The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-13
ARCHBISHOP RYAN
DIES PEACEFULLY
Venerable Prelate Passes Away Amid
the Prayers of Fellow
Clergy.

Philadelphia, Feb. l3.--Serene and
prepared to meet his God, whom he had
served so well, the Most Rev Patrick
John Ryan, d. d., LII. D., archbishop Of
Philadelphia and metropolitan Of Penn
sylvania, and one Of the great arch
bishops on the American continent,
passed peacefully into eternity at 4;0s
o'clock Saturday afternoon at the arch.
episcopal residence adjoining the cathe-
dral in Logan square.
For weeks the prelate, who would
have been so years old had he lived
until the goth OF this month, fought
off death but weak heart. enfeebled
by the arduous duties of his high Office,
could not stand the strain and he passed
away. At dawn Saturday the fatal
AT noon it was thought he was about
to breathe his last, but he rallied, only
to again lapse into a sinking spell
The four attending physicians, who had
been resorting to artificial means to
keep their patient alive, shook their
heads at 3 o'clock and whispered that
the end was not far Off About this
time the stricken metropolitan reused
himself and murmured the dying words
Of ST. Paul: II wish to be dissolved
and be with Christ"
An hour later messengers hurried out
to summon priests who We're hearing
confessions IN the cathedral As they
entered. The sick room, FIR. Charles T.
Kavanagh, the archbishop's secretary,
began the prayers for the dying, and
the priests. kneeIing about the deathbed,
intoned the responses. The archbishop's
mind for 4 moment cleared sufficiently
to comprehend the significance OF the
scene, and with the words God bless
YOU" on his lips he sank back His
breathing became fainter, and Dr. J.
Ryan Devereaux OF Washington, D. G.,
one of his nephews, who had been in
constant attendance, leaned over the
prelate and then held up. his hand. 1T
is over" was all he said.
The funeral viii be held on Thurs
day and it is expected will be attended
by practically all the prominent clergy
in the American hierarchy who can reach
Philadelphia in time for the obsequies.
The body win lie in state at the cathe-
dral and will be entombed back Of the
altar. beside those of Bishop Egan,
Bishop Conwel and Archbishop Wood,
his predecessors in the diocese.
Archbishop p. j. Ryan was born in
1891, near Thurles, Tipperary county,
Ireland, and received his early educa-
ton at his home village and at Dublin
until lie was l6 years old when he en-.
tered Carlow college.
In 1852 he came to this country and
became connected with the archdiocese
of st. Louis. When he reached the
age of p he was appointed professor
of English literature at the Carondolet
seminary, Missouri, and was ordained
deacon with the privilege Of speaking
in the St. Louis cathedral.
In September, 1858. he was ordained
priest and made assistant pastor Of the
which position he filled until
1856, when he was chosen rector. In
1860 he was transferred TO the Annuu
citation church, where he remained for
twelve years. During the Civil war he
acted as chaplain of a military hospital
and prison of the Confederate forces.
He was consecrated coadiutor bishop
Of st. Louis in 1879 and while visiting
Rome in 1884 was given the honorary
title Of archbishop Of Salamina" by
Pope Leo XIII.
On June s, 1884, Archbishop Ryan was
removed from 81. Louis to Philadelphia
to ill the position made vacant by the
death Of Archbishop Wood.
The prelate was known throughout
the country and at the time OF his
death was the oldest archbishop in this !
country. He was we'll known as an
orator, lover Of children and a man
much sought for in matters of trouble !
between labor unions and organizations. |
During the Philadelphia car strikes
and the strike of the Pennsylvania min |
ers, Archbishop Ryan took an active |
part. He was prominently mentioned /
rs the man to be appointed cardinal in |
1905 BY Pope Plus X, but another was
finally chosen.