The Irish standard., 1915-10-02
Written for the Irish Literary Club,
BY Agnes N. Ryan Of l. A. to A. o. II.
Div. I.

Written for the Irish Literary Club,
{ BY Agnes NJ. Ryan Of L. A. to A. o. II.
Div. 4.
In looking up the history of Father
Ryan, the poet priest of the South, l
find the exact date and place Of his
birth are not yet definitely known.
Some say that he was born at Nor
folk. Va, others claim Hagertown, Md.
Whilst there is some ground to be-
lieve he was born at Limrick, Ireland.
The same uncertainty exists as to the
date; some claim to know that he was
born in 1886, whilst others say 1889
was the year of his birth.
It is known that Father Ryan went
to st. Louis with his parents when
small boy of seven years. Having
truly Christian parents, they placed
him under the care and training of
the Brothers School. Even at that
early date he showed mental activ-
ity which gave promise of some day
producing substantial and lasting re-
suits. He evinced rare knowledge and
made rapid progress in its attainment
at school. His thoughtful acts and
modest looks soon won for him the
respect and friendship of his teachers,
and esteem and affection Of his COM
panions.
1t was soon noticed that he mad an
instructive reverence for sacred things
of deep religious spirit. 1t was also
soon recognized, in his mild youth,
the germs Of future vocation to the
priesthood. 1t was the boy himself
who expressed the desire and also
bent all his energies towards acquiring
the necessary education to fit him for
entering upon still higher and more
extended studies for the exalted voca-
ton to which he aspired.
He soon was ready to enter the
Ecclesiastical Seminary of Niagara,
New York, having bid farewell to his
parents, relatives and numerous
friends who fervently invoked heav-
ems blessing upon the pious young
man who they hoped would return
some day to their midst to offer up
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
7, The heart of the young man was
aglow with the joys that animated
him in the presence Of his high and
holy purpose and entering the Semi
nary, his only regret was the separa-
ton from his home and parents. His
home was very dear to him and his
devotion to his dear mother was re-
markable. Home and parents are
very dear to the pure of heart" Like
nearly all great men, Father Ryan
owed much to the early training and
example of his truly Christian moth
er; hence the deep affection he ever
manifested towards her.
Having passed through the usual
course Of studies, in the Ecclesiastical
Seminary with highest of honors, and
distinction, Father Ryan was duly or
dained priest and soon afterwards en-
tered upon the active duties of mis-
sionary life. But little was heard of
him until the breaking out of the Civil
War, when he entered the Confeder-
ate army as Chaplin and served the
poor soldiers up to the close of the
war.
He was stationed at Nashville, af-
forwards at Clarkville, Tenn. and still
later at Augusta, Ca, where he found
ed the Banner of the South, which
exercised great influence over the peo-
pie of the South and continued about
five years when Father Ryan was OBJ.
liged to suspend its publication.
Father Ryan was moved to Mobile,
Atlanta, where he was appointed pas
tor of st. Marys Church. He remain
ed there from 1870 to 1883, when he
received a leave of absence. from Bis.
hop Quinlan to make an extended lee
} ture tour of the country to future a
praise-worthy and charitable work of
great interest of the South. 1t was
while engaged in this mission that
Father Ryan received his death sum.
mons.
During all these changes and jour
neyings, the busy, brain of Father
Ryan was necessarily employed ex-
pending itself in composing those i'm.
mortal poems which won their way to
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