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Article Masonic Obituary. ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Obituary.
he dived into the hidden mysteries of the whole ancient world , and snatched from oblivion important facts that had been buried upwards of 3000 years ! At the age of 15 he was sent to Killarney College ; where , after distinguishing himself for the avidity with Avhich he , as it were , devoured the classics , he entered Trinity College , Dublin , at the early age of 17 . Two years after he obtained a Scholarship . He took an active part in
the politics of the clay , Avhen Mr . North and Mr . ( now Lord ) Plunkett set up for the College . At the following dissolution of Parliament he started himself , but Avithout success . In March 1832 , he Avas attracted by an advertisement from the Royal Irish Academy , and comnetecl for the " nrize essay . " But the Round
Towers being embellished Avith draAvings ( contrary to the specification , ) Avas inadmissible ; nevertheless , a complimentary acknowledgment was awarded him . For more ample particulars we must refer to the introduction to that ivork itself . It is singular , however , that the successful Prize Essay has not yet been printed in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy , ancl the admirers of Henry O'Brien , in consequence entertain some hope that honourable mention may yet be made therein
of his poAverful work . The following notice is from the Literary Gazette of the 4 th of July : — " Poor O'Brien , the author of the extraordinary Avork 011 the Round ToAvers of Ireland , has died suddenly at the early age of 27 . — He Avas an enthusiast , from Avhom we , in common with many others , differed in opinion ; and yet his angry remonstrances , we rejoice IIOAV to think , Avere never answered by us 111 anger , but more in pity ; and .
relations of good-AVill were re-established betAveen us before his untimely decease . His spirit Avas of a kind to destroy the frame in AA'hich it was embodied . He Avas found dead in his bed , and all his troubles IIOAV are o ' er . " We shall not enter into the controversial spirit , Avhich our deceased friend , from a Avounded feeling , suffered to impair his strength . Disappointment and critical severity , we believe , acted too powerfull y upon a frame naturally Aveakand in Ibis sense may be said probabl
, y to have hastened his end . Genius struggling for immortality , is at all times a noble object ; and even if unsuccessful , should be gently dealt with , not harshly crushed . Some minds are too sensitive for literary Avarfare . RevieAvers should remember , ere they rashly and unfeelingly blight the hopes and prospects of years , that a LIFE is sometimes entwined with them .
Many circumstances tended to oppress a soul overpoAvered by emotion ; and often have Ave endeavoured to soften the asperity Avith Avhich he Avould speak of one , AVIIO , gifted as he could not but acknowledge him to be , he Avould designate as a soulless plagiarist . Lord LansdoAvn , the mutual friend , had nearly succeeded in bringing about a better understanding—O'Brien was presented at Court , and matters promised Avell for a reconciliation . It AV . IS , however , otherwise willed , and the subject of this brief sketch is no more .
Although but a short time a member of our order , his mind was deeply imbued with the love of its principles ; our traditions aud mysteries opened a neAv field to his speculative disposition ; and his untimely death alone prevented the completion of a work , which we knoiv he contemplated , —a history of Freemasonry .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Obituary.
he dived into the hidden mysteries of the whole ancient world , and snatched from oblivion important facts that had been buried upwards of 3000 years ! At the age of 15 he was sent to Killarney College ; where , after distinguishing himself for the avidity with Avhich he , as it were , devoured the classics , he entered Trinity College , Dublin , at the early age of 17 . Two years after he obtained a Scholarship . He took an active part in
the politics of the clay , Avhen Mr . North and Mr . ( now Lord ) Plunkett set up for the College . At the following dissolution of Parliament he started himself , but Avithout success . In March 1832 , he Avas attracted by an advertisement from the Royal Irish Academy , and comnetecl for the " nrize essay . " But the Round
Towers being embellished Avith draAvings ( contrary to the specification , ) Avas inadmissible ; nevertheless , a complimentary acknowledgment was awarded him . For more ample particulars we must refer to the introduction to that ivork itself . It is singular , however , that the successful Prize Essay has not yet been printed in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy , ancl the admirers of Henry O'Brien , in consequence entertain some hope that honourable mention may yet be made therein
of his poAverful work . The following notice is from the Literary Gazette of the 4 th of July : — " Poor O'Brien , the author of the extraordinary Avork 011 the Round ToAvers of Ireland , has died suddenly at the early age of 27 . — He Avas an enthusiast , from Avhom we , in common with many others , differed in opinion ; and yet his angry remonstrances , we rejoice IIOAV to think , Avere never answered by us 111 anger , but more in pity ; and .
relations of good-AVill were re-established betAveen us before his untimely decease . His spirit Avas of a kind to destroy the frame in AA'hich it was embodied . He Avas found dead in his bed , and all his troubles IIOAV are o ' er . " We shall not enter into the controversial spirit , Avhich our deceased friend , from a Avounded feeling , suffered to impair his strength . Disappointment and critical severity , we believe , acted too powerfull y upon a frame naturally Aveakand in Ibis sense may be said probabl
, y to have hastened his end . Genius struggling for immortality , is at all times a noble object ; and even if unsuccessful , should be gently dealt with , not harshly crushed . Some minds are too sensitive for literary Avarfare . RevieAvers should remember , ere they rashly and unfeelingly blight the hopes and prospects of years , that a LIFE is sometimes entwined with them .
Many circumstances tended to oppress a soul overpoAvered by emotion ; and often have Ave endeavoured to soften the asperity Avith Avhich he Avould speak of one , AVIIO , gifted as he could not but acknowledge him to be , he Avould designate as a soulless plagiarist . Lord LansdoAvn , the mutual friend , had nearly succeeded in bringing about a better understanding—O'Brien was presented at Court , and matters promised Avell for a reconciliation . It AV . IS , however , otherwise willed , and the subject of this brief sketch is no more .
Although but a short time a member of our order , his mind was deeply imbued with the love of its principles ; our traditions aud mysteries opened a neAv field to his speculative disposition ; and his untimely death alone prevented the completion of a work , which we knoiv he contemplated , —a history of Freemasonry .