The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-05-03
JOHN DILLON O'BRIEN.

OBrien came as shock to his family
and friends and gave Il painful sur
prise to the whole community. 1t was
not in the least expected, for he SEEM
ed hale and hearty and fully capable
of rounding out the three score and
ten allotted to the Just man in the
book of Holy Scriptures. But God dis
poses, and We bow in profound sor-
row to His all-wise decree.
Born in Dublin, sixty years ago, John
OBrien came to this country mere
child: and, by industry. frugality. and
steadfast purpose, mounted the ladder
Of success. He was, in the best sense
of the word, a self-made man, and he
owes his success in life to his own
unaided effort. During his early years
his father was man of prominence in
the State of Minnesota, and John had
the advantage of an ideal model and
exemplar. His mother who survives
him also contributed her share to the
formation of his splendid character in
which, as the great poet writes, the
elements SO blent that all the world
might rise and say-HE WAS A
MAN.
John OBrien belonged to IL large
family Of gifted men-men who trans
lated the idealsm of their race into
flesh and blood-men who realized in
their own lives and characters the best
traditions of the old land and the fin
est aspirations of the new-men of
whom the whole community might feel
proud-men who honored their creed
and country whenever and wherever
an opportunity presented itself. 1t is,
therefore. not too high an estimate of
the deceased to say that, in his death
the state has lost one Of her best cit
liens, the Church one OF her most
worthy members, and the community
one Of it's brightest ornaments.
Mr.. O'Brien was, above all things
else. an ideal father and home lover,
and i'll that sanctuary his life shone
with peculiar lustre. Nowhere will he
DC missed so much as at the fircsile
and in the family circle But the
Church will mourn his loss quite as
deeply us the home. for he was q de-
voted son who loved the spiritual
no
Of saint. His fellow citizens too,
will grieve at his sudden departure:
they will miss his strong, manly voice,
his keen intellect and convincing per-
sonal force in the counsels OF good
government: for he stood for all that
was clean and upright and honest, in
city, state and nation. His voice was
always raised in the interests 81 jus-
tice and, sobriety: by pen and tongue
he sought to purify public and private
morals; and we do not over-rate his
merit when we say that he became one
OF the most powerful advocates for
better citizenship and purer govern
ment that our country possessed.
And while displaying at all times an
ardent patriotism and attachment to
the Stars and Stripes lie never forgot
the sufferings Of that little isle beyond
the seattle land of his birth. Often
on the public platform he recounted
her sorrows and pleaded her cause.
while thousands of sympathizing Am
orleans acclaimed his love of freedom
as we'll as his devotion to that ideal
now SO near realizat ton in his Father
land. A true Irishman as we'll as a true
American, he employed all his gifts
ana energies for the betterment of
both countries, and both countries are
better Tor his having lived. s .
Although he died very suddenly lie
was prepared to go. 1t made no diff
ference to him when the dread sum-
mons came; for, as His Grace the
Archbishop said in his panegyric,
John OBrien so lived that he was
not AFRAID at any time to meet his
God" He always wore the white
flower of a blameless life and he even
kept in mind the warning of Holy
Writ eve know nor the day or the
hour" So that while the community
has been shocked at his sudden de.
mise We feel that he has already
heard from heavenly lips the consol-
ing words addressed to the good and
faithful servant. ..
In saying farewell to this beloved
citizen, this ideal man among men. I
must add a word OF personal testi-
mony to his Astounding influence for
good. Very few men whom I have
met impressed me SO strongly with a
sense of responsibility to God and
country as John O'Brien.
Rarely has it been my privilege to
meet man whose personality was
so charming. yet withal SO strong; and