The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12


 ing to artificial means to keep their aged
 patient alive shook their heads at 8
 o clock and whispered that the end was
 net far off.
 About this time the stricken prelate
 reused himself and murmured the dying
 words of St. Paul:
 T wish to be dissolved and be with Christi
 An hour later the end came. | All present were warned and mes sengers hurried out to- summon priests who were hearing confessions In the cathedral AS they entered the sick room Father Charles F. Kavanaugh, the archbishop's secretary. began the pray CTS for the dying and the priests kneel- ing about the deathbed, intoned the re- sponses. The archbishop's mind for moment cleared sufficiently to com prehend the significance of the scene and with the words God bless you" on his lips, sank back. His breathing be came fainter and Dr. J. Ryan Dever- eaux of Washington, one of his neph- ews. who had been in constant at tendance, leaned over the prelate and then help up his hand.
 Tt is over,' was all he said. | Those about the bedside when the l end came besides the priests and pr. | Devereaux were his sisterin-law, Mrs. Gleason of St. Louis, Ashton Devereaux of this city, nephew, and the latter S
 wife; Mrs. Edward Bowen, one of his sisters and several intimate friends. l few minutes after the prelate had passed away the deep-toned bell of the cathedral began tolling 79 strokes, one I for each year of the archbishops life. l Following the archbishop's death off, | ficial telegrams were sent to the pope, Cardinal Gibbons, Monsignor Falconi, papal delegate at Washington, and all | the archbishops and bishops in the Uni | ted States.
 The funeral will be held on Thurs day and it is expected to be attended lby practically all of the prominent clergy in the American hierarchy who | can reach Philadelphia in time for the lobseouies The body will lie in state l at the cathedral and will be entombed | back of the altar of the great church beside those of Bishop Egan, Blshop | Conweu and Archbishop Wood, who were his predecessors in the diocese. This was his wish
 l JJntil a successor to Archbishop Ryan | is appointed, which will not be for some | time. the Right Rev. Edmund D. Pren- dergast titular bishop of Scilo ana auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, be- comes administrator of the arch dio- lcese. He was so designated Il years ago by Archbishop Ryan. As admins trator Archbishop Prendergast Is tenn norarily invested with practically all the authority of an archbishop. Blshop Prendergast is 69 years of age. Archbishop Ryan was considered the greatest of the bishops and archpisnops who occupied the Episcopal see of Phil | adelphia since it's erection in 1s0S His rentuation was national, and in his home | city he was accorded @ popular recogni- l ton that far surpassed that of any of his | predecessors he having been on the | friendliest terms with men of all relig- | ious denominations. He was one of the | foremost pulpit orators in the Catholic | church in this country
 The archbishop was born in Thurles, county of Tipperary, Ireland. on Feb ruary 20, 1881. His ancestors on the pa aternal side originally were the | O,Ryans who figure in Irish history. | His parents died when hf was very young and his youthful education was received from the Christian brothers. l.Young Ryan studied at the Car How seminary and later came to this country, going to St. Louis, where he
 was appointed a professor in Carondo- let seminary. On September 8, 1853, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop
 Kenrick In 1856 he was made rector | of the St. Louis cathedral and four IyearS later was placed In cnarge or tne church of the Annunciation. In 1872 Father Ryan was consecrated coadjutor I bishop of St. Louis with the right of succession and In 1884 he was appointed
 archbishop of Philadelphia. | During his 27 years residence In Philadelphia he was an important fig
 ure in the life of the city, participating | in many of the public functions. The University of Pennsylvania gave him .,f T a n NY | he had previously received from the University of Missouri.
 The great works of the archbishop were what he did for the Indians and his establishment of the proctory for homeless boys. The labors of the arch
 bishop in behalf of the Indians were recognized by President Roosevelt when he appointed him one of the board of Indian commissioners.