Right Reverend Edward Hawks
Right Reverend Edward Hawks 1878 -
The author and lecturer, Monsignor Edward Hawks, was born in Wales in 1878 of English parents. He has lived in the United States since 1900. His family on both sides were members of the Church of England “stiff and conventional Anglicans” in the words of the Monsignor.
Brought up in a home where definite religion was little known, of parents who were not church goers but believed in sending their children to service, the family nevertheless considered them selves average Christians. As a child he attended a private school where “scripture" was one of the subjects and he went rather indifferently for a short while to “Bible Class” which, though held in the rector's drawing room, was not in charge of the rector.
His first interest in Catholic beliefs came through the accidental attendance at a ritualistic church where from that day forward he and his brother became adepts.
On a visit to Canada in 1900 Edward was selected for the Anglican ministry by the Lord Bishop of Quebec. For several years following, he attended Lennoxville University but later moved to Wisconsin because the Bishop was more “Catholic.” He finished his studies at Nashotah Seminary near Milwaukee where he was ordained “Anglican Priest.” His first appointment was tutor of New Testament Greek.
When the modernist movement became acute, his eyes were opened to the necessity of a visible infallible Church. With twenty of his Episcopal brother ministers he came into the Catholic Church (1908).
He intended to return to England but was induced to enter the seminary at Overbrook by Archbishop Ryan. He has been stationed in the Philadelphia Archdiocese ever since.
Monsignor Hawks is the only member of his family in America. At the time of his conversion he was not aware that a single member of his family had become a Catholic or Non-conformist since the days of Queen Elizabeth. Later research on his part, however, has revealed a distant relative on his father's side who became a nun in Portugal, and a convert cousin who was well-known in Rome one hundred years ago; also a Quaker convert among his mother's people.
Most of his family in England have since become Catholics. His mother, brother (with eight children and grandchildren) and his unmarried sister, have all followed in his footsteps. Monsignor Hawks is opposed to writing about his conversion, because he has never been able to analyze its phases. Speaking generally, he said: “I would not if I could.” He added: “I can only say, like the blind man: once I was blind, now I can see. In this vision I pray I may be kept. It has been a supreme satisfaction always. I cannot even suppose anything else.”
Monsignor Hawks is the author of Conversions of 1908 (1930); Wm. McGarvey and the Open Pulpit (1935); Difficulties of Myron Digby (1936); Pedigree of Protestantism (1936); History of the Parish of St. Joan of Arc, Harrogate, Philadelphia, (1937); Difficulties of Fr. Callaghan (1939), and How It Looks Now (1940).
He has been an editorial writer on the Philadelphia Catholic Standard and Times for twenty-four years. His column, known as the “Third Column" is recognized for style and treatment of difficult subjects. In it he discusses matters which relate to the contacts of the Church with the non-Catholic world. It has become famous as a column to be copied in out-of-the-way places. On one occasion a bishop in England reproduced one article in the form of a Lenten Pastoral. On another occasion a check came from the Catholic Digest by way of G. K.'s Weekly. As a lover of history and as an Englishman, he has many times verbally crossed swords in defence of his native land.
Right Reverend Monsignor Edward Hawks is pastor of St. Joan of Arc's Church, Philadelphia. He is known far and wide for his work with converts and the promotion of street speaking.
E. F.
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