A Link With Past.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 4, 22 January 1903, Page 3

A Link With Past.

There passed away at Leeds toward* the end of November one of the best known and oldest priests in the city — Provoßt Browne— at the advanced age of 86 years. Provost Browne (Bays the local ' Mercury ') was the son of a Blackburn tradesman, and had five brothers priests, all of whom he survived. He was born in ManChester on November 16, 1817. He completed his studies at the English College at Lisbon, and in 1847 became domestic chaplain to Mr W. C. Maxwell, of Everinghan Park, afterwards Lord Herriee. The distinguishing feature of Provost Browne's career was the courage he displayed in volunteering to fill a vacancy at St. Ann's, caused by the death, in 1847, of the Rev. Richard Wilson. The Irish famine had driven thousands of the poor from Connaught into the manuf cturing towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the aftermath was seen in an epidemic of typhus whioh raged in East Leeds.

In one house in Brighton court, in whioh there was not a single bed, there were 12 oases of typhus ; in another house, in Brook street, where the ciroumstanoes were of a similarly distressing character, there were six oases. The House of Recovery and Fever Hospital were filled with sufferers, and a temporary wooden shed for an hospital was erected in Accommodation road, Richmond Hill ; and Cleveland street Mill was also occupied. Dr. Hook, the famous Vicar of Leeds, and other clergymen were daily victors to these establishment?, as well as the Catholic priests. Taking their lives in their hands, tbey ministered to the suffering and the dying, and clergy and medical men fell victims along with the priests. Throughout this dreadful period Father Browne labored with great self-sacrifice and devotion ; and again, in 1849, when cholera was epidemic in many parts of England, and when, in Leeds, the total number of deaths from this plague considerably exceeded two thousand, Father Browne worked unweariedly on behalf of the sufferers, and happily, as in the typhus epidemic, escaped the contagion. He succeeded the Rev. Joseph Curr as Rector of St. Ann's, and in 1850, when the re-establishment of the Roman Catholio hierarchy took place in England, he was appointed one of the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter of the newly-oreated diocese of Beverley. The diocese was divided in 1878, and the Holy See then appointed Canon Browne to be Provost of the Cathedral Chapter of Leeds ; and in that capacity he has labored successfully as a missionary and administrator. The fiftieth anniversary of Provost Browne's ordination fell on Sunday, May 22, 1892, and the jubilee of his priesthood was celebrated on that day in St. Ann's Cathedral.

At the oloie of the service Father Galli presented an illuminated address to Provost Browne ; and Monsignor Motler, of Bradford, Vicar-General of the diocese, who attended as the representative of the Bishop, presented him with a purse of gold, eubßoribed by the olergy. Provost Browne, in responding, said he oould not but remember that fifty years spent in the cure of souls, brought with them a very serious responsibility. A priest ought to exhibit in all things the perfection of the Christian virtues.

For many years Provost Browne took an active part in the management of the Fever Hospital and House of Recovery, and he ldeutifled himself with many movements for the social welfaie and advancement of the town.

Provost Browne was a member of the heels School Board fur ten years and a half.

In deposition the late Provost was bluff and genial, with somethingof that heartinesa which is associated with the idea of the older school of English clergymen— A nglioan or Catholic. He was charitable to the poor, *nd was, perhaps, most accessible to that eecUcm of them-and that the larger— which came from the other side of St. George c Channel. He had a host of friends outside tun own oowinumou who admired his sterling, btraightforward character. I hat he belonged to a bygone generation his frequent use of the snuff-box was almost, ia ueelf, sufficient proof, and he was a pleasant raconteur,