THE LATE ARCHBISHOP KIRBY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 46, 15 March 1895, Page 9

THE LATE ARCHBISHOP KIRBY.

A TRUE priest and a truo Irishman die 1 on Sunday, January 20, in Rome in the person of the Mopt Rev Dr Kiiby, the Archbishop of Epbeeus (says the Freeman). Ha was a man who was an honour bi his Church aod country, one of the pood old type (hat made Ireland worshipped as the Island of Saints through all the Continents. The Most Rev Dr Kirby was born in Waterford on New "Sear's Day, just 92 years ago. He was a pa'riot before he was a priest, He took an active, a vigorous, an enthusiastic part in O'Connell's campaign for Catholic Emancipation, and later on for reptal. Those who remember only the grave, gentle old President of the Irish College, whose manners, we are told, were 9ubtly suggestive of Cardinal Newman, will find it hard to credit iho sug^es inn that in O'Connell'e train of brilliant platform orators there was none more spirited or inspiring than young Ktrby. At about thirty years of age he abandoned the platform for the altar. His early training for the priesthood was had at the College of tit Apo ivan in Rome, nnd while completing his course of theology in this college there occurred perhaps the most interesting incident in his career. He joined the Society of St Pacl, of which the chief function was 'o encourage and BB9ist its members in the developmenf of literary culiure. In this Society he coon attained a high position. In talents ami acquirements he had bat one rival, a brilliint stud.nt pome years younger than himself. A specially keen intenst was ft 1 1 in the competition for the pmtt of the Society which was to be awarded for the best original essay. Byumveistl consent there weie o >ly two competitors with a chance of puccess. When the award was made it was found that the name of Tobiaß Kirby w.is second on the list. The present name of his eucc esf ul nv*l is his Hol'dlss Pope Lro the Thirteenth. The in'imacy that tben sprung up between the two was broken only by the death of the Archbishop cf Ephetue. On his accession to the Papal throne the Popo remeiob' red the incident of the espay half a century betoie, and by his espies command Dr Kirby w as then induct d to give his composition for the first time <o the pib'.ic, Sume time after the completion of his BACirdo'al 8' pdi> s Dr Kirby wr.s car'y in the forties appointci to th p. 4'ion tf Vice-i-uctorship of the Jmh College in Borne, of which the liector h;p was tnen Le'.d by

the Most Beverend Dr Cullen, In tho revolution of 1848, wb<n the Pope had to fly from Borne, the Most Heveiend Dr Cullen. was appointed Rector of the Propaganda with the object of protecting its personal propT.) fiom pillage, a mipnion which he successfully accomplished it was thought th.,i, being a British subject, as the phrase wi ul, he would rely on (he protection of tha British. But tradi!iui> has it 1h?l A waa Hi Start* md S'ripes that was floated over the Propaganda, of which ni-iny members were of America i national! y, The new positiuu and ou< rous duties of the Mo9t Uev Dr Oullen left thti coutrul of me Lisa colkge in the bands of Dr K.rbv, and when later oa Dr Culien was transferred to the Archdiocese of Armagh Dr Kirby was f rmp.lly appointed to ibe positi n cf vector of the Coll' ge, which po&ihon i..c eufctained with such distinguished credit for so many years. Some years afterwards he was appointed to the dignity of a domestic Prelate under the style and title of the Most Rev Bishop of Lita. At the date of the consecration of the Most itev Dr Walsb, Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Kirby was raised to the position of Archbishop of Ephesus, in whicb dignity he died. Sanctity and learning were the distinguishing qualities of his character and career, but sanctity came first, and his learning wai ever the handmaid of his holiness. His book of Meditations is still in the hands of the faithful, and is in special favour among ecclesiastics. But the students of the College and by the pist s'udents who sprang up around him to the priesthood and the Episcopacy he was universally respected and beloved. In his zeal for religion it may be that he made too little allowance for the frailties of human nature. But his zeal was erer tempered by gentleress. He asked from o hers no sacrifices that he was not prepared to maki, He pointed, it is true, the Bteep and thorny path to Heaven, but be led the way. Ireland has, perhaps, given more gifted and more brilliant prelates to the Catholic Church, but none meeker or more holy than the venerable Archbishop of Ephesus.