ECCLESTON
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ECCLESTON
observances, and it causes man to place inward right-
eousness far above the offering of rich gifts to God
(xxxv). As can readily be seen, the author of Ecclesi-
asticus inculcated in all this a teaching far superior to
that of the Pharisees of a somewhat later date, and in
no way inferior to that of the prophets and of the
other protocanonical writers before him. Highly
commendable, too, are the numerous pithy sayings
which the son of Sirach gives for the avoidance of sin,
wherein the negative part of practical wisdom may be
said to consist. His maxims against pride (iii, 30; vi,
2-4; X, 14-30; etc.), covetousness (iv, 36; v, 1; xi, 18-
21), envy (xxx, 22-27; xxxvi, 22), impurity (ix, 1-13;
xix, 1-3; etc.), anger (xviii, 1-14; x, 6), intemperance
(xxxvii, 30-34), sloth (vii, 16; xxii, 1, 2), the sins of the
tongue (iv, 30; vii, 13, 14; xi, 2, 3; i, 36-40; v, 16, 17;
xxviii, 15-27; etc.), evil company (xi, 31-36; xxii, 14-
18; etc), display a close observation of human nature,
stigmatize vice in a forcible manner, and at times
point out the remedy against the spiritual distemper.
Indeed, it is probably no less because of the success
which Ben Sira attained to in branding vice than be-
cause of that which he obtained in directly inculcating
virtue, that his work was so willingly used in the early
days of Christianity for public reading at church, and
bears, down to the present day, the pre-eminent title
of "Ecclesiastious".
Together with these maxims, which nearly all bear on what may be called individual morality, the Book of Ecclesiasticus contains valuable lessons relative to the various classes which make up human society. The natural basis of society is the family, and the son of Sirach supplies a number of pieces of advice espe- cially appropriate to the domestic circle as it was then constituted. He would have the man who wishes to become the head of a family determined in the choice of a wife by her moral worth (xxxvi, 23-26; xl, 19-23). He repeatedly describes the precious advantages re- sulting from the possession of a good wife, and con- trasts with them the misery entailed by the choice of an unworthy one (xxvi, 1-24; xxv, 17-36). The man, as the head of the family, he represents indeed as vested with more power than would be granted to him among us, but be does not neglect to point out his numerous responsibilities towards those under him : to his children, especially his daughter, whose welfare he might more particularly be tempted to neglect (vii, 25 sqq.), and his slaves, concerning whom he writes: " Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul " (vii, 23; xxxiii, 31), not meaning thereby, however, to encourage the servant's idleness or other vices (xxxiii, 25-30). The duties of children towards their parents are often and beautifully insisted upon (vii, 29, 30, etc.). The son of Sirach devotes a variety of sayings to the choice and the worth of a real friend (vi, 6-17; ix, 14, 15; xii, 8, 9), to the care with which such a one should be preserved (xxii, 25-32), and also to the worthlessness and dangers of the unfaithful friend (xxvii, 1-6, 17-24; xxxiii, 6). The author has no brief against those in power, but on the contrary considers it an expression of God's will that some should be in exalted, and others in humble, stations in life (xxxiii, 7-15). He conceives of the various classes of society, of the poor and the rich, the learned and the ignorant, as able to become endowed with wisdom (xxxvii, 21- 29). He would have a prince bear in mind that he is in God's hand, and owes equal justice to all, rich and poor (v, IS; x, 1-13). He bids the rich give alms, and visit the poor and the afflicted (iv, 1-11; vii, 38, 39; xii, 1-7; etc.), for almsgiving is a means to obtain for- giveness of sin (iii, 33, 34; vii, 10, 36), whereas hard- heartedness is in every way hurtful (xxxiv, 25-29). On the other hand, he directs the lower classes, as we might call them, to show themselves submissive to those in higher condition and to bear patiently with those who cannot be safely and directly resisted (viii, 1-13; ix, 18-21; xiii, 1-8). Nor is the author of Ec-
clesiasticus anything like a misanthrope that would
set himself up resolutely against the legitimate pleas-
vu-es and the received customs of social life (xxxi, 12—
42; xxxii, 1 sqq.); while he directs severe but just
rebukes against the parasite (xxix, 28-35; xl, 29-32).
Finally, he has favourable sayings about the physician
(xxviii, 1-15), and about the dead (vii, 37; xxxviii,
16-24) ; and strong words of caution against the dan-
gers which one incurs in the pursuit of business (xxvi,
28; xxvii, 1—4; viii, 15, 16).
Catholic authors are marked with an asterisk (*). — Commen- taries: Calmet* (Venice, 17.51); Fritzsche (Leipzig, 1859); BissELL (.New York, 1880); Lesethe* (Paris. 1880); Eder- SHEIM (London, 1888); Zockler (Munich, 1891); Ryssel (Tubingen, 1900-1901); Knabenbauer* (Paris, 1902).
Introductions to the Old Testament: Rault* (Paris, 1882); ViGouRoux* (Paris, 1886); Cornelv* (Paris, 1886); Trochon- LEsfiTHE* (Paris, 1890); Koniq (Bonn, 1893); Cohnill (Frei- burg. 189.5); Straok (Munich, 1898); Kaulen* (Freiburg, 1899): GlGOT* (New York, 1906).
Monographs on Ancient Versions: Peters* (Freiburg, 1898); Herkenne* (Leipzig. 1899).
Literature on Hebrew Fragments: ToDZARn* (Paris, 1901); Knabenbauer* (Paris, 1902). Fr.^nciS E. Gigot.
Eccleston, Samuel, fifth Archbishop of Baltimore, U. S. A., b. near Chestertown, Maryland, 27 June, 1801; d. at Georgetown, D. C, 22 April, 1851. His father was Samuel Eccleston, an Episcopalian. After her husband's death, Mrs. Eccleston married a Cath- olic gentleman named Stenson. Samuel was thus brought under Catholic influences, and sent to St. Mary's College, Baltimore, where he was converted. Entering St. Mary's Seminary in 1819, he was ordained priest, 24 April, 1825. He went to Issy, France, for further theological studies, and, returning to Balti- more in July, 1827, was made vice-president, and two years later president, of St. Mary's College. On 14 Sept., 1834, he was consecrated titular Bishop of Thermia, and coadjutor with the right of succession for Baltimore, and, upon the death of Archbishop Whitfield, 19 October, 1834, succeeded to the metro- politan see. He became also administrator of Rich- mond, until Bishop Whelan's appointment in 1841.
During his term of office many new churches were erected. He contributed largely of his own means towards the building of the cathedral. To provide for German Catholics the Redemptorists were invited from Austria in 1841 ; the Brothers of the Christian Schools were introduced into the United States in 1846, establishing Calvert Hall School at Baltimore, and the same year the Brothers of St. Patrick took charge of a manual labour school (since discontinued) near that city. An important event was the opening, 1 November, 1849, of St. Charles's College, founded by the generosity of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Five provincial councils, the third to the seventh inclusive, were held at Baltimore under Archbishop Eccleston. (See Baltimore, Archdiocese of.)
Shea, Hist, of the Cath. Ch. in U. S. (New York, 1892), I, 441, 11, 1; Scarf, Chronicles of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1874), 497- 501; Clarke, Lives of Deceased Bishops (New York, 1872), I, 484; Reuss, Biog. Encycl. Cath. Hierarchy of U. S. (Milwaukee, 1898).
J. P. W. McNeal.
Eccleston, Thomas op, thirteenth-century Friar Minor and chronicler, dates of birth and death un- known. He styles himself simply " Brother Thomas ", and Bale seems to have first given him the title " of Eccleston". He appears to have entered the order about 1232-3 and to have been a student at Oxford between 1230 and 1240. After the latter year he was stationed at the convent in London, but he does not appear to have ever held any office in the order. He is chiefly famous for his chronicle " De Adventu Frat- rum Alinorum in Angliam", which extends from the coming of the friars into England under Agnellus of Pisa, in 1224, up to about 1258, when the work was probably completed. Eccleston declares that he spent twenty-six years collecting material for his chronicle, most of the information it contains being derived from
