BOURDALOUB, boor-da-loo, Louis, the founder of genuine pulpit eloquence in France: b. Bourges, 20 Aug. 1632; d. Paris, 13 May 1704. He was 16 when he entered the Society of Jesus, and his instructors successively en trusted to him the chairs of polite letters, rhetoric, philosophy and moral theology. In 1669 he entered the pulpit and extended his reputation by attacking, with a powerful and religious eloquence, the passions, vices and errors of mankind. The dignity of his deliv ery and the fire of his language made him dis tinguished, even among the master-spirits of the arts and of literature in the time of Cor neille and Racine. Louis XIV invited him, in 1670, to preach before the court, and Bourda loue acquitted himself with so much acceptance that he afterward received invitations at 10 different times. After the repeal of the Edict of Nantes, he was sent to Languedoc in order to explain to the Protestants the doctrines of the Roman Catholic faith, with a view to win ning them over, and in this delicate mission he showed remarkable address, and he suc ceeded in this difficult business in reconciling the dignity of his office with the rights of man kind. In his latter days he devoted himself
to the care of hospitals, prisons and religious institutions. He well knew how to accommo date his manner to the capacity of those to whom he gave instruction, advice or consola tion. Beloved alike by men of diverse creeds and classes, he exercised authority over the minds of all, and no consideration could make him give up his openness and integrity of char acter. His