PETER RICHARD KENRICK.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY TASTE FOR LEARNING-WORK IN THE SCRIVENERY OFFICE-ENTRANCE INTO MAYNOOTH. ORDAINED BY ARCHBISHOP MURRAY-DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA-MISSIONARY LIFE-ATTEMPT TO JOIN THE JESUITS-MEETING WITH BISHOP ROSATI—APPOINTED COADJUTOR BISHOP OF ST. LOUIS-EARLY DIFFICULTIES-HELP FROM WEALTHY IRISH FAMILIES-ENTRY INTO BUSINESS LIFE-ENORMOUS PHYSICAL DRAWBACKS TO SUCCESS-NARROW ESCAPE FROM YELLOW FEVER.

DROWNING

With respect to the nativity of Peter Richard Kenrick, it is unnecessary to say more than what has already been said regarding the environment and atmosphere amid which the family lot was cast. He was born in the old part of the city of Dublin, 16 Chancery Lane, on 17th August, in the year 1806. He seemed to have of his own. motion chosen the religious life, as in the case of his brother, but the wishes of his uncle, the parish priest of St. Nicholas of Myra, may have had some share in the decision also. An extreme piety characterized the boyhood of both the brothers, and it was evidently this "kindly light" that led them on to their logical goal, in either case. An intense desire for learning began to manifest itself in the young man as soon as he had begun to taste of the Pierian spring. We are told that in his college days, ere he was ordained, he used to devote his

leisure hours after study was over-to the study of things outside his course. As portion of his recreation he read Bergier's Ecclesiastical Dictionary through. The same passion for knowledge was characteristic of both the brothers. Literature was their nurture, their meat and drink. A high spiritual strain also constituted a common bond between these remarkable brothers. In tastes and tendencies there was a resemblance, too, in a general way. Still, in temperament there was a diversity more marked, perhaps, than is usually seen in children of the same parents.

It is only necessary to look at the two portraits to realize a wide dissimilarity. The elder brother's face is full of a gentle humor and kindliness; the other is no less gentle, but there is an austerity mingled with it that is entirely absent in the countenance of Francis Patrick. The eyes are meditative, too, in their expression; profound, introspective, penetrating: they give the impression of a perpetual play of brain and a continual weighing of intellectual problems. It is refined, also, in the highest degree, in all its lines and tones-a subtle face, full of suggestive power and bespeaking an indomitable will and a fearless spirit beneath the calm and masterly repose of its expression. There was, in fact, a very appreciable distinction between these two natures, although externally a great resemblance. While each had his own ideals regarding spiritual perfection, they approached the common goal by different processes of thought and dissimilar habits of mind. They strove for the same objects; they conceived like plans for the accomplishment of their high tasks; they employed the same spiritual means; their studies lay much in the same fields; yet they were perceptibly diverse in a thousand ways. Place two blocks of ice side by side-one cut from Wenham Lake, the other from a pond in a district

A SCRIVENER WITH MANGAN.

269

of much lower elevation. They will look exactly alike, yet a scientific examination will reveal the fact that there is an immense difference between the respective frigidity of each.

There is some uncertainty about the schools at which Peter Richard Kenrick received his earlier training. It may be that his uncle, the parish priest of St. Nicholas of Myra, helped personally in his Latin lessons, as well as supervised his general training; but it may be taken as certain that his education was not attained, so far as the Dublin portion of it was concerned, without considerable difficulty, because of the straitened circumstances of the family. The young student was obliged to work in his father's office, in order to eke out the family support, and here it was that he formed that acquaintance with that unfortunate child of genius, James Clarence Mangan, which may have had some share in determining his own bent of thought and literary style, as well as suggesting food for reflection on the fatal weaknesses of even the most gifted of mankind. Besides Mangan there was in the scrivener's office another assistant whose literary and poetic pretensions were not by any means inconsiderable, James Tighe, some of whose lyrical compositions appeared in the Irish periodicals of the time and show considerable merit, though immeasurably below the lofty plane of the author of "My Dark Rosaleen." The atmosphere of the little office was, however, decidedly literary and therefore elevating-for in those days literature was not impregnated with the abandon of "Bohemia," as the term goes, nor was its tone that of questionable morality or wavering faith.

He

Wherever his elementary studies were carried on, there is no doubt about his more advanced ones. entered the famous College of Maynooth when he had arrived at the adolescent age,1 and there applied himself

to the task he had put before his mind with a determination that augured well for success. Love of study, exemplary piety, a quiet resolution, a close observance of rule were his distinguishing characteristics at a time of life when the youthful ideals are rarely associated with contemplative pursuits and when the activities of body and brain are so many incitements to abandon books and blow out the midnight lamp. His diligence and application were superior to any such temptations, had they ever presented themselves; and having triumphantly gone through his scholastic courses he was ordained to the sacred priesthood.

When it came to the young student to put away his text-books and assume the solemn robe of the priesthood, the prelate who consecrated him was one of those who were foremost in the eventful religious life' of Ireland in her pre-Emancipation days. He was the eminent Archbishop Murray, of Dublin-he who played so prominent a part in undoing the mischief caused by Monsignor Quarantotti in Rome, on the subject of the proposed Veto for Ireland. The ordination ceremony was performed in the chapel of Maynooth College, on the 6th of March, 1832. He was appointed immediately to missionary work in the Cathedral parish in Dublin, but this lasted only a few months; and he then took ministerial service in the parish of Rathmines under a very distinguished priest, the Rev. Father O'Dwyer. It is stated that about this time Father Kenrick began to entertain the idea of going to Paris and entering the Lazarist order there, for the purpose of introducing that celebrated congregation into Irish religious life. But this project, if ever seriously entertained by the young priest, was soon abandoned for something perhaps more practical. The cry of "Westward Ho!" had not as yèt been heard in books, but it resounded in the minds of

A PRIEST AND IN EXILE.

271

many young enthusiasts, especially Irish ones. While his mother was alive (his father had died while he was but a child, in the year 1817) he seemed to be undecided as to his course, for his attachment to her was intense. But she died soon after his ordination, and then, finding himself no longer fettered by loving ties, he yielded to the pressing requests of his brother and started for the American continent. When he arrived in Philadelphia he bore with him the following letter from Archbishop Murray:

"Dublin, 24th August, 1833.

"My Dear Lord: It would not be easy to give a more decided proof of my attachment for your Lordship's person, and the interest which I feel for the prosperity of your Church, than I do by placing at your Lordship's future disposal the services of your respected relative, the Rev. Peter Kenrick. I am given to understand that your Lordship desired his assistance, and even sent him money to defray his expenses to the destined scene of his future labors. He thinks, too, that the will of God calls him thither. I therefore surrender into your Lordship's hands all title which I have heretofore had to his canonical obedience, and I pray God to grant a blessing, under your Lordship's guidance, to the future exercise of his ministry. Were I giving him an ordinary exeat I would deem it right to give the attestation, which he so justly merits, of his zeal, talents, acquirements and virtue. To your Lordship such an attestation would be superfluous. I will therefore only pray your Lordship to be assured of the perfect esteem with which I have the honor to be, my dear Lord, your Lordship's faithful servant in Christ,

"D. MURRAY."

Soon after his arrival in Philadelphia, the presidency