Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. Edmund Hill (1842-1916) ¢ Father Edmund (Hill) of the Heart of Marys se Father Edmund of the fleart of: Mary, in the world Benjamin Hill, was born of Anglican parents on Novs 4th 1842 at Wootton Underwood, Northampton, Iingland. His father was a clergyman, and Father Edmund while still a boy accompanied him to Valparaiso in Chile, where his father held the post of chaplein to the English who resided there. Later, on his return to England, he determined to. embrace the profession of medicine, and with this view proceeded to the tmiversity of Cambridge, While there he began to have doubts about the tenableness. of hie religious position and being resolved at all costs to follow the promptings of conscience; he entered the Catholic Church. * In those days Catholics were not zi admitted to the English Universities, and so young Nill was obliged to look out for some other place where he might-continue his studies. He chose the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where it.is interesting to note he had the present Venerable Bishop of Aberdeen for his confessors Feeling called to a hagher life he. re- nounced the study of ‘medicine, and having gone to the Imited States he was admitted. to the Congregation of the Paulists and in due time promoted to the priesthood. He had-a brotier Paulist, James Kent Stone, who subsequently became a Passionist taking’ the name Fidelis of the Cross. Father Hill desirous of leading a more austere life than that of a Paulist, decided to follow his friend's exemple, and having to his great joy been clothed in the habit wa#& of the Passion, he made his profession at. the Noviciate at Pittsburg in the United States on Juné 2nd 1880. We then began his long career as missioner which he prosecuted with so much energy and. suocess in North and South ‘America: and also in England. He was a skilful controversialist, and a poet of no mean order, and he. published several works in prose and verse which produced mich fruits He was already an old man when he: beran to think of returning to his native land, and having obtained tne necessary author+ ‘ization, he was transferred to the Province of Saint Joseph. As long as he ret- ained sufficient: strength, he continued to give retreats to religious commmities and to preach in our churches: fe had ‘an attractive way of putting ‘things, and the faithful heard him gladlys When his health began to fail he was gent to our Hospice at Herne Ray near the sea where the air is. particularly fresh and ynire; but his infirmities increased to stich an alarming degree that the Physiciens advised that he should be sent to a hospital where he cculd receive special care and attention at the hands of skilful nurges. Accordingly he was sent to the Wospice of the Sisters of Charity at Hackney, Jondon where .everything was done to afford. him some relief. His last days were cheered by the visits» of his brethren. We edified all who approached him by ‘his unvarying patience; -he was never known to utter the. slightest murmer or complaint. ~ He expired peacefully on 2Ath Aug. 1916. is remains were transferred to our church of daint Joseph, Migheate , London and after the usual High Mass and Obsequies they were interred in the vault in the. grounds of the Retreat. The memory of Father edmundts virtues will long be held in benediction in our Province especially his simple and childlike feith. ‘RT. Pe Singed:"Bonaventure of the Ss Heart of Mary." a I I I i I f I fb { k | I I f if l L I i I I I i I | | | i I | | I H | I | | | ea ks Ss Boa ety me ck
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.