THE LATE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 5, 31 May 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LATE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

I Of your charity pray for the soul of the M jst Rev. Dr. Mou\n, who died at his episcopal g residence, Dunedin, on Wednesday May 22, at 5.45 p.m. ; aged 72 years. May his (B dear soul rest in peace.

" Quis desiderio eit pudor aut modus f Tarn can capitis ?" i The Mobt Rev Patrick Moban was born at Arklow in the Count > ! Wicklow, Ireland, of respectable middle-class parents, on Ma} 24, [ 1823. His earlier education was conducted under the cart: ol at member of a class of tutors who belonged to what is now a by-gi i.c i Hge, but who, notwithstanding a considerable share of ecceotricuii h, ■ often succeeded in turning out gocd scholars— as, in fact, they gem- ja tally were themselves, Some wild strain, pos&ibiy a s lgbt touch of | insanity, not an [infrequent accompaniment of t b nt, tnd mad> | tbfair chrt'i-r a failure. An addiction to bouts of drunketintss was one « tf their common features — and against this canful fathers and mothers were obliged to provide. Sixty or seventy years ugo, or even later, however, educational means were nut always within easy i each of Irish household", and people were often glad to avail themselves of whatever could be found. The Bishop was wont to describe himself as haviDg been an idle boy. If bo, his native gifts made up for his want of application, for he early attained to a ripe scholarship. He had, however, af'er a year or two been taken out of the hands of his erratic tutor and seat to school — first in Dublin, then in Wexford, and finally at the College of the Vinceatian Fathers at Castlcknock. His later scholas'ic course was cairied ou and completed at Maynootb, where he was a distinguished student. He was ordained on Pentecost Sunday in the year 1847, and his first work in tbe pneßthood was performed at Booterstown, near Dublin. 1 hence be waß removed to a church situated in Haddington road, at the South side of the city and on which a large district depended. Of bow he fared in those early days we may judge from an incidental remark ouco made by him in a conversation with the present writer. It was tome years ago, when a collection in ail of tbc famine-atrickcn j people in Ireland was being male in Dunedin, and the speaker was ; alluding to the misery he had seen at Home, '■ It waa alwayß my • object," he said, '' to live witbin my income and make ibe ends meet, ] bu I always failed. At the end of the year 1 was general ! y about . £5 short." Dr Moran's expenditure on himself, as we all kn w, was j never very lavish. From what we baw of v<m ii> hrn mcv inuure ] and declining veais, we may gather how acave an*! energetic he waß I in his earlier lite. Ueoords, moreover, of hid work id the Dublin j paiidh alluded lv still nmain, and p ove turn tv have been then als,, ' iiH v»e oniselves ever know him, most anxiotib fo Ill> mlellectua 1 ' ,».,vat.cem' at nod ihe education of vis people Auiin ; thr rcdi, ie t was the pi oil iter of a OLnsiUn Doctuneand Liic hrn aii'l , we nut long 'igo read a report of th>j ugietful patting al lla mtmbeis '. with him on hid appointment to the Cape. !

][( was consccralo'l Bishop, in partibui, o a L>w Sunday, 1856 and sent -mt iB Vicar- Apostolic to iSoulh Africa at the age of 33. There lie laboured for fourteen years, building up the Church in that distant l*:i 1 wrh cminer.t succoss, and gaining general esteem and Hie whrnj afl ction of me flock. Of t iia some few years ago we B£.w manifest j rojfs On thti occasion on wnich. in 1882, in his returning to Duuf dm fn m Europe, ' hu vessel by which 'he Bishop was a passenger i t >nrru d at Capctovi,, de visited his former diocese, and the reception | fhtt was the if given to him testified eloquently to the regard in I which he was ntill held. At Port Elizabeth the bells of the Anglican ct urch were rung in his honour, Jn 1870, Dr Moron went to Rome to attend the Vatican Council, where he had a pait iv defining the infallibility of the Sovereign Pom iff, of which he waß an ardent supporter. It was then that be was desmd by the Pope to exchange hia Vicariate-Apoßtolic at the Cape for the Bishopric of Dunedin, of which See he was the first occupant. Hia arrival in this Colony, accompanied by the late Monsignor Colemau and ninenunsof theD iminicau Order, took place in February, 1871. Of his labours in this diocese there are many witnesses, and the monuments of his episcopate will descend to many generations, The educational movement, indeed, of which he was the source and the life, should influence the whole future of the Colony. He built schools firßt as the more necessary, leaving the churches to follow io natural eequence. He became the champion of Oatholic education, upholding its claims and rights with a spirit that knew no f altering, aod hardly even for a passing moment grew weary. Defeat seemed only to remind him that the battle was still to fight and must bu rfsumed with renewed vigour. Under hia firm, but gentle and impaitial, rule Catholicism in his diocese took new force. As a leader j) and guide he was nnsurpNßsed. He possessed exceptional powers of i organisation ; he inspired with confidence al) who came in contact \ with him, und their reliance on him was never betrayed. Of him, also, | it may indeed rnobt truly be said that he was " in wit a man, simplicity | a child." There was none looked upon by him as too lowly to address \ him Ail who needed it had his ear. To the wants, the desires, the | complaints of all he listened patiently, and all who asked for it f received his kiud and wise advice. Nay, he himself gave a pattern jj of humility in his readiness to hear the views of otherß. la all jj matters, except thosa which concerned his position as a Church- * mau and a Bishop, he was open to argument. But there his mind f waa made up ; ha saw his way plair..y ; he understood his duty >, thoroughly, ana performed it fearlessly. His dignity as a Bishop was lid uo way lowered by his humility as a mao, On the contrary, it was \ perfected by it, and made more impressive on those who witnessed it

It has been said that the style ia the man, and in Dr Moran'e case, the saying was true. The terseness, clearness, and strength, that were his in speaking or writing characterised him generally. He had a clear head and a keen eye, and quickly arrived at right concluetons. In spewking he made no attempt at a display of eloquence, and fl iwers of rhetoric might be vainly anight for ia htssermo'i? ornddrsß's. But, neverthnles^, he wastruly eloquent. Hislanguage was chasie and aptly chosen, his speech was pithy and to the point, and his scholarship was, as we have sail , rip-. His design was to impress, to enlighten, to teach — to show his hearers what their duty was and rouse or strengthen them for its fulfilment. He was a ready writer. In the manuscript that came from his pen no erasure waß to be found. He wrote out of the fulness and vigour of his mind, and never lacked an idea, or halted to find a word for its expression. He Fp ike with equal exictnessand readiness. H' was essentially a working man. All bis life was given to labour. In all the minietra'ions of tbe priesthood he took a constant part — wnile he discharged the onerous business of his diocese. He tookalivtly interest in public matters, and carefully watched the action of public men ia directing the affairs of the Colony. He was imbued with a fervent spirit of Irish patriotism, and used all his influence, so fur as it was possible for him, to promote the interests of Home Bute. He was a genuine Irish priest, a noble development of tbe soggarth aroon, kind, considerate, and appreciative towards every people, but loving his own exceptionally, and understanding them thoroughly. His utmost effjrts were directed to raise and improve his people. Their worldly as well as their spiritual condition concerned him deeply, and bis thoughts were constantly engaged with it.

Of the work accomplished by Or Morun in Dunedin it is hardly necessary for us to speak. Unler difficult circamsU'icia ha mad ample provision for the C itholic mission, and tbe fruits of his lab ours are before our eyes. Under him the nava and aisles of the Cathedral of 8t Joseph were built, and built on such a plan and in such a manner as to band down to future generations the evidence of his zeal for the glory and beauty of God's hou9e. The Bishop's palace, the house of the Christian Brothers, and ths site of the Dominican Convent and its schools were purchased. The schools aid cjnvent were buiU. The church in the North-Bast Valley was erected and that in South Dunedin begun and carried towards completion. The sites of these buildings were also purchased. Dr Moran founded, established, and, in its literary dep«rtmeut, directed the New Zealand Tablet, regularly cmtributing to its lea hag columns. This was a task that no engagement, however presiiog, induced him to neglect. In every part of the diocese, under hi 9 rule, churchoa and schools sprang vp — and an able and devoted boly of pnes's was introduced by him. His people were well kept together, and guided in the union that a true Catholic spirit alone can maiutain. Tbe Catholic settlers were lifted out of tbe inferior position that had been occupied by them, and given a standing of respectability and consideration in the «yes of their oou-Jathohc feilow-coioaists. The

Bishop was indifferent to social distinction or recognition, bat, by his manly and independent attitude — by hits genuine worth, his fine talents, and his iluh acquirements, he won, without an effort, a position for himself that reflected honourably on tbe Catholic name. His motives were upright and pure. No ont could detect in them the slightest trace of crookeiness or deceit. He was manliness and honesty themselves. Candid and honourable men, who wer« the most opposed to bis leuetg and his aims, could not refuse at least to pay him the homage of respect. He was no man's enemy, but recognised in everyoue the good that was in him. His battle was againßt what was wrong. Against that he was outspokon, unyielding, and energetic, but he knew how to distinguish it from thofte who did or counselled it. He never give them an ill wish or bore them malice. His illness was long and wearing, but it was borne by him with an unfailing patience. All through hiß attitude was that of one who consciously was, as he himself said, in the hands of God. And now that he has passed away, leaving as, indeed, in heavy affliction, we sorrow not a 9 those that sorrow without hope. We utter oar prayer ia confilence that, through the mercy of God, we shall be heard for him — that his soul may rest in peace. At the weekly meeting of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, which took place in 8t Joseph's Cathedral at 7.30 on tbe evening of the Bishop's death, the Archbishop of Wellington spoke as follows :—": — " My dear brethren,— lt is but a abort time since 1 assisted at the deathbed of your beloved Bishop, and it will be a comfort to you in your deep narrow to know that it would be difficult to witness a more peaceful and happy death, I baa just recited all the prayer for the agonising and had given him a last absolution, wnen, during the recitation of the Bosary by myself and the attendant clergy, he quietly slept in the Lord ; we could hardly detect the moment when his soul departed. He had been ill for nearly two years, and had endured his very great sufferings withharoic patience. We have reason to hope that, by a great grace of God, be made his purgatory in this world, and that now he ia enjoying the sight of God in the splendours of heaven. It were out of place for me to expiate upon him at this moment, but I may sum up his career in a few words : he terminated a most useful, active, apostolic, and saintly life by i peaceful and saintly death. May our death be like unto his I As, however, we know not the judgments of God, he may perhaps be detained for a time in the purifying region of purgatory, and so it is a duty of justice and gratitude for you to pray for him with all the fervour of your souls. We shall therefore recite for him the present Rosarj ."

The body will be embalmed and will lie for a day or two in the reception room at tbe Bishop's palace, which will be converted into a mortuary chapel. It will subsequently be removed to the cathedral where it will lie in state for a few days prior to the funeral, which will take place on Wednesday.