The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-09-29
RET, NJ C'RIORDAN, THE LATE VICAR-
GENERAL OF TENNESSEE.
st. Louis watchmap, Sept. 81

The news of the death of this disting-
uished clergyman reached this city on
Tuesday last, and was received with deep
regret by thousands who had known him
during the years when he was an active and
much respected priest in this city. in the
latter part of the year '65 Father O'Riordan
left this city, in company with Bishop
Feehan, then just consecrated to the see OF
Nashville. 1t was at the urgent solicita
ton of this prelate that the Archbishop
consented to part with the services OF
Father O'Riordap, whose labors In the
parish of the Assumption had at that very
time won for him credit among the people
and confidence with his ecclesiastical gu
periors. Severing the official ties which
for ten years had bound him to this do
cese, he repaired to Memphis, where, De-
sides the arduous duties of establishing
large parish, he filed the Office of Vicar
General of the diocese of Nashville, q posi-
tion he held up to the time of his death.
For thirteen years Father ORiordan has
served the Catholics of Memphis faithfully
and we'll, seldom absenting himself from
his post and when at home incessantly
laboring for their spiritual and temporal
welfare. During the many plaques tnas
have visited that city during the past Snir-
teen years he was always found In the
thick of the pestilence, ministering phys
ical comfort and spiritual succor to the poor
victim of the cholera or the agonizing cap
tive of the remorseless yellow fever. He
bad passed almost unscathed through two
epidemics, and fell in the third only when
death counted it's booty thousand corp :
ses at his right hand and ten thousand
at his left. He fell the twentieth in the
roll of honor and after he bad followed
Father Walsh, his companion from st.
Louis, Father Meagher, Father McNsmara
and Father Bockel to the grave. Father
O'Riordan was stricken with the terrible
thn oir
| Convent of La Salette, and succumbed only
after two weeks of patient and heroic sur
fering. His death was wholly unexpected,
as the kilograms that reached us last week
from the stricken city represented him az
in fair way to recover.
Father O'Riordan was born in Lisgoole
| County of Cork, Ireland, in the year 1881
and was consequently at the time Of his
death 46 years of age. He was educated al
Carlow College, being the brightest scholar
| of that famous school during the time o
his attendance at its clsssee. He was or
dained by Bishop Murphy on the 10Th o
December, 1853, and came to this city IL
the following year. He was first assistant
at St. Patrick's under Father Ward anc
Father Higgenbottom. He was asslstan
to Father Henry in st. Laurence O"Ioole'
parish from it's foundation to his takinl
charge of the Assumption parish IN the tai
of 1868
Father y RtorfaA was man ot hhe III
tellectual attai menta, aud in all branche
of ecclesiastical an prufane lore an author
ity. His character was above reproach
Noble, chivalrous, generous aud genial. h'
made friends wherever he made sacqualnt t
ances and to know him once was to be nj
friend always. He was father and pro
tector Of the poor, the widow ana Tn
orphan Many Thousand old women i
this city will still recall Father o O'Riordan'
manly look, bis gentle greeting, his kindl
pressure of the hand. Among the priest
of this city he was alwaysa welcome guest
and in his house at Memphis the st. Loul
priest always found a cordial reception an
home. In union with thousands IN I'M
city we cay May God have mercy on hl
annl Amen.