THE DEATH OF THE EIGHT REV. DR. QUINN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 43, 13 February 1885, Page 23

THE DEATH OF THE EIGHT REV. DR. QUINN.

(Sydney FreertiaiCs Joiirnal, January 24.) The melancholy news of the sudden death of the Bishop of Bathurst was an unexpected shock to the community. The feebleness of his health had, it was universally hoped and generally believed, been much lessened ; and those who had the pleasure of seeing his Lordship immediately after his return to the colony were impressed with what they believed to be the welcome signs of restored health and re-established energies. Tne hope inspired in ihs breams of those who loved and admired him was shared by the Bistiop himself, who looked forward to increased opportunies of benefilting his Diocese acd the country. But in the merciful dispensation of Heaven the labour was shortened and the reward came with a more lovin<» swiftness than anyone had expected. The time has not arrived to estimate the service rendered to this country by the prelate who now sleeps in his owa Cathedral church in the midst of his people. His labours will be felt and valued and more justly judged as the years roll on. But it can now be safely said of him that *as a single individual he was perhaps the greatest benefactor to the work of Catholic education that this country has ever seen. From the moment of his entry upon his Episcopal life here to the day upon which he left it, his gwat c lgrossing care was the education* of his people. To this he sacrificed his means, his time, and what he deemed (save in so far as he could employ it for the happiness of others) of least value—his life. No one who was ever for even the briefest period brought into his society could fail to discover that this was the supreme object of his labours. At the time when secondary and higher education had to a very slight degree interested the community, he undertook with the inadequate means to which he was necessarily limited, iti a vnafc and distant diocese, with a sparse and comparatively poor population, to meet the wants of his people in this direction. Mild and unpretending aa was his character, he had a real governing ambition on. the question oE a thorough education for his flock. His Continental experience had enabled him to know that the higher school mast be, as a great educational critic ha 9 pointed out, the crown of a long co-ordered series well and carefully designed. His schools from the humblest to the highest were founded and directed in this spirit. The wnole of his organization bore the stamp of his own character, made up as it was of modesty, solidity, completeness. When the time came to test its soundness and fulness, it was made clear that his system of public instruction was in harmony with religion and with tbe necessities of the times. He won the entire confidence of bis people, and the sympathy of our highest scholastic authorities. In comparative silence— for he abhorred display of any kind — with a marvellous economy of resources which demonstrated the presence of the rarest administrative ability — with much tact, patience, and a saintly perseverance — he built up amidst innumerable difficulties a great educational system which not only embraced the whole of bis own people, but stimulated the ardour of those who were working in other quarters in the same direction. It is by these eminent services that the memory o£ Dr. Quinn will be preserved in this country. Of all men he was one who was animated in a remarkable degree with that spirit of self-sacrifice without which nothing of real or permanent value oxn ever be accomplished ; and with that tenderness and consideration which enlisted the sympathies of all who were blessed with his friendship or privileged to co-operate with him in his noble schemes of benevolence. B sverenced by those who only contemplated his public service3— beloved by those who knew the gentleness and the sweetness of his daily life — he has passed away with as noble a record of public services sanctified by religion, and leaving behind him as beautiful a memory of sublime unselfishness as a Catholic people could desire for a holy Prelate.