The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-01-09
THE MOST REVEREND PAT.
RICK WILLIAM RIORDAN.

Through the death Of the Most
Reverend Patrick William Rior-
dan void has been made, that
time will not easily fill, in the
ranks of the Catholic hierarchy
Of America.
Not merely in Chicago, where
he had been the priest, nor in San
Francisco where he was the Arch
bishop, was he loved and esteem
ed. Far beyond his immediate
fields Of labor, went his name, the
fame Of his deeds, the influence Of
his words and acts. To-day the
whole Catholic people Of America
mourn that the hand, ever in up
lift when truth and charity called
for defence, is motiOnless, that the
voice, ever speedily heard when
need there was of counsel or of
encouragement i'll well-doing, falls
into enduring silence. Those who
knew the Archbishop Of San Fran
cisco the more anear, to whom his
imposing figure was the more ia
miliar, to whom his long and fruit
full service was the more closely
visible, repeat in sadness, though
always i'll docile trust to the viii
Of the Supreme Ruler, that in the
loss Of him, so far as they are
allowed to see, there is a loss to
the Church in America that is al
most irreparable.
Archbishop Riordan was rich in
natural talent. Fortunate, too,
was he in the opportunities, open
ed TO his youthful days, in the
best schools in America and in
Europe. And always he was the
diIigent student, loving books,
making frequent recourse to them,
even among most pressing occupa-
tions of official duties. AS we
knew him in his later life, he was
the ripe scholar, Of wide informa-
ton, Of well-poised judgment, alto
gether the learned man, that one
willingly sees i'll high place as the
teacher and the leader of men, as
the standard-bearer of religion,
the honored champion of the
truths of Christ s Gospel. He was
a preacher Of high order, always
forcible and convincing, and no
less graceful III style and delivery
Nature was also profuse with
him in the gifts Of the human
heart. He was kindly Of word,
gentlemanly Of demeanor Thor
oughly unselfish, he was princely
in his generosity towards others.
What wealth came to him-and
much did come from his archdiO-
cese-at once went out in tribute
to religion and to charity. Him
self, his own pleasure and comfort,
had no hearing from him. To
serve, not to be served, was the
ideal which he ever sought to re-
duce to practice.
The dignity of the priesthood,
and later Of the episcopate, he
held in exalted esteem. The vir-
tues born of it and intended by its
divine Author to honor and grace
it, shone bright In his whole life.
To meet him was to meet the
priest, the bishop as highest ex-
pectation prefgured priest or
bishop.
In judgments and decisions
principle ruled; in upholding it
he was as ready to oppose friend
as to oppose enemy. One must
needs have been sure he was right,
before asking sympathy or sup
port from Patrick William Rior-
dan: else one. whoever that might
be, was certain of quick repulse.
His characteristic trait was sin
cerity of thought and purpose,
and, accompanying this, sincerity
of word. What he thought, he
said, whether thereby giving
pleasure or pain. no matter whom
he addressed. At times he seemed
| for moment careless of the feel
ings of others, impulsive in atti-
tude and speech. 1t was all the
consequence of his devotion to
principle. of his inter sincerity of
soul III fault there was, it was
1.-THE exuberanee of nobleness OF