Born: 23 December 1839, Carlow, County Carlow
Entered: 15 July 1854, St Stanislaus, Florissant MO, USA - Missourianae Province (MIS)
Ordained: 20 June 1869, Sulpitian Seminary, Baltimore MD, USA
Final Vows: 02 February 1873
Died: 04 December 1902, St Xavier College, Cincinnati OH, USA - - Missourianae Province (MIS)
Provincial of Missouri Province (MIS) from 01 January 1879 to 04 May 1882
◆ Woodstock Letters SJ : Vol 32, Number 1
Obituary
“Father Edward A Higgins SJ” p129
The Missouri Province lost one of its most distinguished members by the death of Father Edward A Higgins on Dec 4th 1902 at St Xavier College, Cincinnati. As an exact observer of religious discipline. as a superior entrusted with the most important offices, and as the wielder of a trenchant pen in controversy, Father Higgins' life work deserves more than a passing notice.
Edward A Higgins was born at Carlow, County Carlow, Ireland on Dec 23rd, 1839. When he was ten years of age his parents emigrated to the United States, reaching New Orleans in 1849. They had left Ireland owing to the great famine in that country, but encountered a greater peril in New Orleans as the yellow fever was then raging there. As a consequence they soon moved to Louisville, Ky. The Jesuits of Missouri had begun in 1849 the St Aloysius Free School at Louisvile, which in 1850 was styled St Aloysius College. This school was attended by young Edward, who soon attracted the notice of his teachers by his aptitude and diligence. As a result of the interest thus awakened in him, he was admitted as a boarder at St Joseph's College, Bardstown, Ky, in 1852. With the advice of our Fathers, Edward's parents removed to Bardstown in 1854, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were exemplary Catholics, and no doubt their edifying conduct had a strong influence in turning the thoughts of their gifted son towards a religious career, At Bardstown College Edward Higgins was very successful in his classes. In 1853 the first premium for diligence was awarded to him, and a majority vote of his fellow students likewise conferred upon him the first distinction for good conduct. During his two years at college, the records show that Edward received twelve first premiums in various branches.
He was admitted as a novice at St Stanislaus Novitiate, Florissant, Mo, July 15th 1854, not having as yet completed the fifteenth year of his age. The then Master of Novices, Father Gleizal, noticed the acuteness and grasp of mind of the young novice, in the clear and concise way in which he summed up the community instructions of which he had taken notes. After two years of Novitiate, and one of Juniorate, Mr Higgins was sent to teach in Cincinnati in 1858. St Xavier College had notably declined after the closing of the boarding school, and it was owing to the efforts of the young prefect of discipline, Mr Higgins, that successful results were obtained in the path of reform. He began his philosophy in the autumn of 1859 under Fr F X Wippem at the old scholasticate (known also as the “College Farm”), but as this place was discontinued as a house of studies in 1860, Mr Higgins was sent East to complete his course, spending two years at Boston, Mass. Returning then to the Missouri Province, he was placed at Cincinnati during part of the trying period of the Civil War. He never gave the boys the slightest indication of sympathy with either North or South, though others were not so prudent in guarding their tongue. His strong character, kindness and especially remarkable self-control displayed on many trying occasions gained for him the respect and entire submission of the students. From Cincinnati he proceeded to St Louis University where be taught three years more. In 1867 he began his theology at Georgetown, DC, under Father, afterwards Cardinal, Mazzella and Father Maldonado. Having received the Holy Priesthood, on June 30th, 1869 from Archbishop Spalding, in the chapel of the Sulpitian Seminary at Baltimore, he spent his fourth year of theology at Woodstock, Md. After being professor of rhetoric in St Louis for one year, Father Higgins was sent to his tertianship at Frederick, Md. He made his solemn profession, Feb. 2nd, 1873. The following year he was pastor of the College Church in St Louis. His superiors had discerned in Father Higgins what was believed to be an extraordinary talent for governing, and hence on Oct 1st, 1874 be was proclaimed Rector of Cincinnati, an office which he held till January 1st 1879. On the latter date he was made Provincial of Missouri, though owing to the failing health of the Provincial, Fr Thomas O'Neil, he had it seems for some time before acted as Vice-Provincial. He remained Provincial till May 4th 1882. As a superior, all his brethren credited Father Higgins with being··impartially just, and if at times he seemed to some rather severe in word or manner, it was in enforcing what be conceived to be matter of important duty. Some inferred from his general demeanor that he was haughty, but his prompt and cheerful obedience in all cases, when himself a subordinate, manifested a humility inconsistent with a dominant pride. After leaving the Provincialship, he was destined again to thrice fill the office of governing a college - in Cincinnati, Chicago and St Mary's, Kansas. His ability was also brought into requisition at two Congregations of the Society; for he was sent as delegate from Missouri to the General Congregation that elected Father Martin in 1892, and likewise in 1886 as Procurator of Missouri to the Congregation of Procurators. The years not spent by Father Higgins as Superior, were devoted to the pastorate or to teaching. Neither of these duties, however, so occupied his attention as to prevent him from writing many a telling article for publication. Though not specially fitted by nature, perhaps, for that part of the pastoral office which consists in entering into the humble and intimate details of the parishioners' joys and sorrows, yet on the other hand, Father Higgins displayed great zeal for the beauty of the House of the Lord as several of our churches testify. He was zealous also in fostering church music of a high order. Possessed himself of no mean knowledge of music, he delighted to join in the chanting of the Holy Week offices, and in giving aid and countenance to the parochial choirs.. As a preacher, Father Higgins was more distinguished for his· matter than for his manner. His sermons and lectures showed strength and solidity, but he did not possess, in a high degree, the external graces of eloquence. His delivery was noticeably slow, dignified and cold, and hence he was not a very attractive speaker.
The development and illustrations of his public pronouncements were however always clear and striking, and often as elegant as they were forceful. In his writings for the press, which were generally controversial, forcible and convincing, he was often aggressive and was occasionally rather acrimonious in style. In the great battle for the freedom of private schools or against unwarranted State interference in Illinois and Wisconsin, Father Higgins' pen did yeoman's service. It was not, however, by teaching and writing alone that Father Higgins advanced the cause of education. He was a prominent and potent figure at the Federation of Catholic Colleges in Chicago and at all the educational gatherings of the Missouri Province. Anything and everything that concerned the welfare of the Catholic Church in general and of the Society in particular, were dear to his heart; and hence the virtue of loyalty to these two institutions summed up the merit of his useful life. He was eager to extend the work the Society was doing for the Church among all classes of people, but his own talents fitted him particularly for spreading the light among the more intellectual. Hence a considerable portion of his time was devoted to the preparation of post-graduate lectures in the colleges and Sunday evening lectures in the churches. He was also for some years moderator of St Mark's Academy in St Louis, an admirable institution for gentlemen of the educated class. Thus did Father Higgins lead a life of virtue and zeal till near the completion of the sixty-fourth year of his age. The end was approaching. In August, 1902 he was sent to Milwaukee to give a retreat, but falling sick he was sent to the hospital there. An operation disclosed a tumor in the intestines. After two months of great suffering in the hospital, his often expressed desire of returning to his brethren in Cincinnati was gratified, and he arrived in the latter city, Oct. 13th.
For a few days he seemed to improve but the improvement was only apparent. He gradually grew worse, for the tumor was of cancerous growth, and on Nov 13th it was deemed
expedient to administer Extreme Unction, He received this sacrament with great piety, and with tears flowing down his cheeks he besought his brethren to obtain for him by their
prayers, an hourly increase of patience and resignation.
Father Higgins' deep religious character came to the surface during his last sickness. He edified all by his humility and resignation to the will of God. He never uttered a complaint,
and expressions of gratitude to God for the great favor of dying in the Society were not infrequently upon his lips. Yet amidst all his keen sufferings his innate dignity of manner never for a moment left him. This was characteristic of the man.
The sufferer lingered on till Dec. 4th, 1902, when at 6.25 pm his soul sought the presence of its Maker. He was more or less conscious during the last day of his life. The simple Low Mass said over his remains in St Xavier's Church was graced by the attendance of Archbishop Elder of Cincinnati, of Bishop Maes of Covington, Ky, and of some forty secular priests. His remains were conveyed to the Novitiate of St Stanislaus at Florissant, Mo where all that was mortal of Father Higgins was laid to rest with his predecessors in ruling the Province, and with the early founders of the Missouri Mission, whose work he so well understood and continued. RIP
