John Hales

John Hales 1584-1656, English clergyman and scholar, often alluded to as the Ever-Memorable. He won distinction by his lectures on Greek at Oxford, his preaching, and his writings. From 1613 to 1649 he held a fellowship at Eton College. As chaplain to Sir Dudley Carleton, he was an observer at the Synod of Dort (1618-19), an important meeting of Calvinists. Hales's tolerance in religion found expression in Schism and Schismatics, published anonymously (and without consent) in 1642. Archbishop Laud in 1639 made Hales a canon of Windsor, but he was ejected from that post in 1642 and from his Eton fellowship in 1649. His remaining years, under the Commonwealth, were spent in obscurity and poverty. In the Golden Remains of the Ever Memorable Mr. John Hales (1659), with a preface by John Pearson, are included a number of his writings.

Bibliography: See biography by J. H. Elson (1948).

MacHale, John (1791–1881), Catholic bishop of Killala 1825–34, archbishop of Tuam 1834–81. While professor of dogmatic theology at Maynooth (1820–5), he began a series of public letters critical of the established church and the government's neglect of the poor. In Killala and Tuam he faced problems of poverty, clerical shortages, and a partially successful evangelical Protestant mission (see second reformation). One of O'Connell's staunchest supporters in the repeal campaign, he supported tithe abolition and tenant right in the 1830s. Although most of the bishops accepted the national schools system as the best deal available, MacHale came out against it on the grounds that it facilitated proselytism. His opposition was a serious misjudgement, and by 1852 he was forced to accept the system. He also opposed the Charitable Bequests Act and the Queen's Colleges, was critical of Newman's appointment to the Catholic University in 1851, and argued against papal infallibility at the first Vatican Council (1870). He was hostile to the Land League, fearing the unrest generated by ‘godless nobodies’. Although he approved of Cullen's appointment relations between them cooled as Cullen's influence grew. MacHale's style of direct political involvement, ecclesiastical management through family networks, and charismatic, headstrong leadership belonged to an age which had died before he did.

Thomas O'Connor

Trail of the Lonesome Pine, The, novel by John Fox, published in 1908 and dramatized by Eugene Walter (1912).

John Hale, a young engineer, comes to the lawless Kentucky mountain region, to develop a coal mine on the property of “Devil” Judd Tolliver, leader of his family in the feud against the Falin clan. Hale's attempts to keep order arouse the hatred of both families, and the Tollivers are particularly bitter when Judd's daughter June falls in love with Hale, although her cousin Dave looks upon her as his future wife. Hale sends June east for an education, and upon her return she testifies against her own family in the trial of a Tolliver for killing a policeman. After the deaths of Judd and Dave, she marries Hale.