William Henry Elder

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Bishop of Natchez
(1857–1878) Coadjutor Archbishop of Cincinnati (1880-1883)
Education
Pontifical Urban College
MottoVincit Mundum Fides (Faith Conquers the World)
SignatureWilliam Henry Elder's signature

William Henry Elder (March 22, 1819 – October 31, 1904) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Natchez in Mississippi from 1857 to 1880 and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in Ohio between 1883 and his death.

Biography

Early life and education

William Elder was born in

Baltimore, Maryland, on March 22, 1819. His father, Basil Elder, was a descendant of William Elder (1681–1714), a Catholic immigrant from England to Maryland (United States) in colonial times. His grandfather was Thomas Elder, husband of Elizabeth Spalding, thus making William a first cousin once removed of Catherine Spalding, co-founder of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. His mother was Elisabeth Miles (née Snowden) Elder.[1]

In 1831, Elder entered Mount St. Mary's College, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He graduated in 1837 and entered the seminary. And in 1842, he was sent to the Pontifical Urban College in Rome, where he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity.[1] Their Elder was ordained a priest in Rome on March 29, 1846. He became a professor at the seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Bishop of Natchez

Bishop Elder

Elder was appointed on January 9, 1857, by

cathedral of Baltimore by Archbishop Francis Kenrick on May 3, 1857. The diocese comprised the entire state of Mississippi.[1]

On the eve of the American Civil War, Elder wrote to his father:

Ordination history of
William Henry Elder
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained by
Francis Patrick Kenrick
Co-consecratorsJohn McGill James Frederick Bryan Wood
Date3 May 1857
PlaceCathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by William Henry Elder as principal consecrator
John Ambrose Wtterson8 August 1880
Henry Joseph Richter22 April 1883
Camillus Paul Maes25 January 1885
John Frederick Ignatius Horstmann25 February 1892
Thomas Sebastian Byrne25 July 1894
Denis O'Donaghue25 April 1900
Henry Moeller25 August 1900
Herman Joseph Alerding30 November 1900
Source(s):https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/belder.html

It is hard to tell what is to be the fate of the country. I have not enough of political sagacity to see what will be the course of events, nor what would be the fruit of the remedies proposed. . . . We can all unite in praying to God to guide and protect us.[2]

Elder celebrated Mass for the wounded and ministered to soldiers and freedmen gathered in Natchez. He sent priests to serve as chaplains in the Confederate States Army and Sisters of Mercy to nurse the sick and wounded, and he gave his blessing to a Natchez volunteer company.[3]

During the Union occupation of Natchez, Elder caused some controversy for refusing to obey an order to have prayers for the

Edwin M. Stanton and Stanton indicated that he would communicate to Tuttle to remedy the situation so there would be no further interference. Elder subsequently wrote thanking Stanton for the protection extended to religious freedom, and asking that the ruling be made known to other commanders.[5]

When Colonel Farrar was placed in command of Natchez, he noted Tuttle's order had neither been rescinded nor was being obeyed. General Mason Brayman, the next commander, took a harder stance, saying "...military orders are to be followed, not discussed..." and issued an order for Elder to be sent to jail in Vidalia, Louisiana. Federal troops took Elder to Vidalia for a few weeks. After Washington officials intervened, Brayman ordered the release of Elder on August 12, 1864.[5]

During his time in Natchez, a yellow fever epidemic broke out in 1878. Ministering to the sick, Elder caught the disease. He survived but lost six diocesan priests.[2] At the time he arrived in Natchez the diocese had eleven missions (churches), nine priests and 10,000 Catholics. When he left, there were forty-one churches, 25 priests, six religious houses for men, five convents, thirteen parish schools and 12,500 Catholics.

Archbishop of Cincinnati

On January 30, 1880, Elder was appointed coadjutor archbishop with the right of succession, to Archbishop John Purcell, for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Elder automatically succeeded on July 4, 1883. He became archbishop at a time of great financial difficulty in the archdiocese. Elder systematically organized the administration of the diocese. He reopened Mount Saint Mary Seminary in 1887, which had been closed since 1879.[6] He instituted the office of chancellor of the diocese and insisted on annual reports from clergy and parishes in order to bring the diocese out of great debt.

Death and legacy

Elder died in Cincinnati on October 31, 1904, from influenza. Elder High School, a Cincinnati parochial school, was named for Elder.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Deasy, Timothy. "William Henry Elder". The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. January 23, 2019
  2. ^ a b ""Bishop William Henry Elder", Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson". Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Vaughn, William. "William Henry Elder", Mississippi Encyclopedia, Center for Study of Southern Culture, April 14, 2018
  4. ^ a b McPherson, Edward. The Political History of the United States of America During the Great Rebellion, Philp & Solomons, 1865, Appendix p. 538
  5. ^ a b Character Glimpses of Most Reverend William Henry Elder, D.D., published by Frederick Pustet & Company, New York and Cincinnati, 1911
  6. ISBN 9780814209042

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "William Henry Elder". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

External links

Wikisource has original works by or about:
William Henry Elder
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Natchez
1857–1880 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Archbishop of Cincinnati

1883–1903 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Henry_Elder&oldid=1218675810"