The Irish standard., 1886-05-01
DEATH OF FATHER RYAN,

The death of Father Abram j. Ryan,
the Poet Priest of the South" at St.
Boniface Church. louisville, Ky,
Thursday, April 90, was scarcely un.
expected by many of his sincere friends
who were aware of his illness. He had
been in Louisville about a week when
he was taken suddenly i'll with :, malig-
nant type OF fever, and although he was
the recipient of the best OF medical care
and attendance he grew rapidly worse
and developed some Of the symptoms OF
brain fever. For several days previous
to his demise the reverend Father was
in all unconscious condition, and on
Thursday the efforts Of his friends to
arouse him We're unayailing. A few
minutes before 9 o'clock he began to
struggle for breath and his pulse grew
faint. The Fathers and attendants
drew around him, and he breathed his
last at seven minutes past 9, amid the
hushed praying and singing of his
friends.
About a month since Father Ryan
arrived in Louisville on lecturing tour,
the proceeds of which were to go TO-
wards the relief of the Convent Of Car
melite Nuns, at New Orleans.
The deceased Father was born at Nor
folk, Va, in 184O, and was therefore
forty-six years of age at the time Of his
death. He was educated for the priest
hood, but when the war broke out he
entered the Confederate army with his
brother. He followed it's fortunes in 8
sacerdotal capacity until peace was de-
clared, when he went to Nashville,
Tenn, to reside. Shortly afterward he
moved to Biloxi, Miss, near Beauvoir.
1t was here that he became acquainted
with Jefferson Davis, and the two were
bosom friends for many years. In 1870
Father Ryan went to Mobile, Ala, to
live. He was q warm personal friend of
Bishop Quinlan, then the Bishop Of
that diocese, under whom he was sta
toned. Father Ryan's fame as all ora
tor had preceded him, and at the first SER
vice he held vast crowd Of people
packed the grand old Cathedral of that
city, the largest Church edifce in the
South. Every sermon added to his
fame, and his Sunday discourses inva-
riably drew to the Church upwards of
1000 people while almost RS many more
We're turned away from the doors. A
sermon by Father Ryan was a poem in
prose, but religious one, which made
itself felt He numbered among his
warmest personal friends many Protest
ants, who were drawn towards him by.
his straightforward, upright manner.
He was never called upon to preach
more than once week except when he
lectured for a charitable or worthy
cause, and this was often. He could
raise more money in one lecture in Ala
Dama or Louisiana than all the church
or orphans fairs could do in month.
While in Mobile he was the director of
the Catholic Charitable Association and
the spiritual adviser Of the "Children of
Mary y the largest religious society,
composed Of representatives from every
Catholic family in Alabama. In 1878
Father Ryan and Bishop Quinlan had
q misunderstanding, which resulted in
the former leaving Mobile. His health
becoming delicate, he sought anu OBJ
tanned the Catholic church at Biloxi,
Miss. He remained i'll Biloxi until the
death Of Bishop Quinlap, which occurred
several years later. Father O'Callighan,
the Vicar General Of the diocese, then
had charge until Bishop Manney was