The sudden death of Father Joseph on September 5th during what appeared to be a successful recovery from an operation was a severe shock to those who knew him. He was a strong man, and full of vigour, hardly past the prime of life, a priest to whom his brethren and his people looked confidently for many more years of work. Perhaps he himself had an impression of the likelihood of death stronger than is usual, even in those who are facing a serious operation; but certainly such a feeling was not shared by those who saw him as he went away with characteristic cheerfulness to a nursing home in Carlisle, nor by those who visited him during the three weeks of apparent recovery.
Joseph Dawson was born in Preston on May 14th, 1876. His father, a convert, was one of a family well known in the town, but living originally at Leyland, the first of the three parishes of which Fr Joseph was in charge. His mother was the elder sister of Abbot Smith; their father, John Smith, was closely associated with the Ven. Dominic Barberi, a fact which must have counted for much in the family. Joseph was the eldest of eight children, three of whom died young. His two brothers followed him to Belmont - Fr Aelred died twenty years ago. His younger sister became a Benedictine nun at Colwich, and the elder, after many years spent at home with her mother, became a Carmelite soon after Mrs Dawson's death. The tie between brother and sister was unusually close, and Fr Joseph, ordinarily so undemonstrative, broke down when he learnt his sister's decision.
His school life at Ampleforth began in 1889. He was always near the top of his class, and in games he was well in the front rank. He was Captain of the School, and of both the cricket and football Elevens, playing a fine game as centre-forward. After a year at home and some months of study in France, he returned to the School for a time. In 1896 he received the Benedictine habit at Belmont. After three years there he was one of eight young monks who were sent from the English Congregation to Rome for their studies. Br Joseph was liked by all in the mixed multitude at Sant' Anselmo, and set himself to use the opportunity of learning Italian and German. He had already some proficiency in French.
In 1902 he returned to Ampleforth and for twelve years was at work in the school as master and prefect. He was ordained in 1904, and early in 1905 followed Fr Bernard Hayes as first prefect. In later life he came to think that he had often been harsh. He was in fact rather severe and perhaps earned his nickname 'the tiger.' However, in one instance at least his severity won for him a lifelong gratitude. As games-master, a post which went with the prefectship, Fr Joseph carried out the change from 'Soccer' to 'Rugger.' In 1912 his term of prefecture ended and during the two following years he continued teaching, managed the Journal, and for a year was parish priest of Ampleforth. The village owes it to him that it has its own churchyard.
In 1914 he was sent to St Alban's, Warrington, as assistant to Fr Placid Whittle, and in 1919 he was given charge of Leyland. His mother died just before he took up work there. How much he owed to her quiet influence can be guessed at by those who knew her. After six years of hard work in a rapidly growing parish he and Fr Anselm Wilson changed places, and Fr Joseph found himself at Dowlais, a large parish of 5,000 souls, burdened with considerable debt, and its resources dwindling each year as the Iron Works dragged on to their final closing in 1931. The transfer of the parish to the Archdiocese of Cardiff unfortunately coincided with this disaster, and Fr Joseph passed to St Anne's, Liverpool, where he settled down happily, a curate again. He was always a lover of community life, and was genuinely glad to be free of the chief responsibility. In August, 1934, he was appointed to Harrington in Cumberland where he did much good work in a short time. He felt the return to solitude, though he never spoke of it.
Fr Joseph's life, so far at least as a man may be judged by others, can best be summed up in the remark that was general when the news of his sudden and lonely death went round: 'If anyone was ready for such an end it was Fr Joseph.' His career as boy and man was marked by solid goodness, fidelity to duty, and strictness with himself. These qualities were unpretending, free from any touch of self-consciousness; indeed they were half-concealed by a cheerful off-hand manner, and an assumption of indifference, behind which lay genuine kindness and deep feeling. One who knew him well at Leyland remarked: 'Fr Dawson stands in his own light; he pretends that he has no feelings.' The strictness which he admired and practised led him at times to expect the same strictness and hardihood in others; but no one who knew him would admit that he was inconsiderate or in any way selfish. Small instances of this trait were his refusal to read a newspaper till after dinner, or to smoke before he had said None. He was an inveterate smoker most of his life, but was prepared to give it up under advice, and did so for the last year or two, though he tried to hide the fact by making a show of smoking. His love of regularity was seen in such practices as the study of theology for half-an-hour or so each morning when he had returned from instruction in the schools; or in his custom of making his half-hour of mental prayer in church late in the evening after a hard Sunday's work. His visiting was regular and methodical. Indeed his life was marked by a love of method and order. His spirit of economy was almost exaggerated. He was invariably cheerful, an excellent and imperturbable companion whether on a holiday or permanently, though his form of humour, and a love of practical jokes, inherited from his father, were not universally acceptable. His faith had that staunch uncompromising character to be expected of one who came from the heart of Lancashire. The love of prayer grew in him with years. It was said by someone in Harrington that if you wanted Fr Dawson the place to go to first was the church. A Holy Hour given by him in his last months was described to the writer as one long prayer spoken by the priest to his Lord on the altar.
Two days before his death his brother, Fr Bruno, found him recovered from a set-back which had occurred the week before, and on the day of his death he was visited by Fr Benedict McLaughlin and Fr Leo Hayes from Warwick Bridge. In the evening he talked with interest to the doctor in charge of the Home, and then to the matron. When she returned later she found that Fr Joseph had died in the interval from thrombosis; a clot had detached itself from an internal wound. Next day his body was taken to Harrington, where on September 7th Requiem Mass was said by his brother. The Bishop of the diocese, Bishop Pearson, O.S.B., and the Benedictines of the neighbourhood were present. After the Absolutions his Lordship spoke briefly and movingly, laying stress on the obedience of a monk's life, and its exemplification in Fr Joseph. On Sunday, September 8th, the body was taken to Ampleforth, the Catholics of Harrington and others following in large numbers to the boundary of the parish. Their sorrow was evident, though they had known Fr Joseph for a year only. He will not readily be forgotten while his contemporaries remain - vir simplex et rectus ac timens Deum. May he rest in peace!
JOSEPH MARY DAWSON 5 September 1935
1876 14 May Born Preston
1888-96 Educ Ampleforth
1896 3 Sep Habit at Belmont Prior Raynal
1897 8 Sep Simple Vows
1898 29 May Minor Orders Bishop Hedley
1900 29 Sept Solemn Vows Prior J Smith
1901 6 Apr Subdeacon at Rome
1902 15 Mar$$ Deacon at Rome Cardinal Respighii
1904 24 Apr Priest Bishop Lacy
1899 7 Nov to 1902 Studied in Rome
1902 Teaching at Ampleforth
1905 17 Jan to Jul 1912 1st Prefect
1912 Sep Assistant priest for Ampleforth village
1913 Became 1st priest
1914 14 Sep Assistant at St Alban's Warrington
1919 Nov Parish priest at St Mary's Leyland
1926 $$ to Nov 1930 Parish priest at St Illtyd's Dowlais
1930-34 Assistant at St Anne's Liverpool
1934 Aug Parish priest at Harrington
1935 5 Sep Died in a Nursing Home in Carlisle
9 Sep Buried at Ampleforth