People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 23 January 1913, Page 41

People We Hear About

•Mr. John Marjoribanks Egerton, who has just received the distinction of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (Civil Class) from the Holy Father, was for some time in Anglican Orders. He was received into the Church in 1894. Fathers Brard and Blondel, Jesuits, have each been presented with a gold medal by the French Minister of the Interior in recognition of their heroism during a cholera epidemic last year in the vilayet of Sivas. Brothers Geromini and Jourdan have received a similar distinction.

Cardinal Gibbons is now on the threshold of his 80th year, and yet how marvellously active mentally, spiritually, and physically. In England (writes Father Deppen in the Louisville Record they called Gladstone ‘The Grand Old Man ’; in this country may we not, with equal propriety, designate Cardinal Gibbons as the Grand Old Prelate? '

There are very few instances of a curate being appointed Bishop, and yet this was the honor conferred on the present illustrious Bishop of Limerick, Dr. Edward Thomas O’Dwyer, one of the strongest men and best disciplinarians in all Ireland. He is a Tipperary man, and was educated at Maynooth. He was ordained when only 25 years of age and was curate at St. Michael’s parish when he was consecrated Bishop of Limerick in 1886. Dr. O’Dwyer is now in his 70th year, but still wields a vigorous pen. Some years ago Dr. O’Dwyer wrote a pamphlet on the Encyclical Pascendi , and so pleased was Pope Pius with it that his Holiness wrote him an autograph letter of commendation.

The election of an Archbishop to the Presidency of a Republic is somewhat unusual, yet that is what has taken place in San Domingo. The conference between the American Commissioners, Messrs. Mclntyre and Doyle, and representatives of the Dominican Republic and the Revolutionaries, has resulted in an understanding whereby the Archbishop of San Domingo is to become provisional President for two years. The Republic is a State formed of the Eastern portion of Hayti, and the population numbers about threequarters of a million. The State religion is Catholic. San Domingo has seen many changes of Government, but none more singular than the present, when a Catholic Archbishop is to rule over a State with accredited lay representatives duly accepted by other countries.

One of the Old Guard, Mr. T. P. O’Connor, holds the unique distinction, and has held it now'for many years, of being the special spokesman of the Irish in Great Britain. He represents the Scotland Division of Liverpool as a pledged member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. A journalist of power and versatility (says the Freeman’s Journal he has given to literature works of permanent value. He is the historian of the movement with which his name is so closely associated. The Parnell Movement is one of the most valuable historical works bearing on the' constitutional struggle of the Irish Nation. His Life of Beaconsfield is well worth reading. His pen is never idle v and he has used it and his voice with immense success on behalf of the cause of his native land. One of the best speakers of the day, and a Parliamentarian of the very first rank, there is really no knowing to what official rank he might not have aspired and attained but for his supreme and whole-hearted devotion to the Irish cause. That he would long since have been in a British Cabinet is taken for granted. He comes from across the Shannon, being * a native of Athlone, is an alumnus of the old University College in Galway, and started life on the Dublin press. A fine type of Irishman, in every sphere where he is found he reflects credit on the land that gave him birth. His services to the Home Rule cause are too well known, and in any case, too multitudinous, to be here enumerated. He fills, and, we hope and pray, will long fill, a great and honorable place in the public life of his time.