THE LATE FATHER WELD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 19 September 1890, Page 19

THE LATE FATHER WELD.

THE Rev. Alfred Weld, S.J., F.8.A.8., late Rector of St. Aidan's College in tbia city, whose death we announced ia oar last issue, belonged to an ancient Lancashire family whose principal seat was at Lulworth Castle, where George 111. and his Queen were often en* tertained by Thomas Weld and his family. A large number of the Welds became distinguished memljrs of religions orders in the Catholic Church, among whom wj find the names of Mary Weld of the Order of the Visitation, and Cardinal Weld in the time of Pins Till. Owing to the friendly relations with King George the Wells of Lulworth succeeded in bringing into England several religious communities of Nuns, Trappists.aod Jesuits exiled from the continent by the Revolution. The great College of Stonyhurst and its grounds were the gift of this family to the Jesuit Fathers. Sir Frederick Weld, Father Weld's cousin, was Prime Minister of New Zealand, Governor of Tasmania, W« /,m Australia, and the Strait i Settlements, and was at one time mentioned as a probable successor to Sir Heroules Robinson in the Cape Colony. Father Weld, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1823, educated at Stonyhurst and notwithstanding the brilliant wordly career before him, he chose to enter, ac a Novice, the Order of the Jesuits, at 19 years of age. At the completion of his classical studies he took his 8.A., degree at the London University, and while yet a scholastic was placed in charge of the Stony hurst Observatory with Fathers Perry and Sidgreaves as assistants. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society . His assistants have since attained a high place among the learned men of England. He was one of the first members of the British Meteorological Society and urged Father Perry to make the magaetib survey of tbe coasts of France and Belgium. His talents and virtues were soon appreciated by tbe members of his Order who chose him to £11 the Rectorship of the College of Philosophy at Stonyhurst and Theology at St. Bruno's in Wales. He afterwards became Father Provincial of the English Jesuits, and for many years was assistant to the Father General of the Jesuits at Rome for the transaction of all business with the Jesuit Missions and Colleges im all English speaking countries. During this time he was sent by tbe Pope on special ecclesiastical missions to Gibraltar, to Portugal and to India. He contributed several articles of scientific interest to English mafea»nes, and was elected fellow of the Geographical Society. For many years he wished that the Jesuits would take up again the ir old mission ground cf the Lower Zamt :si, and help in lame w y the evangelisation of the Dark Continent. He accepted the offer of Bishop Ricards to the Society, to undertake the management of St. Aidan's College as a step towards the fulfilment of his great desire. I He was mainly instrumental in forming the new Jesuit field of mis»ion labour in 1879, covering wh-U is now known as the British Protectorate and the British Central African Companies' sphere of influence, from Nyaßsa to the Zambesi and from thence to the Yaal River. Nearly 100 members of the Bociety in different parts of Europe volunteered to be ready when called upon, and of these more than twelve have lost their lives already ; Fathers Law and Dewit, among the number, whilst travelling in Lobangula's and Umxila's countries. Father Weld went to Lisbon to obtain letters from the King in aid of his missionaries entering through the Portuguese ports of the East Coast. All this work and responsibility told on him since 1883, especially ?i :er the departure of the Superior of the mission, Father Depelctun. It was with diffifculty he held the oflfce of Rector at Dunbrody and St. Aidan's latterly. But with that untiring zeal and energy that distinguished his whole life, he worked on to the last, leaving behind him a brilliant example of faith, virtue and learning, combined, — South African paper.