The Irish standard., 1893-02-25
AN AGED PRELATE
He Has Been More than Fifty Years
! q Bishop and Over Sixty-Four
Years Priest.
ARCHBISHOP OF ST; LOUIS,
a Pen-Picture Of Most Rev. Peter
/ r. Kenrick, the Nestor Of the
American Hierarchy.


American Hierarchy. +
Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick, D.
d., Archbishop of ST. Louis, is the
"grand old man of the American hier-
archy. From the time he followed his
distinguished brother, the late vener-
ated Francis Patrick Kenrick, to this
country in 1888 until the present day, he
has been one of the most eminent and
conspicuous characters in the Church in
this country. 1t falls to the lot of but
few ecclesiastics to celebrate the golden
jubilee of their .consecration to the epis-
copate, and Archbishop Kenrick, with
the most illustious Pope Leo XIII, is
e.of that chosen few, ssys Geo1 ge Bar
ton in Phllad -lphia Catholic Times. Many
years ago he passed the three ecore years
and ten allotted to man, according to
the psa]mist, but he still lives to labor
in the vineyard of the Lord More than
once be has succumbed from the effects
Of overwork; brt reeolute energy and
pieus zeal have Invariably come to the
rescue, and each time he has risen again
to do battle once more Tor the cause Of
truth and justice. His advisers and
/ fGithful priests have time and again
urged him to rest from his labors, but
the mere mention of such asthing has
been distasteful to the prelate that it
has generally been abandoned at the
outset. Bnt human endeavor has it's
limits, and the ma! ter has been recently
placed in such prudent manner before
the aged Metropolitan chat it is now
only q question of time when he will
have the aid OF young assistant and
noas1j jutor. ss
. More than fifty years bishop and
over sixty-four years priest! What a
food of sacred memories are included in
that brief sente ce. To soficiate for
nearly seven decades at the altar of the
4 Lord and to be invested with all the
powers and responsibilities of the purple
for over half a century! Well indeed
may the one who enjoys this distinction
be pointed out as man among men
Filled with years, with honors we'll
earned, and with the consciousness of a
life we'll spent, who in the American
Church more richly deserves the prayers
and the veneration of all the faithful,
regardless OF diocesan and provincial
lines, than this grand old shepherd, who
watches with such benignity over his
much loved flock in the great western
metropolis. s 4.
Peter Richard Kenrick was born in
the city of Dublin, Ireland, on August
II, 1906, and is consequently now in his
88th year. His early education was re-
ceived in the city of Dublin He studied
the classics and underwent Theological
course in hie native country and was or
dained priest in 1880. His brother,
who was to become the Bishopsof Phila-
delphia, had already emigrated to the
United States and thither Peter Richard
followed him in 1888 He proceeded to
Philadelphia and his first charge in the
city ef the Native American riots was an
assistant at the Cathedral.
IN CATHOLIC JOURNALISM.
Possessed of splendid, education, a
clear brain and a restive temperament,
his tastes were decidedly literary. His
desire to tell the reason OF the faith that
was in him led to his taking editorial
charge of the Catholic Herald, q publica-
tion that was as brilliant as it was short
lived. While Father Kenrick was q
priest in ireland he had served as chap
lain at the Carmelite Convent near Dub
lin for the space of one year. While
there he had not failed to observe the
methodical training Of the good Sisters
and their aptitude for teaching the
young. One Of his first articles in the
new journal, therefore, was on the neces-
sity OF introducing such an Order in the
United States. AT that time the anti.
Catholic feeling ran high, and the mere
mention of presenting any new features
sof the Church IN this country waa calcn-
lated to arouse the most bitter and un-
reasonable opposition. But Father KEN
rick was q man OF courage 40 veil 60
brains, and the proposition made il TINT
early article never rested unit the Order
m question was permanently and pros
perously ablished in the United
States. Prior to coming tos Ameriica 4 ON
( Ireland Father Kenrick visited Rome
With the intention Of going thr66ueh The
course necessary to becprne q member ot
! ne Ss3osiety off y MESSING his
4, ~ esi1I q 81