DEATH OF BISHOP LENIHAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2743, 23 February 1910, Page 5

DEATH OF BISHOP LENIHAN.

FOUND DEAD IN BED.

[Per Press Association. | AUCKLAND, Fob. 22

Bishop Lenihan, head of the Roman Catholic Church in the 'province of Auckland, was found dead in bed at Whangarei. Dr. Darby, his medical attendant, states the cause of death wa s heart disease. The announcement of the death of Bishop Lenihan was received with widespread regret. He was in the Domain on the opening day of the Aus. tralian-Auckland cricket match. His intimate friends knew he had been suffering lately, but as usual he was jovial and hearty in manner. Many friends were ignorant of the fact that he had been warned by his medical adviser that his end might come at anytime.

WHANGAREI, Feb. 22. Bishop Lenihan, who was on a. visit to Whangarei, died in bed early this morning, at the Roman Catholic presby. tery, the cans© of death being syncope. The Bishop arrived here on Saturday from Auckland. He conducted the openino- of the convent boarding school on Sunday and confirmation service and mass. The Bishop visited Mangokaramea, where ho held confirmation service. Last night a social gathering in his honor was held at the Presbytery 7, dispersing at 10.30. During the evening the Bishop complained of illhealth. hut there was nothing to indicate that he was in such, a serious state.

THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

On arrival in Auckland early to-mor-,tow morning, the body of the late Bishop Lenihan will he embalmed and will then be taken to the Bishop’s Palace. It will lie in state until Thursday evening, and then be transferred to the Cathedral, whence it will lie on Thursday night and remain till Friday morning, when the funeral is to take place. The office of V icar General (at present held by Monsignor Gillan, of St. Benedict’s) dies with the Bishc/p. Archbishop Redwood, Metropolitan of New Zealand, is now in charge of the diocese. He will appoint a deputy to administer it till the new bishop is appointed. Under ecclesiastical ]aw nothing will be done in the direction of appointing a new bishop till a month’s time has elapsed.

The sad news of the sudden death of the Bishop was received in Gisborne with the most profound regret, as Bishop Lenihan was well known here, and had endeared himself to one ana all with whom he came in contact. His 'last visit to this portion of his diocese was in October, 1909, when he apy <=ared to be in excellent health. Since that time, however, Rev. Father Lane has been on a visit to Auckland, and noticed that His Lordship was then apparently failing in health. Out of respect to his memory, flags were flown half-mast from the Victoria belfry, the Borough Council Chambers, and a number of places of business.

BISHOP LENIHAN’S CAREER. The following particulars. of the career of the late Bishop were kindly supplied to a 11 ’Times” representative by Rev. Father Lane: Bishop Lenihan was horn of Irish parents in 1858. At the age of three lie lost his mother, and eight years later his father. He entered the Benedictine College at Ramsgate, then under the charge of the late Lord Abbot Alcoek and Father Edmund Luck, at the age of 14. For four years he studied at Ramsgate. Subsequently the young student was sent to St. Edmund’s , College, Oldhall Green, to study for the Westminster Diocese. In 1577 lie was sent to Spain to complete his philosophical and theological training. In April, 1882, being then sub-deaeon, lie was invited by Father Luck, on Hie latter’s appointment as Bishop of Auckland, to accompany him to the Antipodes. The young Levite readily consented, and returning to England, was raised to the priesthood. Besides being a student of Ramsgate College, ordained as a secular priest, lie was the new Bishop’s first- appointee to the ministry. The ship Austral left London decks on September 7. ISBI, for Australia, conveying Bishop Luck, Father Lenihan, and a number of clergy. The party reached Auckland in November, and were heartily welcomed.

Father Lenilian’s first appointment was to the curacy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, under Father Walter, and be was afterwards appointed to the new parish of the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby, where he built a church of that name. On the death of Monsignor Fynes, Father Lenihan was appointed irremovable rector of Parnell parish, also succeeding that venerable priest as manager of St.- Mary’s Orphanage, an office the difficult duties of which lie filled to the satisfacton of all concerned. Bishop Luck died in Januarv 23, 1596, and in accordance with the decrees of the Plenary Council, held at Sydney, the priests of the diocese met shortly afterwards, Archbishop Redwood presiding. The"names of three, candidates were selected. These were forwarded to the Holy See, and the Pope chose Father Lenihan to succeed Bishop Luck. The consecration, which was conducted by Bishop Grimes, took place on November 15, 1897, the event being signalised with many congratulatory addresses and presentations. Bishop Lenihan left for Rome in March, 1899, to make his visit ad linvina, subsequently visiting Ireland and securing more priests for the diocese. In 1908 the Bishop attended the Eucharist Congress at- London, and also had occasion to go to Rome to present his report- to His Holiness the Pope, thus enabling him to be present at the Pope’s jubilee, in September last lie attended the Congress at Sydney, the occasion 0 f a large reunion of Catholics. Rev. Father Lane leaves for Auckland this morning to attend the funoral of the. late Bishop. He will return to Gisborne next Wednesday. \ solemn requiem mass will be celebrated at St, Mary’s Church this morning. All Catholics are invited to attend, and a full attendance of the choir is requested. In conversation with a ‘limes ie,porter last evening. Rev. I atliei Lane said that a special effort would be made to obtain permission for the interment to take place in the Cathedral at Auckland. The late Bishop took a most active interest in the building of the Cathedral, and it was mainly owing to his efforts that the magnificent structure had just been completed.

SYMPATHY FROM HIBERNIAN

SOCIETY

'Hie fortnightly meeting of the local branch of the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society was held last night in St. Mary’s Schoolroom. Out of" respect to. the memory ot the late Bishop, the meeting almost immediately adjourned, after, having decided to forward the following telegram, to the Very Rev. Monsignor Gillan, Vicar.

General of Auckland: “The Hibernians of Gisborne desire to express their pro-, found sympathy and deepest regret at the sudden demise of their esteemed' Bishop and brother, and (pray that God map grant his soul eternal rest.”-