The Irish standard., 1915-10-02
REV. FATHER RYAN"

all hearts with wide spread and un.
measured praise from all critics of
the highest repute.
Father Ryan also won distinction
as an orator, lecturer and an essay
list, having contributed to several of
the leading journals and magazines
of the country. His oratory was not
of the cold and surpassed kind which
fall upon the ears, but fails to make
an impression on the heart. Like all
true poets, Father Ryan touched the
tenderest chords of human hearts and
made them respond to his own lofty
feelings and sublime inspirations. He
delighted to roam in those far off
religious realms beyond the skies,
whose spheres are ruled and whose
realms are governed by those mystic
rious laws which have their founda-
ton source in God and whose opera
ticns are controlled by the exercise
Chief amongst his virtues may be
named his zeal for the honor and
glory of God and devotion to the
Mother of God The deep and ear
nest piety of Father Ryan towards
his Queen and Patroness, as he loved
to call her, bespeaks much in his
fnr 10 oil fr1,1
of the Catholic Church, he saw 1t
eminently proper but also a sublime
act of Christian duty, to pay tilial rev.
erence and honor to the Mother of
God. Hence, Father Ryan crowned
Mary with many gems of rare beauty.
Amongst them may be named his
beautiful poem Last of May" dedi-
Gated to the children Of Mary of the
Cathedral of Mobile. Ala. Few Catho-
lies will read these lines without ex-
periencing feelings of deep and ten
der devotion towards their Queen and
Mother, such poems as the "Song of
Mystic" In Memory of My Brother"
and "The Rosary of My Tears"
Father Ryan never made poetry his
vocation as did Tennyson and Long
fellow. He had greater poetic genius
than Lowell, but the art of the lat
ter was mastery; his talents were
cultivated to the utmost and his
achievements were so great that COM
| M riaOn ia imnnooihlo
Father Ryan must stand by himself
as a singer, for comparison or any
attempt to give him pedestal with
other poets, would be fruitless. This
he understood himself when he said :
II sing with voice too low
To be heard beyond today.
In Minor keys of my peoples woes
But my songs pass away,
Tomorrow hears them not,
Tomorrow belongs to fame
| My songs, like the birds, will be
] forgot,
And forgotten shall be my name."
There will be no doubt that he will
/, live long in the affection of the PEG.
pie, since betimes the grandest
songs depart, whilst the gentle, hum
BILE, and low-toned rhymes, will echo
from heart to heart
Father Ryan's health for many
years was such that would not permit
of his engaging in laborious mental
work. Though ailing for years, as
has been stated, yet his wonderful
| energy of mind made it appear to
many that there was no immediate
danger of his life
We are told that he retired into
franciscan Monastery in Louisville,
KY. to make a retreat, intending at
Its close to finish Life of Christ"
Little did he think that the Angel. of
death pursued him and soon delivered
the final message to him. He did
not fear the end. Death has no ter.
ror for a truly Christian soul there
fore, he was not gloomy, nor despon-
dent at the sight of the grave. He
saw beyond it the glorious sunshine
of Gods presence and the cheering
prospect OF his love.
The final moment at last came and
found him prepared on the gard of
April, 1886. The soul of Abram j.
Ryan, priest and poet, beloved by all
who knew him. passed quietly away,
let us hope from earth to heaven,
there to sing the glorious songs
whose melodies are attuned to the