The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-01
Archbishop Ireland Not Ashamed Of
the Home of His Birth.
FRIENDS DENY THE CALUMNY
F re Journal of Dublin Prints
Mandatory Editorial on Min
nesota's Prelate. @

fr1ends OF Archbishop John ireland are
very Indignant at reports which have been
given wide publicity and which accuse
him OF being ashamed of his Irish nation
atty, They say that the stories are
wholly false, and that the archbishop will
always have a warm spot in his heart for
the people of his home land. They admit
that he is. first of all, an American; but
they say that is as it should be.
In commenting upon the attacks lev
eled against the archbishop, Freeman's
Journal, published in Dublin, says: a
Perhaps there is no man on the American
continent whose movements and opinions at
tract the popular interest as much as those
of the great churchman and patriot, Arch
bishop John ireland of Minnesota His name
is a household word; he is the nations ideal
of religion and patriotism His opinion is
called for on every question of any import
when he is ever found on the side of moral
right and patriotism
OF all the calu1nnies OF the prelate's enemies
none is more unjust and unfounded than the
one which holds him up to the eyes of his
countrymen as an 1rishanan ashamed Of the
land Of his birth. Those who believe that Of
him little know the great man, for, of all the
exiled children of the Gael, there is none more
deeply fond of his native Erin than he; none
who in ideals and characteristics is more
truly an Irishman and a lover OF men and
things Irish. 1t has been the adm Of his
episcopate to surround himself, as far as pos
sible, with "a native Irish clergy, to give his
people their own dear ''Soggarth Aroon," so
that Minnesota, among American dioceses,
has in dts English-speaking clergy larger
than any other When on Sunday the exiled
son Of Erin kneels before the altar in any Of
st. Pauls magnificent temples to offer his
prisons to God, there at that altar he beholds
a priest who, like himself, has come from the
green isle, +" and come to minister to him.
and thus bind closer still his Irish heart to
the glorious, ancient church Of his fathers.
The bishop cherishes a deep especial love
for his own Kilkenny; SO that, amongst the
American priesthood, Minnesota Is often al
luded to as ''the Kilkenny mans paradise
II not paradise, it is. indeed, 1.-THE promised
land" to which the members of old kilken-
ny's Levitical families direct their steps
through unfriendly deserts. The position Of
diocesan secretary is quasi an hereditary pat
rinony of the children of st. Canice, whilst
the chancellor's seal falls on them in as
direct succession as did of old the "Beculum
Christi to the primates of Armagh; and in
most OF the important pulpits OF Minnesota
one may easily distinguish Kilkenny's beloved
accent. But in this selection we must pay
homage, not alone to his lordship's love of
motherland. but also to his power of distin-
gushing real merit. moral worth and I'M
swerving loyalty to his person and cause.
Amongst the names of these distinguished
churchmen one needs but to recall that of the
illustrious Or. Conway and a host Of others,
too numerous for poor pen of ours to write.
Strongly American.
We must, however, bear in mind that Arch
bishop Ireland, although "a true and warm
cd ieho &c po1 o,,1o A1,a
and that he has done great deal to prevent
nom English speaking peoples from obtaining
the upper hand in America, and naturally
enough, during his "anti- Cahensly'' campaign
his love of Ireland was necessarily som ewhat
obscured by his aggressive spirit of Ameri
canism. Thus, when asked by the bishop Of
Ossory-his native diocese-tol preach at the
opening of the new cathedral, his answer was
both characteristic of the man and of his
How can T. said John Of
st. Paul, "go over to Ireland and open my
heart to my countrymen, and speak to them
OF the fullness Of my love for Ireland, at a
time when, in America, am Bidding foreign
ers to leave behind them the traditions of
Europe, and to give all the love Of their souls
to the country of their adoption, and all their
energy to the attainment of its IDEALS This
reply is the archbshop's patriotic creed, ex-
pressed in one word.
Poet and Musician.
Besides being "a scholar and a statesman,
Archbishop Ireland is a natural born poet
and musician Of no mean quality, possessed
of beautiful strong clear voice, to which he
can impart the most soul-touching expression.
Those of his Intimate friends, chiefly among
the older Irish settlers of st. Paul, with
whom he sometimes passes pleasant evening
when he can steal the time from his over
whelming occupations, and relieve his great
mind from their many cares, are often
charmed by his enhancing rendering Of
Moores melodies and other patriotic songs.
Sang Before the Pope.
During his recent visit to Rome he was
often nvited to pass his evenings at the Vati-
can with the aged pontiff and some pf the
cardinals. On one OF these evenings, the con-
versation having drifted to music and ma
tional airs, as expressive of the character and
aspirations of a people, Cardinal Satolli, who
during his stay in America had learned to
know the Pauline prelate, suggested to the
pope that he invite him to sing one of the
Irish national songs. OF course, on such an
occasion, the desire of the pope is taken as
a command, and Immediately after some
members Of the papal choir had rendered
Verdis "Miserere," the archbishop arose and
sang a well-known Irish song, in his own in
imitable voice, with such volume of resonance
and feeling that, as 1t swelled and rose
through the ancient halls of the Vatican,
those venerable princes of the church were
visibly touched, the pope himself seemed
and said to the cardinals around
him, what pathos, what sincerity Of feel
ing!" ''Your holiness answered the Jesuit,
Cardinal Mazella sit is not feeling, nor sin
certify, nor pathos-it is Ireland's agony