Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-09-11
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
y YEARS OLD Oh

st. Paul, Mimi, Sept. l0.-1n the
modest chapel attached to the arch.
episcopal residence, Archbishop Ire.
land, who, next to Cardinal Gibbons,
Is perhaps the best known and un-
doubtedly the most Influential mem.
Der of the American hierarchy, cele-
brated this morning the mass OF
thanksgiving that marked the seven
ty-ffths anniversary Of his birth. The
archbishop desired that there be no
particular ceremonies. Numerous
friends called to extend congratula-
lions, while kilograms and letters of
felicitation arrived in large numbers.
Archbishop Ireland has frequently
been called the typical American
prelate. 1t is more than half a cen
fury since he was ordained to the
priesthood and a quarter of a CEN
tnry since he became an archbishop
For many years he has been looked
upon as the head of the so.called lib
eral element among the Catholic
clergy in America. But TO rthe ex-
IRENE tolerance of his views on secu-
lar matters, some OF which are not
in exact accordance with the more
conservative element at the Vetican,
it is believed that the st. Paul pre-
late would long ago have received
the cardinals hat.
Born in Kilkenny county, Ireland,
September II, 1888, John Ireland
at the age Of II, came with his pa
rents to the United States, reaching
here in 1S49. The family lived three
years in Chicago and then came to
st. Paul. where the boy studied in the
cathedral school for a year. In 1853
he was sent by Bishop Cretin to a
seminary in France, where he studied
the classics for four years.
He returned to the United States
in the early days of the civil war.
One month after his ordination he
went to the front as chaplain of a
Minnesota regiment. When the war
had ceased he returned to St. Paul
and was assigned to the rectorship
of the cathedral. His clerical duties
did not interfere with his interest
in all movements looking to the pub
lie welfare. He aided in the develop
ment of the northwest by establish.
ing large colonies of desirable immi-
grants whom he brought over from
Europe. He was active in the tenn
perance cause and was elected pres.
ident of the Total Abstinence Union
of America. He was president Of tie
st. Paul Law and Order league, and
was said to have been an influence
in inspiring the famous encyclical!
of Pope Leo XIII. on capital and
| labor. He was prominent in 1898 in
an effort to settle the differences
between the United States and Spain
without var and later he rendered
great service in the Il of bringing
about Cancellation between the
French republic and the Catholic
church. t. - sr.
While he was seldom mixed in po-
litical life in the sense of delivering|
addresses and making pleas for one
party or the other, Archbishop lre-|
land is a nan of pronounced opinions
exercises his Influence in his own
way, but the occasions have been
few on which he felt it his duty to-!
break his rule Of non-interference.
One of these occasions came in. the
fall of 1896. The campaign between
Mckinley and Bryan had only about
three weeks to run and twenty Of the
business men of St. Paul sent
him a letter asking. that he give tOl
the public in hts own way his views
regarding the great questions then
the citizens of the republic.
On October y OF that year he sent
to the country what was then regard
ed as one of the greatest addresses of
the contest, which later ended so
overwhelmingly for Mckinley.
i Archbishop Ireland's Identification
with education in the Northwest and
his record as a constructor covers a
wide field. In 1885 he established st.
seminary. st. Thomas Mill
tary college also owes its origin to
him, while he has aided in the estab-