John Lancaster Spalding
Encyclopedia
John Lancaster Spalding (June 2, 1840 – August 25, 1916) was an American author
, poet
, advocate for higher education, the first bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
from 1877 to 1908 and a co-founder of The Catholic University of America
.
Peoria's
Catholic high school for boys, Spalding Institute, was named for him; the school was closed in 1989 during the Peoria Notre Dame High School
merger. Spalding Hall at The Catholic University of America is also named for him.
and ordained a priest at age 23, on December 19, 1863, in the Diocese of Louisville
. His uncle, Martin John Spalding
, later became Bishop of Louisville then Archbishop of Baltimore, but did not live to see John himself become bishop.
appointed Spalding as the bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
, newly created out of part of the then-Diocese of Chicago
. He was installed as the first Bishop of Peoria on May 23, 1877 by Cardinal John McCloskey, Archbishop of New York, with Thomas Patrick Roger Foley
, Coadjutor Bishop
of the Diocese of Chicago
presiding.
As bishop, Spalding was a proponent of education. He was instrumental in the founding of The Catholic University of America
, and several Catholic schools in Peoria were founded during his tenure. He also oversaw the construction of St. Mary's Cemetery just outside Peoria (now in West Peoria, Illinois
).
Spalding was the author of several books, including a biography of his uncle Archbishop Martin John Spalding
, and poetry under the pseudonym
Henry Hamilton.
Spalding became paralyzed from a stroke
in 1905 and, as a result, retired on September 11, 1908 at the age of 68 and was appointed Titular Bishop
of Scythopolis, by Pope Pius X
. He died on August 25, 1916, aged 76.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, advocate for higher education, the first bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
from 1877 to 1908 and a co-founder of The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
.
Peoria's
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
Catholic high school for boys, Spalding Institute, was named for him; the school was closed in 1989 during the Peoria Notre Dame High School
Peoria Notre Dame High School
Peoria Notre Dame High School is a Catholic parochial high school in Peoria, Illinois. It is the largest parochial school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria with approximately 815 students and has a college preparatory curriculum. According to the school, more than 99% of students graduating...
merger. Spalding Hall at The Catholic University of America is also named for him.
Early years
He was born on June 2, 1840 in Lebanon, KentuckyLebanon, Kentucky
Lebanon is a city in Marion County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 6,331 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Lebanon is located in central Kentucky, southeast of Louisville. A national cemetery is located nearby....
and ordained a priest at age 23, on December 19, 1863, in the Diocese of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
. His uncle, Martin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Louisville and Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
, later became Bishop of Louisville then Archbishop of Baltimore, but did not live to see John himself become bishop.
Bishop
On November 11, 1876, Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
appointed Spalding as the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
, newly created out of part of the then-Diocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
. He was installed as the first Bishop of Peoria on May 23, 1877 by Cardinal John McCloskey, Archbishop of New York, with Thomas Patrick Roger Foley
Thomas Patrick Roger Foley
Thomas Patrick Roger Foley was a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Coadjutor Bishop of Chicago from March 10, 1870 until his death on February 19, 1879....
, Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of the Diocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
presiding.
As bishop, Spalding was a proponent of education. He was instrumental in the founding of The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
, and several Catholic schools in Peoria were founded during his tenure. He also oversaw the construction of St. Mary's Cemetery just outside Peoria (now in West Peoria, Illinois
West Peoria, Illinois
West Peoria is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, USA. The population was 4,762 at the 2000 census. West Peoria is a suburb of Peoria and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area....
).
Spalding was the author of several books, including a biography of his uncle Archbishop Martin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Louisville and Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
, and poetry under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Henry Hamilton.
Spalding became paralyzed from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1905 and, as a result, retired on September 11, 1908 at the age of 68 and was appointed Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Scythopolis, by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. He died on August 25, 1916, aged 76.
Publications
- Essays and Reviews
- Lectures and Discourses
- Education and the Higher Life
- The Poet's Praise (as Henry Hamilton)
- Opportunity and Other Essays (as Henry Hamilton)