MASCARON (Julius), bishop of Agen, and a most eminent French preacher, was born at Marseilles
Maselef, in 1634. He inherited of his father, who was the most celebrated advocate of the parliament of Aix, that uncommon talent of eloquence which distinguished him. He was admitted a member of the congregation of the oratory very young; and from his 22d year taught rhetoric at Mans. Soon after this he commenced preacher, and preached with great success in St Peter's church at Saumur. The bishop of Mans, willing to engage so able a preacher in his church, made him prebendary of it. He was much admired at Paris, when he preached the advent at the oratory. He preached after this five or six years at court, and was promoted to the bishopric of Tulle in 1671. He was afterwards translated to the bishopric of Agen. He was called in 1694 to preach the Lent sermon at court. The year following, he opened the assembly of the clergy, and returned to his diocese; where he died of a dropsy in his chest, Dec. 16. 1703. There is nothing printed of this great man excepting a Collection of Funeral Orations made upon the queen-mother, the dauphiness, the duke of Beaufort, the chancellor Seguier, marshal Turenne; and at the head of this collection there is a short life of him.