A MILITARY PRELATE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 11 May 1899, Page 6

A MILITARY PRELATE.

THE NEW ASSISTANT BISHOP TO CARDINAL VAUGHAN.

Mo.vsiciNOß Brixdle, the hero of the Soudan, was consecrated Assistant-Bishop to Cardinal Vaughan on March 12 at the Church of St. Gregory, Rome, this being the titular church of his Eminence the Cardinal- Archbishop of Westminster. The whole of the English Catholic colony, in fact the elite of English society (says La ] i ra Roma), was present at the solemn ceremony, as a mark of re- pcc t to the new bishop, who has won for himself a place in the hearts of his countrymen.

Caidmal Satolli performed the consecration ceremony, assisted by the Most Rev. Mons'gnor Sainbucetti, Archbishop of Corinth and the Most Rev. the Hon. Mon-ngnor Sooaor, Archbishop of Trebi/.ond. Cardinal Vau.'han was represented by his secretary Mon-bi--nor Dunn. Pupils of the English College and of the College of ht. Bede performed the services of the altar. Among others who attended the cer. mony \ur? the primate of the Benedictines, the Rectors of the English, Irish. Scotch, and Canadian Colleges Monsignon Nugent, Campbell, Tyler, Stanley, and Lindsay. A banquet was afterward* given in honour of Bishop Brindle, when Cardinal Saiolli delivered what is described as a most beautiful diseour.se iv pr.ii^e ot the re v prelate, his Eminence's remarks being received with warm applause by those present. Bishop Brindle, DS O , retains his rank as Colonel in the British army. His Lordship has been through many campaigns and seen dangers in many forms ; he has lived with it in the wards of a cholera hospital as well as faced it on the battle-field. Pew men have ever earned such enthus astic praise as he has received from those under whom he has served. He has worked in places as far asunder as C inada, China, and the Soudan. He was the only chaplain at the front at Tel-el-Kebir. He went through the campaigns of Suakim, the Nile, and Gmnias in 1881, 188.">, and 1886. Alter ten yeais ot Aldershot and Colchester he accompanied Lord' Kitcheners retnt expedition, and was present at the battles of Atbara and Khartoum. Twice he has bpen specially promoted for service in the field. He has received the first pension for'distinguished and meritorious service' ever granted to a Catholic chaplain. He is a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order ; haa the medal with the four clasps for Egypt, 1882 ; the Turkish Order of the Medjidich, third class ; the Egyptian war medal for conquest of the Soudan, with three clasps ; and the Khedivial Bronze Star for 18*2. Bishop Brindle was born in November, 1837, was ordained at the English College, Lisbon, and before he was appointed military chaplain, served in the diocese of Plymouth. A party of Franciscan nuns, in charge of a number of Indian ohildr- n dressed in their native costume, were conspicuous in the b.idy of the church during the consecration ceremony. A Protestant clergyman is said to have drawn the attention of Monsignor Dunn to these children and their teachers, and to have said, ' Witness the gi witness of the British Empire." Monsignor Dunn's reply was • Witness- rather the universality of the Catholic Church.' ' On the day after his consecration Bishop Brindle was received in aud once by his Holiness the Pope.