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The multiplicity of bi

land conti

matter of still more recent growth in this country; the office of rural dean having been altogether unknown in Ireland, according to the best authors, until the year 1152.

Even at so late a period as in A.D. 1111, we shops in Ire- find the synod of Fiadh-Mac-Aongusa attended, as its records inform us, by 50 bishops, and 300 priests, all apparently belonging to the southern half of Ireland.*

nued so far

as to the 12th century. Its tendency to prove the early conversion of

the Irish to Christianity.

These early

bishops

"It was," as Bingham observes, "the distinguishing feature between countries early converted and those at a later period, that the dioceses of the former were much more numerous and circumscribed. Thus in Asia Minor which extended 630 miles in length, and 210 in breadth, there were 400 dioceses, while in Germany, which was of greater extent, there were but 40 bishoprics, because Christianized at a much later period. In Poland there were only 30, and in Russia 21" and so of other countries. This circumstance therefore plainly indicates the early conversion of the Irish to the Christian faith.

But however numerous these our early bishops had no accu- may have been, they had not, it seems, any accu

See the "Annals of the Four Masters, at the year of our Lord 1111; or the Annals of Ulster, in O'Conor, Rer. Hib. Scrip. vol. iv. p. 375, and p. 451 sup.

+ Bingham, Antiq. Book ix. ch. 6. Reeves, Antiq. of Down, &c. P. 126.

Cathedral

rately defined territories allotted to them for rately defined episcodioceses; (or parishes, as the episcopal dis- pal districts, tricts were also called at their first origin ;) no nor settled such distribution of the country having taken towns. place before the 12th century. Nor were there any perfect and uninterrupted successions of bishops in particular localities or Cathedral towns, unless perhaps in Armagh. Individual clergymen of particular places were made bishops, not so much from any feeling that those places ought to have bishops permanently located in them, but rather because the persons themselves who were so appointed appeared worthy of being elevated to the episcopal rank; without considering whether their predecessors in the same place had enjoyed it or not, or without arranging that their successors therein should always be persons holding the same dignity.

nected with

than with

In fact, while it is most certain that the bi- Thebishop's office among shop's office, as distinct from that of the subor- the old Irish dinate clergy, and as alone possessing in itself more conthe power of ordination to the sacred ministry, ordination, was highly esteemed among the ancient Irish, any excluno other than episcopal ordination being so much sive power as known to them, yet at the same time we find no traces among them of any thing like an approach to a strict notion of Church government by means of diocesan episcopacy. The multiplicity of bishops was maintained rather with a

of Church

govern

ment;

the latter

being large

ly partici

pated in by the presby

ters.

The epis

view to securing to the Church the perpetuity of orders, than for any purposes of diocesan government. The authority of the Church in all matters of controversy, appears to have been exercised fully as much by the presbyters, especially by such as were abbots or successors of eminent founders of religious houses, or clergymen who were themselves eminent for learning, zeal, and piety, as by the bishops. Thus in the great contest about Easter, St. Cummian, anxious to appeal to an authority of high repute in his native Church, has not recourse to any particular bishop or episcopal synod, but to his "fathers," namely "the successors of Bishop Ailbe, Kieran of Clonmacnoise, Brendan, Nessan, and Lugidus," who passed a resolution by their own authority, to guide the practice of their countrymen in the matter in question. In like manner, St. Colman at Whitby speaks of his having been appointed to the bishopric and mission of Northumberland "by the seniors" of Hy; not by the abbot exclusively, much less by the bishop; to whom indeed no special authority appears to be attributed in the narrative, beyond the power implied in it of conferring holy orders upon the candidate presented to him.*

But that the bishop's office was known and copal office held in much honour among the ancient Irish,

however

pp. 161, 182, sup.

them with due venera

spect;

nanus' Life

is a fact abundantly testified by the evidence of viewed by our ancient records; an instance or two in illustration of which may be inserted here for the tion and resatisfaction of the reader. And first, in the Life as illustrated of St. Columba attributed to Adamnanus, we in Adamare informed that on a certain occasion there of St. Cocame to visit the Saint, a strange bishop from lumba, the province of Munster, "who from feelings of humility did all in his power to conceal his rank, so that no person might know that he was a bishop:" but however on the Lord's day, when the bishop, having been requested by Columba to consecrate the Holy Eucharist, had invited him to come forward" that they might break the bread of the Lord together, as two presbyters, the Saint on this coming up to the altar, and casting a sudden glance at his face, addresses him in these words-" The blessing of Christ be on thee brother; break thou this bread by thyself alone, as it is meet for a bishop to do. For now know we that thou art a bishop; why then hast thou thus far attempted to disguise thyself, that we should not render thee the veneration due unto thine office."*

Bede's anec

Again, when the monks of Hy were sending and in Aidan to be their missionary in the Northum- dotes of bibrian realm, they took care to have him first shops Aidan "elevated to the episcopal order."t

Adamn. Vit. S. Col. lib. i. 26, Canis. (44. Colg.)

Under

† p. 174 sup.

and Finan.

Case of

Cedd's con

this Aidan was founded the church of Lindisfarne, after the model of its parent Hy: and from Lindisfarne again, bishop Finan having sent Cedd, a presbyter, to preach the Word among the East Angles, and learning afterwards what good success had attended his labours, he "appointed him bishop over that nation, having secration by called in two other bishops to assist him in the ordination service. And he then having been thus promoted to the episcopal order, returned once more to his province, and pursuing with greater authority the work he had already begun, erected churches in different places, and ordained priests and deacons, to assist him in the preaching of the faith and the administering of baptism."*

three bishops.

The un

of Irish

episcopal succession

varied as to

position, from place

to place, in

This latter passage, and the one from Dallan broken lines Forgaill above cited, clearly testify, that the distinction of Christian ministers into three orders was well known and in use among the ancient Irish. But that any of the present dioceses of Ireland has enjoyed a regular and unbroken succession of bishops belonging to a particular locality, from the very commencement, we have no evidence, but rather the contrary;—a circumstance which need excite little surprise, when we consider the manner in which the several sees first came into existence. On this topic we

the course of years.

V. Bed, Ec. Hist. iii. 22.

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