The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-24
REV. Il. j. RYAN.
MaRee's Illustrated Weekly

| Magee's illustrated Weekly.
| father Ryan is native of Virginia, and
was born in the year 1s4O As the author OF
| the "Couquered Banner" " he is known far and
wide, but he has stronger claims upon the love
and veneration Of our Catholic readers.
The first time we had the pleasure of seeing
hlm, was at the laying of the corner. stone for
] the new Church of st. Joseph, Common street.
New Orleans. He was. of course, introduced
of the immortal Conquered Banner ;'n but,
with o clear, sweet voice, and calm, expressive
eyes, he thus reintroduced himself: "My
friends, l have been presented to you as the
| author of the Conquered Banner : but stand
before you to-day as one connected with o
Banner that is unconquered and unoonquerabie
the Banner Of the CrossW
And it is in this reation-as one connecte
with the Banner of the Cross-as true and zeal.
ous priest, who devotes his talents to the SCI =
vice Of God-that we introduce him to our read.
ers in the present number of the Weekly. AL
though endowed with the rarest gifts of oratory
and poe y, he seldom permits himself to be
drawn out Of his humble sphere of prestly
duties-content rather to win one soul for Cad
than to earn the plaudits of the world.
HIS life has already been an eventful one.
AS pastor OF a congregation in Knoxville Ten.
Augusta. Georgia as editor in chief of the
MORNING STAR, in New Orleans, La, his time
and talents have been freely given to the cause
Of Religion, Charity and Patriotism-for the
South knows no more ardent defender, the
Church no more devoted son, and the poor no
truer friend.
Fother Ryan's nom de plume, "Moiua," has
received singular celebrity from the fact that
1T had long bcen the pseudonym of Mrs. A. P.
Oinnies, formerly of st. Louis, now of New
orleans, who had 30 enwreathed it with flowers
OF prose and poetry, that it became a house.
hold word throughout the West and South,
Father Ryan, the younger poet, unconscious of
TINS prior claim, and because the name was
dear to a hero brother who died q soldier in
the Confederate cause, adopted it as his own.
and soon invested it with immortal lsurels
Spe king of this unconscious error on his part
the young poet-Priest thus courteously alluded,
name," he said, " to her who has so honored it
in the past" while the older claimant, in
return, gracefully bade him keep it "as ali it's
celebrity lu the present was owing to his
genius, and she was sure his pure heart and
noble soul would endow it with additional
honor in the future"
Both poets, we believe, have ceased to use
the title; but hallowed as it is by tender as. |
sociatons of the dead, bright with ell the
beauteons memories of woman's life, and
aspirations, the name of Mona can we'll be
laid to rest with its triple crown of Love- and |
Memory, and Hope.
We wish we could give further details of
Father Ryan's life and labors-of his life Az
the jealous missionary, OF his labors as a |
gifted minister of the one true Faith :: but !
these he enfolds in priestly vestments, and no |
one dares to draw them from their sacred |
silence.
We only know that at present he is doing
mucn good IN Mobile, and that the Catholics |
OF tnat city have reason to congratulate them |
selves upon their rich possession.
Father Ryan stands before all prejudioed |
Pcote ssants ss grand fact that Catholioity- |
GODS true religlon-serves always to make |
patriotism more pure genius more refined. and |
charity more abundant.
Who dsres to say that the Church enfeeblss
ene mind, enslaves the intellect, or stints the |
feelings of the hearth Our patriot poet-priest |
refutes the slander, and shown that love of |
country and of God shone brightest in those |
VINO stand nearest to her affairs, while the
fal fhS 4c
Conquered Banner" scars still higher in her |
service, and is illumined by the radiance
which streams from Banner that is uncon-
quered aud unconquerable.
The issue of Magee's that contaios this no.
ttce has also wood cut of Father Ryan