The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-07-09
THE ARCHBISHOP,
An Interesting Sketch Of the Life
and Labors of an Eminent
Prelate.
THE REMARKABLE RECORD
OF Most Rev. John Ireland, the
Distinguished Metropolitan
Of st. Paul.

Of st. Paul.
In the whole ranks of the American
Catholic hierarchy to-day, no figure
stands out more prominently than that
of the archbishop of St. Paul, Most Rev.
John Ireland, whose see was made a
metropolitan Que four years ago; and
who is, taking into consideration the
years of his provincial authority, the
youngest of the archblshops of the United
States. Nor is it solely in this country
and in Catholic circles alone that Arch
bishop Ireland's personality, his charsc-
ter, and his attitude on certain impor-
tant issues, have lately been made the
topic of wide discussion: these things
have all been exploit ed in certain Euro
pean centres, notably Berlin and Bone;
and the non Catholic press in this coun-
try have been lavish in their praise of
the archbishop for the manly and indie
pendent stand he has taken on the is
sues in question and the genuine Ameri-
canism that has always formed such a
prominent trait in his character. We're
the prominence which the St, Paul pre-
late now possesses due solely to recent
happenings it might be expected TO pass
away with the discussion OF the subj jects
which are just now the leading ones in
ecclesiastical circles; but that promin-
ence is not the result cf recent occur
ences altogether; and for fully a score of
years past, and long before his see OBJ
tanned metropolitan rank, Dr.. Ireland
has been recognized as one Of Americas s
foremost ecclesiastical leaders,
Dr. Ireland was not American born
though, despite the intense patriotism
which has always marked his career in
this country. His native place is Barn
church, County Kilkenny, Ireland, whore
he came into the world September ]i,
1888. In his 18th year his parents eni-
grated to this country and went west
ward to Minnesota, where young Ire
lands boybood was spent.
Bishop Cretln, who became the first
prelate of St, Paul in 1851, had his atten-
ton attracted to the Kilkenny youth,
from the aptitude he displayed III his
studies, and the practical plety which
even then was characteristic Of the lad
and the result was the bishop urged him
to study for tae priesthood, and took
him under his protection On his consent
ing to do so. The good bishop soon after
sent his protege to France, his own ma
tive land, where DR.. Ireland began his
studies at Merimeaux, passing from the
petit seminaire there to the grand semi
nary at Hyeres, where his theological
course was in due season completed.
The future metropolitan preferred to be
ordained at home, so he returned to ST..
Paul, and was promoted to the priest
h ,od there at the Christmas of 1861.
by Bishop Grace, who succeeded to the
see two years previously.
The din OF war was then resounding
through the land, and like their corelig-
ionists in other parts Ct the country. .-the
Catholics Of Minnesota were not slow in
responding; tol4incoln's call for troops,
when the disastrous battle of Bull Run
demonstrated that the war was not to
end SO speedily as some sanguine i1di-
viduals had predicted
Father ireland offered his services rs
chaplain, and he was duly commissioned
such and attached to the Fifth Mime
sofa regiment, the rank and file of which
were largely Catholic. For the ensuing
fifteen months the young priest shared
the hardships of camp life and the dang
,ers of military duties with the boys in
blue, and would have remained at his
post until the close of the war had his
health permitted him to do 50. The fail
ure OF his forces, however, induced his
superior, Bishop Grace, to recall him
from the field and we next find him do
!, ing duty at the st. Paul cathedral of
which he had been appointed the rector;
and in that capacity he began to display
forthwith that remarkable zeal and ac-
.tivity which have won him such titles
as the 'sconsecrated blizzard of the
Northwest" "the whirlwind of the
/ prairies," ''the provldential prelate," etc.
When the colonel of the fifth regiment
was afterwards, chosen governor of the
4 State as Governor Hubbard, he named
!. the former chaplain Of his regiment, who
u had in the meantime been mad q bish-
~ member Of his staff, so great was
I the yrespect il which he. held the present
tfmetrop offssS i Paul
,ne of t iat matters g engage