 He graduated with a BA in mathematics from Trinity College Dublin in 1880, was elected a Fellow there in 1884, and was later a member of the council of the university, where he held the office of King's Lecturer of Divinity from 1888 to 1902.He was appointed treasurer of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, by the Dean Henry Jellett in 1897.On Jellett´s death, in December 1901, Bernard became a favorite to succeed him as Dean, a position to which he was elected by the chapter of the cathedral 6 February 1902.