of the most- touching incidents in .connection . with' the death of the late ;Bishop "is the'fact , that! he recently "pi»jphesied' that' his; end" was*' drawing - nigh. 'Always; genial;'and' ; heart3r ; ,of:disposition, . .only,. th'e most intimate-' of .' Bishop. Leni':han's friends .knew'/that . a "smiling oouinr Itenftnoe 1 -hid-'- periods -of ..:' physical. suffer-" •ing,' an<i, in the. knowledge that: his earthly' lalk>U'ra v 'Eere; drawing.; to 'a: close;. ■the last, the priests of the diocese'was held oh January;' 24, and his, Lordship thon. maide : a' Temarkable prophecy '.".i ;; : v''.V;' : . "It is a great- joy ••torme l to •/moe , , again l have' .my: priests - drawn around 1, ■. me, 1 for. -this ; ™l. probably be-the last; >: retreat at . whiioh I'.will be: with'-you. I feel' that ; when;, you' meet '-again next , 'year your ivill iiot'be amongst, y-ou."

• Almost : vratliin. a'morith o? fateful' utterance "tHe -.pfoDheiy i has bram ' ful-. filled:.: . • 1 Archbishop : Bedwbod.U 'of: 'Wellington, and' Bishop -Grimes', : af,Christohurch, .-arrived UiT .'AncfeMhd ; by express this ■moni'iSg:.' Bishop'Verdon, r 'of iDtuvediiv.ia' expected to;-arrive 'to-mdirow;" while prints and (leading members ,of the 1 dity, v frain -.all palts' o£ the Dominion are expected' to-be present; at the 'funeral ob-, sequxs. .y;.:• : ;