The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-07-14

w ~~S'|O
days and Saturdays.
Vicar-Genaral Conway.
One of Jhe foremost among ecclesias'
tics of the Catholic Church passed away
early on the morning Of Sunday, July l.
in the person of the Very Rev. Patrick
j. Conway, Vicar General of this arch
diocese. From the time he obtained
the age Of reason down to the hour OF
his dissolution, every thought, word,
and act of Of J. P. Conway was devoted
to his Creator and to his country. Born
on the heroic and historic soil of Wex-
ford, forty years after her valleys and
hilIsides were empurpled alike by the
blood of the brave defenders Of Ireland
and by that of their 6endish persecu-
tors, Father Conway sprang from a
race and soil that had given gallant
champions to the cause of Irish liberty
and shed lustre on the bloodiest pages
cf Ireland's chequered history. Many
Of the veterans Of the rebellion of '98
we're still strong in mind and muscle,
as became the survivors OF those httest
of Irishmen, when he whom We now
sincerely mourn first saw earthly light.
as he grew frona infancy to boYhood,
the traditions Of the stirring times in
which Che generations that Immediate
ly preceded hlnn figured, were narrated
on many winter evening and on
many a. summer cleaning around the
family hearth and at the crossroads
forge, which still preserved the martial
memory OF New Ross and Enniscor.
THY.
The usual penalty Of Irish birtt and
patriotic sntecedepts came early on
young Conway. While yet in his teens
he sought newer and broader Life Oh
these free shores. He Immediately en.
tered upon the pursuit Of 8 wider
knowledge; and although for time he
pursued the secular walks OF life, his
eye was ever fixed upon the Star OF
Bethlehem, and his heart ever yearned
to enter the ministry Of Christ. His
pious ambition was finally gratlfied,
and, he was ordained q priest of the
Catholic Church.
Father Conway, from the time of bis
ordination, showed himself to be among
the most jealous of the younger priest
hood. He was favorite with his spir-
itual superiors, his equals, and the peo-
pie of his flock. The Same sincere and
transformations piety and patriotism
which distinguished him as Catholic
and an freshman while in the laity
equally distinguished him as an e1em-.
plary churchman and a loyal American
citizen. Sanity in his disposition and
even ascetic in his habits, Father Con
way bad not even suspicion OF mar
rowness or bigotry in his noble nature,
All who were in distress or sorrow
found in him a sympathetic friend and
a generous CONSIDER. Indeed it. may
be said with truth and without any ap.
proach to that unhealthy timental-
ism which sometimes leads us to exag-
gerate the virtues Of the dead, that
Father Conway's zeal and labors as a
priest of the Catholic Church Slapped
his native vitality and led him before
his time in years to the full fruition OF
his heavenly reward. Elsewhere will
be found statistical SYNOPSIS OF The
life and career of the distinguished &C.
clesiastic; but not with the tolling OF
the funeral bell, OF with the pronounce
ment of the funeral sermon, Will the
memory Of Vicar General Conway pass
away from earth. His monuments in
the hearts of the people whom he served,
and who loved him, shall be more en-
during than an obelisk of marble or of
bronze. His eloquence was IN his good
works, and his fame was in his charity.
He remembered and in interpreted in
their truest sense, the grand words OF
his Redeemer to the woman who had
sinned, ..he who is guiltless, let him
cast the first stone; woman, go and sin
mOre.n
In the long line Of ecclesiastics who
have graced Chicago BY their wisdom
and their sincerity, there were some
brilliant Tut none more devoted than
Father Patrick Conway. He will rest
not III the soil Of w oxford, not on the
breast OF mother Ireland !, but beneath
the heroic sod and under the splendid
flag of the proud land Of his adoption;
and years, nay generate s, must pass
away before the tho ics ct this arch;