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The reason for including some of the Petres is partly they are a great story, and also that at George Lynch, and Carmela Lescher’s wedding, the present from “the Hon. Mrs. Petre” was “a writing case”.  She can only be Julia, who becomes the 15th Lady Petre in June 1908, and the Dowager Lady Petre five months later.

We regret to record the death of the Right Rev. Lord Petre, which took place at his London residence, 21, Hyde Park Gardens, on Monday last. The deceased Peer and Prelate was a son of the 12th Baron, by a daughter of the Hon. C. T. Clifford, and succeeded to the title in 1884. He was a Domestic Prelate at the Court of the Vatican, and a Deputy-Lieutenant for the county of Essex. The title goes to the late Lord Petre’s brother, the Hon. Bernard Henry Philip, who was born in 1858. Lord Petre was educated at Stonyhurst, leaving which College he attempted, but unsuccessfully, to embrace the religious life with the Jesuits. Failing this he resolved to pursue the vocation of a secular priest, and resided for some time at Downside, where his great benefactions are remembered with gratitude. Meanwhile he had long been cherishing a number of plans and giving expression to many desires in connection with the education of youth, and a few years after his ordination he resolved to take practical steps in carrying out his determination.

It was in 1877 that Lord Petre, then the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Petre, founded his school at Woburn about which there was destined to arise so vigorous a controversy. He had long been maturing his views upon the method of education in vogue among Catholics, and those views he presently strove to vindicate in two vigorous pamphlets which produced in the English Catholic world an enormous sensation. The first he entitled Remarks on the Present Condition of Catholic Liberal Education and this was quickly followed by The Problem of Catholic Education. His ideal, as explained in these two pamphlets, is well known to all, and need not be brought up again here. His one desire in life was to be a trainer of youth. “A French poet,” he wrote “once declared that God for his sins made him a poet. I fear I myself lie under a similar judgment for being an educator. Certain it is that for years my prayers, studies, and aspirations have been directed to this one aim—to train the minds of youth. But for one of my vocation what opening is there ? Stonyhurst, Downside, Edgbaston, Beaumont, are all charmed circles, the properties of closed corporations, offering nothing to persons situated as I am except on condition of assuming the religious state—a vocation not granted to all. Ushaw, Oscott, St. Edmund’s are in a state of transition, being in part ecclesiastical seminaries and wholly diocesan property. In existing institutions, therefore, there is no place for the free exercise of a vocation that I will venture to call holy. Can I then be blamed if unwilling to throw aside the work of years, and contradict the tried impulse of my character, I venture to open a school of my own ? Nor can I see that by so doing I am fomenting disunion. Disunion arises where private aims are preferred to the public good. From the nature of the case my views can hardly be sordid or selfish ; and I propose, if God gives me health and strength, to lay all my opportunities and powers at the service of the Catholic cause. I have no wish to avoid a healthy criticism, and I will accuse no one of ‘ attack ‘ who may choose to publish his opinion on the growth of my work—be that opinion hostile or the reverse. With advance I shall hope for co-operation. Surely the imputation of disunion or disloyalty can find no footing here.”

In this spirit, then, Woburn was founded, and lasted steadily until 1884, when, shortly before succeeding to the title, he sold the property in deference to the wish of his father. After his father’s death he continued no less fervently in his desire to treat education, as he himself expressed it, “as something of a fine art.” But circumstances were too strong for him. He migrated with his boys to Northwood, in the Isle of Wight. But the new school lasted for a very short time, and when he decided to give up the idea of personal training he practically decided to retire into privacy.

Into the merits of the great controversy upon which Lord Petre so confidently embarked, there is no need to enter here. As to the spirit in which he accepted his task there can be only one opinion. He fought for it with a high spirit that seemed indomitable. In his first pamphlet, not having had much practical experience in pamphleteering, he committed himself—as he himself confessed—to some incautiously expressed propositions relative to the Protestant public schools of England. He spoke in praise of the individuality and the force of character which seems to be so often generated and fostered by their influence among English youth, wished to contend that schools formed somewhat on the model of public schools but informed with Catholic spirit and principle might realize much for English Catholics which heretofore had existed but in desire ; that Catholics, in short, might see their sons growing up in the expansion of mind, definiteness of aim and earnestness of purpose which is said to distinguish their Protestant fellows. At once he was severely taken to task. At once he felt that nothing but a bold front,—an attitude even of defiance—would save his reputation as a Catholic. Such an attitude he declared himself to have unwillingly assumed, and in doing so he lost for the time many valued friends.

The precise value of Lord Petre’s influence over the common scholastic ideal of the time cannot be easily adjudged ; but there cannot be the least doubt that, indirectly at least, he spurred up all the colleges of England to new efforts in the training of their subjects, particularly in the inculcation of a certain refinement which heretofore had been allowed to stand somewhat at a discount. But, as we have said, for nearly eight years he had taken no prominent part in any question of the day. Readers of these pages may, however, remember that when some years ago, a warm controversy arose upon the merits of corporal punishment, Lord Petre took an active part in it, and upon the side where one naturally expected to look for him. His illness was very brief. He had been ailing somewhat ; but on Sunday a serious attack of epileptic fits seized him, and later in the same day he received the Viaticum from Cardinal Vaughan in full consciousness. Later Mgr. Gilbert administered Extreme Unction. He died at 1.30 p.m. on Monday. The body lay in the house in a temporary chapel until Thursday, when it was removed to St. Mary of the Angels, Bayswater. On Friday Solemn Requiem Mass was sung, and to-day (Saturday) the coffin will be conveyed for interment to Thorndon. R. I. P.

The above text was found on p.28, 13th  May 1893 in “The Tablet: The International Catholic News Weekly.” Reproduced with kind permission of the Publisher. The Tablet can be found at http://www.thetablet.co.uk .

The marriage of CAPTAIN EDMUND MOLYNEUX SEEL to MISS CLARE WELD BLUNDELL, youngest daughter of the late Mr. (Thomas) Weld Blundell, of Ince Blundell Hall, was solemnized at St. Mary’s, Chelsea, on Tuesday. The ceremony was performed by Cardinal Vaughan, assisted by Father John Vaughan and the Rev. Benedict Weld Blundell, O.S.B. The nuptial Mass, a Missa cantata, was sung by Father Adrian Weld Blundell. The bride, whose dress was of white satin, trimmed with old lace, with tulle veil, was given away by her brother, Mr. Henry Weld Blundell. Mr. Basil Scott Murray acted as best man. There were six bridesmaids—the Hon. Mary Fraser, Miss Helen Lane-Fox, Miss Dorothy Lane-Fox, Miss May Weld, Miss Lawson, and Miss Teresa Lawson. They wore costumes of green. faced cloth, trimmed with white moire, and black picture hats with black feathers and white lace. After the Mass a large gathering of friends and relatives assembled at 20, Cadogan Gardens, the residence of Mr. George Lane-Fox,[ the bride’s brother in law, through his second wife Annette Weld-Blundell, who he married in 1879] where the wedding breakfast was served. Later in the afternoon the bride and bridegroom left for Dover, en route for the Continent.

Among the wedding presents, which were exceedingly numerous, were : The Duke of Norfolk, diamond and turquoise brooch ; the Ladies Howard, diamond and sapphire brooch ; Lord Lovat, diamond ring ; Lady Lovat, silver tea set ; Lady Herbert of Lea, diamond and turquoise bracelet ; Mrs. G. Lane-Fox, diamond and enamelled brooch ; Mr. George Lane-Fox, a luncheon basket ; Lord and Lady Herries, fan ; Colonel Blundell, pearl and diamond pendant ; Mr. and Mrs. Johnstone, diamond watch bracelet ; Miss Lane, Fox, silver castors ; Lady Charlotte Dundas, silver mounted scent bottle ; Mrs. Hornyhold, ditto ; the Earl and Countess of Loudoun, silver mounted inkstand ; the Hon. B. and Mrs. Maxwell, pearl and diamond necklace ; Mr. Henry Weld Blundell, diamond ring ; the Hon. Mrs. Carrington Smyth, pearl and diamond locket ; the Right Rev. Mgr. Weld, enamelled writing set ; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walmesley, pearl and diamond aigrette ; Mrs. Weld Blundell, silver mounted dressing bag ; Captain and Mrs. Edward Molyneux Seel, old silver punch bowl; Colonel and Mrs. Eyre Williams, silver mounted claret decanter ; Mrs. Wilmot, silver bowl ; Mr. and Mrs. Bullock, silver dishes ; the Dowager Lady Puleston, silver cigarette case ; Mrs. Charles Weld, lace fan ; the Hon. Lady Mostyn, silver mirror ; Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien, Venetian mirror ; Mr. and Mrs. J. Snead Cox, Dresden figures ; Lady Stafford, jewelled clock, &c. ; Colonel Wade, silver side-dish ; Mrs. Silvertop, silver-gilt salt cellars; Colonel and Mrs. Starkie, gilt spoons ; the Hon. Mrs. A. Fraser, silver spoons.; the Hon. Miss Fraser of Lovat, pearl and diamond bracelet ; the Hon. Ethel Fraser of Lovat, pearl and diamond brooch ; the Dowager Countess of Denbigh, silver tray ; Miss Molyneux Seel, silver lamp ; Miss Monica Walmesley, gilt box ; Captain and Mrs. Glynn, silverspoons ; the Hon. Mabel Sturt, silver jug ; the Hon. Teresa Maxwell, gold snuff-box ; the Hon. Mrs. Charles Petre, gold bowl ; the Count and Countess Torre Diaz, silver tea-maker ; Mrs. Ince Anderton, silver clock ; Lady Henrietta Riddell, silver bowl ; Lord and Lady Camoys, silver mounted paper cutter ; Mr. and Mrs. Parker, decanters ; Mrs. Molyneux Seel, silver Queen Anne coffee-pot ; Mr. H. Campbell, Crown Derby tea set ; Mr. and Mrs. F. Bretherton, Lord Lytton’s works ; the Hon. Mrs. Dundas, old silver mounted quaighs ; Mr. and Mrs. Day, ditto ; Mr. and Mrs. F. Langdale, ditto ; Sir P. and Lady Radcliffe, silver cruets ; the Hon. Mrs. Scott Murray, silver tea urn ; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weld, silver coffee-pot ; the Hon. L.:.dy Sausse, silver fruit dish ; Mrs. Slade, silver candlesticks ; Mrs. Dalgleish Bellasis, silver vases ; Mrs. Fitzherbert Brockholes, silver vase ; Sir Henry and Lady Bedingfeld, silver vases ; Lady Vavasour, two pictures ; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Howell, antique silver spoons ; Major and Mrs. Ovred, gold and tortoiseshell umbrella ; the Hon. Albert and Mrs. Stourton, gilt box ; Mgr. de Stackpoole, silver box ; Marquise de Stackpoole, silver frame ; Mrs. William Langdale, ditto ; Colonel Thompson, King’s Regiment, silver mounted brushes ; Miss Weld of Leagram, Dresden china clock ; Mr. F. Lane-Fox, silver card. case ; Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Stapleton Bretherton, mother-of-pearl opera glasses ; Mr. Herbert Stourton, silver salt cellars ; Miss A. Vavasour, oak chair ; the bridegroom, pearl necklace, and many others.

The above text was found on p.24, 3rd November 1894 in “The Tablet: The International Catholic News Weekly.” Reproduced with kind permission of the Publisher” The Tablet can be found at http://www.thetablet.co.uk .

The funeral of the late Lady Howard of Glossop took place on April 23rd, at Hadfield. On Friday evening the remains were carried in solemn procession to St. Charles’s Church, Hadfield, where they were placed on a catafalque in front of the high altar, which, as well as the sanctuary, was draped with black. The coffin was covered with a velvet pall edged with a fringe of gold, and bearing down the centre a large Latin cross, in cloth of gold, while on a velvet cushion was placed the coronet of the deceased. The bier was surrounded with beautiful wreaths and crosses. Upon the lid of the coffin were a raised brass crucifix and the following inscription : “Clara Louisa Howard of Glossop. Born 13th November, 1852; died 17th April, 1887. R.I.P.” Vespers for the dead were chanted by choristers from St. Mary’s, Sheffield, under the direction of the Rev. Canon Walshaw. At nine o’clock on Saturday morning a solemn dirge was sung, followed by solemn Mass of Requiem. The celebrant was the Rev. Bernard Vaughan, S.J., of the Church of the Holy Name, Manchester, assisted by the Rev. J. Rowe, of the Oratory, Brompton, London, as deacon, and the Rev. J. Norris, of the Oratory, Edgbaston, Birmingham, as sub-deacon ; the Right Rev. Dr. Bagshawe, Bishop of Nottingham, assisted pontifically, attended by the Very Revv. Canon Tasker and Canon Scully (Glossop). The Right Rev. Dr. Macdonald, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, occupied a faldstool in the sanctuary. Many priests, relatives, and friends were present, including Lord Howard of Glossop, Winefride, Lady Howard ; Mrs. Greenwood (mother of the deceased) and her sons, Captain Greenwood, Mr. Hubert Greenwood, and Mr. Wilfrid Greenwood ; Ladies Mary, Philippa, and Margaret Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord and Lady Edmund Talbot, the Countess Loudon the Marquis and Marchioness of Bute, Lord and Lady Herries, Lord and Lady Ralph Kerr, and the Rev. H. S. Kerr, S.J. The Gregorian music, unaccompanied, was well rendered by the choristers of St. Mary’s, Sheffield. The Absolutions were given by the Bishop of Nottingham. The remains were then carried to the Lady Chapel, where they were solemnly interred. During the procession to the grave the choir sang the  In Paradisum  and chanted the Benedictus. The coffin having been placed in position, the procession withdrew, the Bishop of Nottingham reciting the De Profundis.

On the following day (Sunday), Father Bernard Vaughan, S.J., preached the funeral sermon in the presence of the Howard family, the Duke of Norfolk, and a large congregation. He contrasted the different views of death taken by the children of God and the votaries of the world ; he referred in moving terms to the two illustrious ladies whom Catholics were now mourning, dwelling especially on the love of her family and of the poor ever shown by the late Lady Howard of Glossop.

The above text was found on p.25, 30th April 1887 in “The Tablet: The International Catholic News Weekly.” Reproduced with kind permission of the Publisher” The Tablet can be found at http://www.thetablet.co.uk .

Herbert Vaughan was born at Gloucester, the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Francis Vaughan, of an old recusant(Roman Catholic) family, the Vaughans of Courtfield, Herefordshire. His mother, Eliza Rolls from The Hendre,Monmouthshire, was a Catholic convert and intensely religious. All five of the Vaughan daughters became nuns, while six of the eight sons received Holy Orders and became priests. Three were later called as bishops in addition to Herbert: Roger became Archbishop of Sydney, Australia; Francis became Bishop of Menevia, Wales; John became titular bishop of Sebastopolis and auxiliary bishop in Salford, England.

In 1841 Herbert Vaughan, the eldest, went to study for six years at Stonyhurst College, then to the Jesuit school of Brugelette, Belgium, and then with the Benedictines at Downside Abbey, near Bath, England.

In 1851 Vaughan went to Rome, in the Papal States of Italy. He had two years of study at the Collegio Romano, where for a time he shared lodgings with the poet, Aubrey Thomas de Vere. He became a friend and disciple of Henry Edward Manning. Manning, a Catholic convert, became the second Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster following the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in Great Britain in 1850.