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Cardinal Verdier
BUILDER OF 100 CHURCHES IN NINE YEARS Cardinal Verdier, Archbishop of Paris, died in Paris on Tuesday last, April 9, of heart failure following an operation. His death came as a shock and a surprise to the whole of Paris, because he was considered to
be convalescing, and bulletins had ceased to be issued.
Jean Verdier, who came of peasant stock and was the youngest of a family of seven, was born at Lacroix-Barrez, in the south of France, on February 19, 1864. After studying for the priesthood at St. Sulpice, he was ordained in Rome on April 9, 1887. After his ordination he returned to St. Suipice as professor, and here he remained for the next 42
years
He was succemeively director and superior of the great seminary. In July, 1929, on the death of the Superior General of the Sulpicians, Mgr, Verdier was elected to the office, and in the following October Pope Pius XI raised him to the dignity of Protonotary Apostolic.
He was nominated Archbishop of Paris in succession to Cardinal Dubois In November, 11429, and raised to the Cardinalate in the following month. He was consecrated by Pope Pius XI, who also personally gave him the Cardinal's Hat. On January 6, 1930, he was enthroned amid great public rejoicing in Notre Dame.
He launched the great scheme to build a hundred new churches in Paris. and in 1931 the " Chantier du Cardinal " had completed the task before his death. He gave vigorous support to all the young Catholic associations of working folk—the J.O.C., J.A.C., and J.E.C. owed much of their success to his influence. He was papal legate on the occasion of the centenary of St. Vincent de Paul in 1933, and again in Dakar in 1936. He was present at the Eucharistic Congress in Canada in 1932 and in the Argentine in 1934.
The body of the Cardinal lay in state in the Archbishop's Palace on Wednesday and Thursday, and the funeral, which is expected to take place on Sunday or Monday, will be at Notre Dame.
Canon R. G. Russell
WELL-KNOWN DUNDEE PRIEST The death has occurred in a Dundee nursing home of Canon R. G. Russell, aged 61, one of Dundee's best-known priests, who for the past five years had been in charge of St. Joseph's Church.
Canon Russell was a native of Stratbtay, Perthshire. He was appointed curate at Lochee, Dundee, in 1901. Five years later he became a Professor of Humanities at Blairs College, Aberdeen. Subsequently he was at Montrose. Broughty Ferry and Monifieth. He was appointed to take charge of St. Mary's, Lochee, In 1930, from where in 1935 he was transferred to St Joseph's. For the past 18 months Canon Russell had been a member of Dundee Education Committee.
Capt. John Rutherford
DROWNED ON WAY HOME Captain John Rutherford, R.N.R., aged 49, of the 5742 tons oil tanker Daohestan, whose home was at Leigh on-Sea, lost his life as the result of an explosion which sank his ship off the north-east coast of Scotland. Three members of the crew were also drowned.
The body of Captain Rutherford was recovered and sent to Leigh-on-Sea for burial. Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady and St. Joseph test week by the Rev. F. W. Gilbert, rector.
Mother Sylvester Halpin
LATE SUPERIOR-GENERAL, CHIGWELL NUNS The death took place last week of Mother Sylvester Halpin, who from 1908-1927 was Superior-Ceneral of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts '-tf Jesus and Mary, better known as the
Chigwell Nuns. During her 57 years ef religious life she did much to improve the lot of those in need of help, more especially orphan children and unmarried mothers. There are many historic events closely associated with her reign more particularly the establishment of a home for unmarried mothers in Ireland.
Mother Sylvester built the beautiful Convent Chapel at Chigwell, which has been described as one of the finest in the country. During her life she made many friends for her Community amongst whom were Cardinals Vaughan and Bourne, who helped and encouraged the Sisters in countless ways.
To-day the Chigwell Nuns, under the guidance of their Superior-General, are doing valuable work for the Church in many fields, A ,Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated for Mother Sylvester Halpin at Chigwell Convent on Friday, at which the Bishop of Brentwood presided, Many priests were present, together with the Superiors and Sisters from Houses of the Order.
The funeral took place at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Leytonstone, where her nephew, the Rev. James Halpenny. recited the last prayers.
Mrs Samborne Palmer
DONOR OF "ANSTEY CHAPEL" There died on Sunday afternoon, at her residence in Folkestone, Mrs Caroline Mary Saruborne Palmer. one of the old Bath family of Anstey, who traced her descent from the first Plantagenet. She was a zealous convert.
A foundress of the Cathedral (wherein her Requiem was sung on Thursday), a donor of one of the chapels (the " Anstey Chantry ") in which a Mase is to be said daily in perpetuity, she was still more remarkable for her constant thought and care for others. Her sick friends have every reason to bless her name, as well as the unknown poor to whom she was guided by the Sisters who work among them.
She was also a zealous supporter of the ereat Catholic charities, and for her work for the Belgian refugees she received a special decoration from the King of the Belgians. Of quick intelligence, charm of manner, the soul of kindness. her passing will be a source of grief to many. Truly a great lady.
Senor A. Rubio
FORMERLY A FAMOUS 'CELLIST
The death occurred in London last week of Senor Augustin Rubio, aged 84, a famous violoncello player in his day. Of his compositions the best known is a 'Cello Concerto in D Minor. A Low Requiem Mass was offered on Saturday at the Church of the Servite Fathers In Fulham Road.
Canon Bennett, V.F.
CHAMPION OF YOUTH AND EDUCATION The death occurred on Monday of the Very Rev. Edward K. Canon Bennett, V.F., D.D., parish priest of the Sacred Heart Church, Hall Lane, Liverpool.
A staunch champion of youth and education, Canon Bennett was one of the most popular priests in the Liverpool Archdiocese.
Born in the parish of St. Michael, Liverpool, on March 26, 1865, he was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College, the Catholic Institute, and St. Edward's College, Liverpool, and the English College, Rome, where he obtained the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Ordained in 1893. Dr. Bennett taught Dogmatic Theology at St. Joseph's College, Upholland. for Six years being on the staff at the same time as the Right Rev. Robert Dobson, D.D., Bishop of Cynopolls, and the late Archbishop Whiteside.
His next appointment was to the Church of St. Oswald, King and Martyr, Ashton-in-Makerfleid, where he served as a curate for a short period before being appointed parish priest of the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury.
Windieshaw. St. Helens. He remained there for 13 years, and built the permanent church, schools. and presbytery.
In 1915 he succeeded the late Canon Kennedy as parish priest of the Sacred Heart Church. Liverpool,
During his quarter of a century of work at Hall Lane, Dr. Bennett improved his church, built new schools, acquired hind for the future development of the parish, established a flourishing boys' club — it was only recently that he camped with the boys —and erected a war memorial in the church grounds, believed to be the first In Liverpool.
He was the founder of St, Elizabeth's Central School, Liverpool, the only Catholic central school for boys in the city. For many years he was secretary of the Liverpool Catholic School Managers' Association, of which body he was chairman in 1933, and for a long period he represented the Liverpool Archdiocese on the Catholic Education Council. Dr. Bennett was an Honorary Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter and Dean of St. Nicholas's Deanery. He wrote a life of Archbishop Whiteside.
Canon Bennett is survived by his brother. Mr Ernest J. Bennett, a parishioner of the Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Waterloo, Liverpool.
Rev. Frederick Donovan
RETIRED PRIEST OF STOWMARKET The Rev. Frederick Donovan, aged
76, former parish priest of 'Stowmarket, died at Twyford Abbey on March 31. Last year he celebrated
his golden jubilee and retired sick in January, 1939. Ordained at Valladolid in 1888, he served at Kirtling and Ipswich before being appointed parish priest at Stowmarket, where he remained for SO years.
Requiem Mass was offered in the Abbey Chapel by the Rev. Peter Peacock, 0.S.F.C., nephew of the deceased, on April 4, and the interment took place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Hensel Green. Mgr, Canon J. B. Marshall, VicarCapitular of the Diocese of Northampton, and the Rev. Francis J. Rudd, parish priest of Stowmarket, attended the Requiem.
A Solemn Requiem Mass was sung in the Church of Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Stowmarket, for the soul of its former parish priest, on April 8. The celebrant Was the Rev. Francis J. Rudd, assisted by the Rev. Thomas K. Phillips (Thetford) and the Rev, F. Arnold, 0.S.F.C. (Bury St. Edmunds), representMg Canon Ernest E. Garnett, whose absence was due to recuperation after a recent operation.
Also present were Mgr. Canon J. B. Marshall, Canon Augustine Peacock (Ipswich) and priests of the Deaneries of Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich.
Mr R. J. Giles
RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION PIONEER The death has occurred of Mr Roy John Giles, aged 54. of Westeliff, who was associated with the late Alderman R. Thurlow Baker in the formation of the Westborough Ward Ratepayers' Association Requiem Mass was offered last week at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh-on-Sea, the Revv. F. W. Gilbert and Feargus Saurin officiating.
Mr Charles Lowndes
The death has occurred of Mr Charles Lowndes, a distinguished member of the ones staff and husband of mrs Belloc Lowndes, sister of Hilaire Belloe and the author of many excellent novels. One of their daughters is married to the Earl of Iddesleigh.