VAUGHAN, BERNARD JOHN

Jesuit preacher; b. Courtfield, Hertfordshire, England, Sept. 20, 1847; d. Roehampton, England, Oct. 31, 1922. His parents, Col. John F. Vaughan of Courtfield and Louisa Elizabeth (Rolls) Vaughan, a convert, gave to the Church six sons and five daughters, including Cardinal Herbert vaughan and Abp. Roger vaughan. After study at Stonyhurst College from 1859, Bernard entered the jesuits (1866) and was ordained (1880). During his assignment to the Church of the Holy Name, Manchester, his participation in local controversies, formidable debating talents, unconventional preaching methods, excellent voice and delivery, and distinguished bearing soon attracted attention. He preached at Cannes, France (1898), where his sermons led to friendships with the British royal family and a transfer to the Jesuit church on Farm Street, London (1899). His series of sermons there on the "Sins of Society" (1906) firmly established his English reputation, which was extended by visits to Canada (1910), the U.S. (1911–13), the Far East (1913), and Africa (1922). The extensive publicity that he sought and received tended to conceal the basic simplicity of an obedient religious, who was most interested in work among the urban poor and efforts on behalf of social reform.

Bibliography: d. gwynn, The Dictionary of National Biography from the Earliest Times to 1900, 63 v. (London 1885–1900; repr. With corrections, 21 v., 1908–09, 1921–22, 1938; suppl. 1901–) (1922–30) 867–868. c. c. martindale, Bernard Vaughan, S.J. (London 1923).

[d. milburn]