PERTH
731
PERTH
ders, Spain, and Rome, "Prefects of the Mission",
while the nuncio in Flanders was to be the vicegerent
of the cardinal-protector, with supreme jurisdiction.
In point of fact it was foimd more convenient to deal
directly with the archpriest, George Blackwell, who,
albeit a good scholar and an amiable man, had not the
skill and experience necessary to calm the disputes
then raging, and his endeavours turned the com-
plainants against himself. An appeal was carried
against him to Rome; but was decided in his favour,
6 April, 1599. But Father Persons, who had de-
fended him, misunderstood the nature of the op-
position, and treated the appellant envoj's like
recalcitrant scholars, and Blackwell misused his
victory. A second appeal ensued (Nov., 1600), which
was backed up by the publication of many books,
some of which contained scandalous attacks on Father
Persons, who defended himself in two publications
"A briefe Apologie" (St. Omers?, 1601), and the
"Manifestation" (1601). The appellants were pat-
ronized by the French ambassador, the archpriest
by the Spanish, and the debate grew very warm.
Father Persons's pen being busily engaged the whole
time. Clement VIII in the end maintained the arch-
priest's authority, but justified the grounds of the ap-
peal, ordering that six of the appellant party should be
admitted among the assistants, cancelled the instruc-
tion which commanded the archpriest to seek the
advice of the Jesuit superior in matters of greater
moment, and forbade all further books on either side.
Thus the appellants won the majority of points, and
a party supported by France, but hostile to Persons,
became influential among the English clergy.
VI. Conclusion, 1602-10. — Persons remained till his death rector of the English College, but he nearly lost that post in 1604. Clement VIII had been told by the French ambassador that James would be favourably impressed, if he proved his in- dependence of the Jesuits, by sending Father Persons away. Persons, as it happened, was ill, and had to go to Naples (Nov., 1604); whereupon the pope gave orders for him not to return. But the pontiff himself died 3 March, 1605, and his successor, Paul V, re- versed his policy, which was unpopular at Rome. Persons returned to his post, and enjoyed full papal favour until his death. Father Persons's greatest work, his "Christian Directory" [originally called "The Book of Christian Exercise", and known as "The Book of Resolution" (Rouen, 1582), with in- numerable editions and translations], had been con- ceived during his heroic mission in England. His edition of Sander's " De Schismate AngUcano" (Rome, 1506) had also an immense circulation. His later works, were controversial, written with wonderful vigour, irony, incisiveness, and an easy grasp of the most complex subjects; but they lack the deep sym- pathy and human interest of his missionary books. Father Persons was a man of great parts, eloquent, influential, zealous, spiritual, disinterested, fearless. Yet he had some of the defects of his qualities. He was masterful, sometimes a special pleader, and greater as a pioneer or sectional leader than as Gen- eralissimo. Though his services in the mission field, and in the education of the clergy were priceless, his participation in politics and in clerical feuds cannot be justified except in certain aspects.
Persons, Memoirs (C.
don. 1906. 1907)
Omers, Ititidi , K
Pollen, Vnlr,
Kretzschmai:. /
England (Liii
■ Record Society), II, IV (Lon-
, Historia Provincial Anglicana (St.
Vr.s of Cardinal Allen (London, 1882);
/' Catholics in The Month (1902-04);
'r-ijecte der katholischen M&chte gegen
^. ^_ .,,_,. _ , .Meyer, England und die katholinche
kirche'unler' Eli!nbrl)i (Home, 1911); Bellesheim. Cardinal Allen und die englische Seminare (Mainz, 1885) ; Dodd-Tierney, Church History of England (London, 1838) ; Law, AppellarU Con- troversy (Camden Society, 1896, 1898) ; Couzard, Une ambassade i Rome sous Henri IV (Pans. 1900?); Lafleur de Kebmainqant Christophe de Harlay, comle de Beaumont (Pans, 189.5) ; OssAT, Letters, in various editions by Amelot de La Hocbsaie (Amster- dam, 1708); DAgert (Paris, 1894), Tamibez de Labroque
(Pans, 1872), etc.; de Fresne, Ambassades (Paris, 1635); SoM-
mervcoel, Bibl. de la C. de J.; Bibl. Diet. Eng. Cath.,- Diet. Nat.
Biog.
J. H. Pollen. Perth (Scotland). See Ddnkeld.
Perth (Perthensis), Diocese of, in Western Aus- tralia, suft'ragan to Adelaide; bounded on the north by parallel 31° 20' S. lat. (the Moore River), east to 120° E. long., and thence by parallel 29° S. lat. to the border of South Austraha, its eastern boundary, on the south and west by the ocean. The first Catholics, Irish emigrants, settled about seventy-five years ago near the present city of Perth. As they had no priest. Archbishop Folding of Sydney appointed Rev. John Brady his vicar-general for the western portion of Australia. A native of Cavan, Father Brady had la- boured for twelve years in Mauritius, before going to Australia in February, 1838. With Fr. John Joostens, a former Dutch chaplain in Napoleon's forces, and Patrick O'Reilly, a catechist, he reached Albany, 4 November, 1843, and Perth, 13 December, 1843. Land for a church, presbytery, and school was donated by Governor Hutt, and the foundation stone of the church laid, 27 December, 1843. Shortly afterwards Fr. Brady went to Europe to procure aid, and was ordained bishop at Rome, 18 May, 1845. He returned with some missionaries, including six Sisters of Mercy from Carlow, Ireland, under Mother Ursula Frayne, reaching Fremantle in January, 1846.
The early days of the mission were days of suffering and poverty. In 1848 the scattered Catholic poi)ula- tion, which was extremely poor, numbered only 306 out of 4600 whites. The bishop soon sent Fr. Confa- lonieri with two catechists, James Fagan and Nicholas Hogan, to Port Essington to convert the native north- ern blacks. The catechists were drowned in a ship- wreck on the voyage, but Fr. Confalonieri was simred to labour for two years, till his death by fever at Vic- toria, Melville Island, when he had converted over 400 blacks. An attempt to found a southern native mis- sion failed for want of resources. A central mission was confided to two Spanish Benedictines, Dom Serra and Dom Salvado. In March, 1S47, they established a monastery, now New Norcia (q. v.), 84 miles from Perth. The first diocesan .synod was held there, 13 March, 1848, attended by the bishop and his three priests. The mission sinking heavily in debt, Dom Salvado was sent to Europe for funds. He returned January, 1849, but his resources were applied to New Norcia alone. Dom Serra, who had also gone to Eu- rope, had while there been made Bishop of Port Vic- toria. Worn out by toil and anxiety. Dr. Brady ap- plied for a coadjutor, and Dom Serra was transferred from Port Victoria to the titular See of Daulia and appointed to administer the temporalities of Perth. He arrived there from Europe with a large contingent of Benedictines in 1849. Dissen.sion broke out be- tween the laity and the Spanish monks, and Dr. Brady, unable to bear the strain, returned to Ireland in 1852; he died in France, 2 December, 1871. While he was in Perth, Dr. R. R. Madden, the historian, was appointed colonial secretary, the first Catholic to hold that oflice in the colonies. On Corpus Christi, 10 June. 1854, the first two black children recei\-eri Holy Communion at Perth. In 18.59 Fr. Martin Griver was made adminis- trator of the diocese. In 1862 Dom Serra returned to Spain, where he died in 1886.
On 10 October, 1869, Fr. Griver was named Bishop of Tloa and Administrator Apostolic of Perth. In July, 1873, he became Bishop of Perth. In 1863 churches were erected .at Fremantle, Guildford, and York. The cathedral of Perth, begun in that year, was dedicated on 29 January, 1865. In 1867 the Sisters of Mercy established an orphanage at Perth. In 1882 the diocese contained 8500 Catholics, with 1300 chil- dren in the parochial schools. Bishop Griver died on 1 November, 1886. Bom at Granollers in Spain, It
