New-York tribune., 1918-09-26

tracted the attention of Bishop Cratin,
the first prelate of st. Paul. Through
the good offices of the bishop he was
sent to France to study for the priest
mood. He finished the course of the
pett semlnaire at Merimeux, and later
was graduated from the grand SEM
| inaire at Hyeres.
The outbreak of the Civil War found
young Ireland hurrying back to the
Cnlted States to bear his share in the
conf1lct. He was ordained and pro-
noted to the priesthood at St. Paul,
and immediately was appointed chap
lam of the 5th Minnesota Volunteers.
Serves as a Soldier
For nearly two years Father Ireland
remained with his regiment, sharing
the hardships of the soldiers in the
held. In battle he acted both as priest
and soldier. carrying wounded off the
held and bearing ammunition and sup
pines back to the firing line. Fever, re-
sultlng from exposure, incapacitated
him for service, and he was recalled
to st. Paul by Bishop Grace, and ap-
pointed rector of st. Paul's Cathedral.
The colonization of Irish settlers in
the West was one of the first matters
to engage Father Ireland's attention
after the war. He had seen the miser-
les of tenement dwellers in crowded
eastern cities, and he persuaded thou
sands to move to Minnesota and estab-
llsh homes on the soil. MANY promi-
point gratefully to the time when
Father Ireland shepherded them to
| the growing settlements of the open
country.
During his early career in st. Paul
rather ireland gained national atten-
ton by the beginning of his lifelong
campaign against intemperance.
one snowy night in 1869 three
drunken men came to his door and
banded him folded sheet of paper
on which was written "For Gods sake,
organize q temperance society" The
next morning the rector set out to
cure st. Paul of excessive drinking
lie invaded the settlers shacks.
throwing out whiskey bottles. and later
made lecturing tour of Minnesota
and nelghboring states. Such was his
power of speech that in few weeks
a dozen or more saloonkeepers were
included IN the ranks of his abstemous
dlsclples. He organized the first abso-
iu'e prohlbltlon society ever formed in
the United States
In 1870 he went to Rome AS the ac-
credited representative of Bishop
Grace at the Vatican council. In
feoruary. 1875, he was chosen to sue
ceed Bishop O'Gorman in the vicariate
Of Nebraska, but through the efforts
OF Bishop Grace the appointment was
cancelled and. Ire was nominated
CoadJutor Bishop of St. Paul. and was
consecrated December 81, 1875. He was
appointed Archbishop in 1888.
Arch bishop Ireland helped found the
United States Historical Society and
-
Society of Minnesota. He was commits
sloner of the Lafayette Monument As
soclatlon. He founded the Hill Semi
nary. and to this school he presented
ms library. said to be one of the finest
private collections Of books in America.
The Cathedral of st. Paul, on St. An
,nony Hill overlooking the Mississippi
valley, was built through his efforts
and stands as monument of his
achlevements in the Northwest.
Superior as Orator
The Right Rev. James G. Byrne,
wear General of the St. Paul diocese,
was Archbishop Ireland's first secre-
tary, and has been associated with the
rrelate for thirty-four years.
IN qualities of leadership" wrote
friend OF the prelate a number of years
ago, "Archb bishop Ireland is undoubt
edly the foremost American Catholic
OF his generation. With strong and
clear convictions, he also is endowed
with splendid and aggressive type of
courage. He is a devout Christian of
large and hopeful kind Of faith. OF
men who speak English to-day he has
ie" suPerlors as an orator. He believes
in the English tongue as the Great
American uniiier, and in the transfor-
nation as soon as possible of all for
eign immigrants into English speaking
American citizens"