The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-12
Church Dignitary Was One
of Most Famous Leaders of
the Catholic Church in
This Country.
HAD BEEN VERY LOW
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
Death Of the Archbishop
Was Not Unexpected
His Career Was Unique
and Most Notable.
fAmcrican News Sorvicc)

tAmcrican News Scrvicc)
Philadelphia. Feb. 11.-Archbishop
Ryan, one OF the best known Catholic
prclates In the United States, died
this afternoon at o'clock after an
illness Of several weeks. For the past
two weeks hopes of his recovery had
been despaircd of. although Friday he
rallied and showed symptoms of i'm.
provomcnt.
Tho Most Reverend John Patrick
Ryan. d. d.. archbishop OF Philadel.
phia. Pa. was born In Thurles. coun-
ty Tipperary. Ireland. on February 20.
1881. His dcvout parents designed
the lad for the church from the Rrst
and while still In his teens he was en-
tered In Carlow college. theological
school OF great reputc. Here the
young man distinguished himself by
graduating with high honor in 1852.
Shortly thereafter he was ordained
subdeacon and moved to the United
States to accept the chair of English
logical seminary at st. Louis, Mo.
Was Fond Of Work.
Ills professorship at st. Louis ex.
emplihcs the untiring zeal and love
Father Ryan's most noticeable charac-
teristics. While performing his schol-
astic duties he also found time for the
performance of many good deeds
within the parish. which strictly
speaking were not within his province
as teacher His prosecution Of this
work soon gained the notice Of his
supcriors and few months after his
arrival in that city he was ordained a
deacon. This honor was followed in
1863 by admittance to the priesthood
and he was assigned to the cathedral.
Here his work progre ssed as steadily
as his popularity until he enjoyed the
reputation Of being one OF the most
popular clerics in the west.
Father Ryan while a humble priest
serving In the Cathedral. devoted him.
self especially to the work of better
ing the spiritual and temporal welfare
Of his parishioners. 1t was he who
proposed and prosecuted scheme
whereby the parish schools enjoyed
lectures and addresses by prominent
men. which were followed by discus
sions tending toward a broadening
view OF current events. So popular
were his Innovations and SO interest
al n L. To-,
1856 he was promoted to the post of
rector that he might further the good
work.
About this time the civil war broke
out and the rector found a new field
for his cndeavors ir acting as chap
lain to the Gratiot street military
prison OF st. Louis In conjunction
with his other work. These troublous
times found Father Ryan actively en-
gagged in making the rounds Of the
prisons and hospitals administering
consolation and overseeing the work
Of the church. He was constantly at
the call of the sick and wounded and
lost no opportunity TO help all who
were In need Of his services. II was
during these years that the fame of
Good" Father Ryan travelled far
and wide. till among Catholics and
Protestants, up and down the length
Of the Mississippi the mention of his
name brought TO memory host of
kind deeds.
Noticed BY the Pope.
Though half way around the world
from tho Holy Father the fame Of
Father Ryan was not long in reach
ing Rome and in the year 1865 he re-
ccived an invitation TO visit the vati-
can at Rome. Here he was appointed
rector Of the Annunciation church
and invited to deliver the Len,en lee
turc In English. So great an i'm
preston did Father Ryan make on
Pope Plus that in 1879 he ordered the
American priest consecrated titular
bishop OF Tricomia in Palestine and
further honored him by Naking him
coadjutor bishop OF ST. Louis. For
eleven years, Bishop Ryan perform.
cd these duties, making the rounds of
the schools, chrches and institu-
tions In the archdiocese with never
failing regularity and instilling into
hundreds Of humber brothers por.
tion Of the spirit of religious conquest
that had inspired him to his Her.
cuiean efforts.
In 1883 came the crowning honor of
all. The see OF Philadelphia was left
without an archbishop by the death
II.