ALPHONSE TAHAN GLOVEBOX BELONGING TO MSGR. HENRI-CHARLES LAMBRECHT
French, mid-19th century, ebonized wood. Napoleon III glovebox of silver inlay and etched cartouche to the lid bearing the inscription "Monseigneur Lambrecht", stamped to the hardware "Tahan; Paris". Undoubtedly the property of Monseigneur Henri-Charles-Camille Lambrecht (Henricus Carolus Lambrecht), 23rd bishop of Ghent (pictured in the second photo).

Born in a small town near Oudenaarde, Henri-Charles Lambrecht was educated in the local school, before St. Joseph Minor Seminary and the Major Seminary of Ghent, he became Doctor of Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of Leuven, where he also taught. He was appointed to a canonry of St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, and served as Vicar General from 1880-1886, when he became coadjutor bishop to Henricus Franciscus Bracq. A forward thinking man, Lambrecht formulated a new and modern way of thinking within the Catholic Church. Times were changing, and coming from a background where a worker was still highly exploited and any form of social security was non-existent, Lambrecht envisaged a completely different function for the church than simply riding along with the ruling bourgeoisie. In Aalst there was priest Daens who gradually succeeded in giving the working class a voice - an appropriate idol with whom's case Lambrecht was particularly fond.

After the resignation of Ghent's auxiliary bishop Gustave de Battice, Henri Charles Lambrecht succeeded him. He was then also (symbolically) appointed Bishop of Gerra. Armed with this new position and social regard, the opportunity for Lambrecht to pursue his dreams for the church’s repertoire with society is given new hope, but is not well-supported by the conservative Mgr. Henricus-Fransiscus Bracq, the current Bishop of Ghent (1864-'88). Nevertheless, Lambrecht is not dissuaded, and still hopes to enact change within the workers' problems of the time.

On May 15, 1888, Monseigneur Bracq suddenly falls ill, and dies not a month later. On April 4, 1888, Lambrecht received the anointing as bishop from Archbishop Goossens. Three months later, on June 17, Lambrecht is appointed Bishop of Ghent, followed by a solemn inauguration on July 2.

The next summer, typhoid laid waste to the hamlet of Papegem (Lede). Lambrecht was on duty, in the thick of confirmation season, amongst the affected families without regard to his personal health. The Ghent bishop often falls ill and is confronted with sudden fatigue, but works on. A year after his inauguration, he was on duty in Okegem and Denderleeuw, the College of Ninove, then spent his last night in the presbytery of Denderleeuw. He died there the next day, July 2nd, after a precise year episcopate, and was buried in his birthplace Welden at the behest of friends and family, making Lambrecht the only Ghent bishop not buried in the crypt under St Bavo's Cathedral.
3 3/4 x 12 x 4 1/2 in. (9.5 x 30.5 x 11.4 cm.)

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