MASCARON

mascaron, jules (1634-1703), french preacher, was the son of a barrister at aix. born at marseilles in 1634, he early entered the french oratory, and obtained great reputation as a preacher. paris confirmed the judgment of the provinces; in 1666 he was asked to preach before the court, and became a great favourite with louis xiv., who said that his eloquence was one of the few things that never grew old. in 1671 he was appointed bishop of tulle; eight years later he was transferred to the larger diocese of agen. he still continued, however, to preach regularly at court, being especially in request for funeral orations. a panegyric on turenne, delivered in 1675, is considered his masterpiece. his style is strongly tinged with _preciosite_; and his chief surviving interest is as a glaring example of the evils from which bossuet delivered the french pulpit. during his later years he devoted himself entirely to his pastoral duties at agen, where he died in 1703. six of his most famous sermons were edited, with a biographical sketch of their author, by the oratorian borde in 1704.