The Irish standard., 1888-02-04
THE LATE FATHER ByRNE.
A Few Words on the Life and Ser.
vices Of the Deceased
Clergyman.
HIS .P|ETY, AND DEVOTION
70 the Cause to Which He So Early
Gonsecrated Ills Life and
Energy,
TBY JAMES o'BDIsN, CALEDONIA, MLhN

TBY JAMES O'BDIBN, CALEDONIA, MLHN
The world is too much engrossed
with the deeds of it's noisy heroes to
pay much attention to the services rem
dered it by the modest grandeur OF a
holy life Very Rev Stephen Bylne,
o. s. D., was, by nature, of q retiring
disposition, contemplative, earnest and
reserved, and few, outside the circle CT
his religious order, knew or appre-
ciated the sterling value of the n,an.
He was born near the seashore at
Monamolin, parish Of Mayglass, in the
diocese of Ferns, county Wexford, Ire
land. on st. Stephens day, in the year
1892, ofpious parents, who claimed re-
ationship, on the paternal side of the
house. with GarreJ Byrne. the patriot
rebel chief OF '9S. When about IA
years of age, young Stephen was sent
to classical school at Corey, where he
pursued his studies until 1851, when he
and an elder brother emigrated to the
United States. From early youth the
subject of cur sketch had exhibited
marked signs of Il vocation to the
priesthood. But the resources Of his
family had been exhausted by the fam
ine Of 1S47, and Oh the advice OF the
santea Bishop Of Ferns, who furnished
the youthful aspirant with :an open let
ter OF recommendation, ne lett the
county Of his birth to seek the means Ut
mpleting his studies and of qualify
ing himself fur the sacred ministry, in
the United States Cincinnati WAS
then t,le city Of the Weso. and to its
venerable Bishop, the lamented John
BAPTIST t'lrcell, he applied for adop
ton. His request was granted, and
tiie young cleric WAS at once sent to st.
,}oseph's College, Perry county, OHIO,
to pursue his studies under the guild
ance OF the Dominican Fathers who
had control OF that Institution. This
was in 1859. Very Rev. James Whe~
Ian, afterwards Bishop OF Nashville,
Was president Rev. Nicholas Ray
mund Young, a class mate at the Min
essa, Rome, OF oar venerable Bishop
Grace WAS vice president: the other OF
hcers and professors of the college were
also Dominican Friars OF great learn
ing and pety With such a faculty Of
teachers, young Byrne became q q eat
fayolite. lie was an earnest student,
taleDted, respectful aud devout.
Father Raymond Y oung, the American
orator Uf the Donlluic&n Order, at the
time, took q peculiar liking to the
young green Irish boy; he often con-
yersed with him On the sad history Of
ireland, and Was delighted in listening
to ;SJeIheu's recitals of the stories and
legends OF his native land. Il like the
Frlars," !" he would romask, ''they are SO
stlnpie. SO holy, so learned and yet SO
numble.'' The present Very Rev.
Father Rockford and the late General
Charles Ewing we're at this time his
fellow students in the college. They
BOTH Unexpectedly, repaired to the con-
vent and douned the habit as pOstul-
ants. The former perssvered the hat
ter soon returned to the. college, salts
Eet? that he had no vocation to lead the
;sus1ere life of friar. This incident
made a marked impression Oh young
Dyrna's mind. He had been very much
attached to his clas,-mate, John Roch-
ford. who sat next to him in the college
and who often cheered him during the
hours Of recrea ion with the sweet
strains sf Ireland's music from his VIC
jim.
During the vacation III the summer
ot 1858, the Bishop noticed that Ste
phen had formed a strong attachment
TO the Dominican Order, and at once
directed that he continue his studies at
Mt. st. Mary's of the West, near Gin
.cinnati, sn ecclesiastical seminary re-
Gently started FOR the education OF
young men Intended fer the priest
hood. The change was not rellshed.
The white habit had charms for him
which he could not conceal. There he
remained for & wear, having as profes~
sors or schoolmates many who subse-
quently distinguished themselves in
their various callings, as Bishops |
Quinlan, Rcsecrans. loeble, Fitzger
aid, Father Coppinger. Donald McLeod
and DR.. Hallinan But Stephen was
out Of his element After 81 severe
struggle. the Bishop consented to part
with his adopted child, who ilnme
diately repaired to his old hons near
Somerset, Ohio, and became a postn-
liant for the habit Of st. dominic. The
habit once assumed remained his re-
liRious costume ito tie hour 5sot his