Mgr. C. J. Cronin
OUTSTANDING FIGURE IN BIRMINGHAM DIOCESE The Right Rev. Mgr. Charles John Canon Cronin, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, died in the Convent of the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul, Selly Park, last Friday. He was one month short of his seventy-first birthday, Mgr. Cronin spent a conspicuous life in the service of the Church as parish priest, teacher, administrator, and as mentor to prospective priests. He spent many years at the English College in Rome and then at Oscott College.
Mgr. Cronin was a conspicuous theologian, perhaps more effective in the lectureroom than in the pulpit and more facile with pen than in speech. To the outer world his appearance of austerity masked a kindly personality.
Ordained in 1894, Mgr. Cronin's early years in the parish were spent in the heart of Birmingham life, followed by a period at Leamington, and in 1898 he was called to the English College at Rome as Vice-Rector. There followed a fruitful span of sixteen years, in which many young men, later to give high service, came under his tutelage. Of this work there was Papal recognition, For in 1907 Mgr. Cronin was made a Private Chamberlain to Pope Pius X. He remained in Rome until the outbreak of the last war, when, after serving for a time as Pro-Rector, he was asked to continue his academic work at Oscott College.
As a further recognition of his service he was made a Domestic Prelate. He spent the greater period of the last war at Oscott, and in 1917 resumed acquaintance with the parishes by serving first at Solihull and then at Ilandsworth. These seven years prepared him for work in another sphere and in 1924 he was appointed Vicar-General and returned to Oscott as Rector, He was succeeded as Rector in 1929 by Bishop Dey.
The work of Vicar-General was then resumed at Hunter's Road, Handswolth, though not before the Vatican had again shown its appreciation by according him in .1927 the honour of Protonary Apostolic. Latterly, Mgr. Cronin's health had been so poor that the main duties were taken over by Bishop Griffin. In 1938, Mgr. Cronin was made Provost and was regularly present at Chapter meetings.
Members of the Chapter were present for a Dirge in the Basilica of St. Chad last Monday. There was a Requiem Mass, sung on Tuesday by Bishop Griffin in the presence of the Archbishop, and the internment followed at Oscott College.
The Archbishop paid tribute to the memory of the late Monsignor before the Absolutions. " When," said His Grace, " he went to Cotton in 1887 as a small boy of 10 years of age, Mgr. Cronin was then at the top of the school, a boy of about 17, brilliant at studies, conscientious in performing all the duties assigned to him, but without that sort of popularity which often comes from success at games or fondness for sport."
The Archbishop said he had followed the paths of Mgr. Cronin's later life, adding that he was a shy man and, like shy men, very sensitive. He was full of kindliness and thoughtfulness, particularly for anyone in any sort of trouble.
Rev. W. Doran
RETIRED BIRMINGHAM PRIEST The funeral took place on Saturday, January 10, of the Rev. William Doran, a priest of Birmingham, who had lived in the diocese of Clifton as an invalid for many years. When the serious raids on Bristol began he was taken to Wellington, where the Sisters of the Temple have rented a house for the period of the war. Before his death, however, he expressed the wish to be buried in the Catholic cemetery, Amos Vale, Bristol.
During his years spent in retirement he made many friends among the priests of Clifton, to whom he always extended a hearty welcome.
Because of the day many priests were unable to attend the Requiem Mass which was celebrated in the Pro-Cathedral by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Long, Administrator. Among those present were Mrs. Doran (sister-in-law) and Miss Doran (niece), as well as the Very Rev. W. Canon Dillon (St. Patrick's, Bristol) and the Rev. W. A. Homer (Birmingham, retired at 5, Litfield Place, Clifton).
The Mother Superior of the Community and other Sisters from 5. Litfield Place were also present. Mgr. Long also officiated at the burial at Amos Vale cemetery.
Mother Aloysius Rabnett
WOLVERHAMPTON CONVENT OF MERCY SUPERIOR
The death of Mother Aloysius Rabnett, Superioress of the Convent of Mercy, Wolverhampton, took place on Wednesday last. Clothed 60 years ago, the deceased religious would have celebrated the diamond jubilee of her profession in May. For many years she was Headmistress of the High School, and when the school was recognised by the Board as efficient she continued as Secretary to the Governors and was present at the last meeting.
Much beloved by all who knew her, her counsel was much sought after and she helped many by her solicitude and kindly advice. In spite of her advanced age, she was alert to the last and attended the New Year Retreat.
The Solemn Requiem was sung by Canon Swift on Friday, and the internment took place at Sedgeiey.
REQUIEM FOR BISHOP DOBSON
Preaching the panegyric for the late Bishop Dobson of Liverpool, whose death we reported laSt week, the Right Rev. E. Flynn, Bishop of Lancaster, told a big congregation of clergy, assembled in the church of the Sacred Heart, Liverpool, on Friday last, that Bishop Dobson had died in harness, as he had expressed a wish to do.
Dr. Downey, Archbishop of Liverpool, sang the Requiem Mass, and gave the Absolution. The attendance included Dr. Marshall, Bishop of Salford, and Dr. Hannon, Bishop of Menevia. The internment took place at Upholland.
Brig.-Gen. Hammond
WELL-KNOWN IRISH CONVERT
Brig.-Gen. Dayrell Talbot Hammond, C.13.. C.B.E., whose death has taken place at his residence at Corbally, Dunsany, County Meath, at the age of 85, was president of the Connaught Rangers Old Comrades' Association. So active was he at his age that he drilled the local Local Security Force (Home Guard) on most evenings of the week.
He joined the Rangers as a young man and served in the Kaffir and Zulu campaigns from 1877 to 1879. He was Major in the fourth battalion and in 1899 was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. He saw service in the Great War, being Acting Quartermaster General in 1914 and he was appointed Brigadier-Gencral in the following year.
He became a convert to the Catholic faith in 1887 and married a cousin of the late Lord Fingall, who survives. For many years General Hammond acted as Lord Dunsany's land agent, and he was one of the veterans in the hunts of the Irish North Midlands.
Mr. J. Tevnan
LONDON EDITOR OF EMPIRE NEWS Following Requiem Mass at St. C:had's Church, Cheetham, Manchester, the intetn• ment took place on Thursday of last week at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Moston, of Mr. James Tevnan, London Editor of the Empire News. Mr. Tevnan, who was 58 years of age, collapsed and died shortly after teaching home on Saturday week.
A native of Manchester, where he started his newspaper career as an office boy to Mr. Edward Hutton, founder of the Hutton group of newspapers, Mr. Tevnan was probably associated with the authorship of more " scoops " than any other living journalist. During the last war he pulled off the greatest exclusive interview of his career when he tricked the guards at an Isle of Man internment camp and met the famous German general, Von Bissing. Ile travelled all over the world, and in China secured another great story when he exclusively interviewed Sun Yat Sen, first President of China.
For many years Mr. Tcvnan occupied the position of 'Special Commissioner for the Empire News, and in this capacity travelled round the world in search of first rate news. He visited America, Canada (where he wrote a book entitled Call of the Dominions, exposing the post-war treatment and conditions of British emigrants there), Mexico, Japan, Morocco, Egypt, and every country in Europe.
Mrs. O'Donoghue
MOTHER OF PENDLETON COLLEGE HEAD
The death took place, at an advanced age, in a Dublin nursing home, of Mrs. O'Donoghtie, mother of Rev. Bro. Columba, B.Sc.' Superior, De La Salle College, Pendleton, Manchester; Rev. Bro. Francis, B.A., Superior, St. Gerald's College, Castlebar (late Superior, Catholic Grammar School, St. Helens); Rev. Bro. Jarlath, Superior, The Monastery, Ramsgrange, Waterford; P. I. O'Donoghue, M.R.C.V.S., Dublin; Donal 0-Donoghue, Dublin; and Mrs. MooreSmith, Blackheath, London, Hon. Secretary, Catholic Nurses' Guild.
The funeral took place at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, on Saturday, after Requiem Mass.
Mrs. G. M. Lowe
Much regret is felt in Shoreham and district by the sudden death recently of Mrs. Gertrude Maud Lowe, wife of Dr. Charles Lowe. Mrs, Lowe, whose name before her marriage was Lawton, was born at Lawton Hall, near Chester, and was a great granddaughter of a former Lord Erskine. She had three sons serving in the Forces, and the consequent anxiety affected her health.
The funeral took place on Saturday, preceded by a Requiem Mass at St. Peter's, Shoreham.
Miss M. Flannery
The Gaelic League of London has suffered a considerable loss by the death of its president, Miss Marie Flannery. She was the first woman president of the League, being elected to the position in 1935 on the retirement of Mr. Art O'Brien.
A Gaelic enthusiast all her life, Miss Flannery was daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Flannery, a Mayo man in London, who was the author of Gaelic text-books.
She was a teacher by profession, and was a parishioner of St. Anthony's, Forest Gate, where the Requiem, celebrated by her brother, the Rev. Dom Antony Flannery, 0.S.B., took place. The interment was at St. Patrick's, Leytonstone.