Diptych with two fine manuscript leaves with richly decorated gothic borders, illuminated by J.A. Finigan, South Caste St., Liverpool. Dimensions: each leaf: 30,5 x 22 cm; With the Belgian arms on the first leaf at the top (L'Union fait la Force). With a photograph of the priest on the second leaf in the top corner. The members of the Committee signed on the second leaf. Both leaves framed behind glass and mounted in a burgundy morocco cover. Some scratches on the cover, but since the document was conserved closed, the inside is as good as new. Size of the cover closed: 41,3 x 31,7 cm. The title gilt on the front cover : ""to the Rev. E. Goethals, on the Occasion of the Celebration of his Silver Jubilee, St. Patrick's, Liverpool. August, 1888
Ref. Brian Plumb, A Biographical Dictionary of the Secular Clergy of the Archdiocese of Liverpool (Deceased), 1850-2000, published in 2005. ""Son of John and Seraphina Goethals (De Neve) uncle of Alphonse Van Wassenhove (q.v.) b. Eecloo, Belgium 20 July 1840, education: seminaries of Ghent and Bruges, Ordained (Bp. Turner) 23 August 1863, VF. 1896, Canon 1916, c. S. Patrick, Liverpool to 1868, MR. S. Patrick, Liverpool to d. 23 February 1921, bd. Ford. Survived typhus as a young priest, became one of the most respected clergymen on Merseyside.
