The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-28

Es- 1t was also while at HyereS he de-
veloped an ardent love for the famous
orator Bossuet. His sermons and lee
lures in after years showed decisively
that he had caught the spirit and the
methods of the great Frenchman. To
use the words of the late Archbishop,
France, through this formative period
of his life, became the school of his
SOUL In spite Of this, however, the
/! country of his adoption remained ever
the strongest love and the object of
the most inalienable affection through
out his life. Though born in Ireland,
he always said that he knew he was
an American as soon as he set his
| foot on French soil.
Pastor of cathedraI.
! Having completed his studies in
France, Father Ireland returned to-
America and was ordained in ST. Paul,
December Fl, 1861, by Bishop Grace
He at once took up his duties as
parish priest at the Cathedral in ST
Paul Even before he left America
for France there had been mutterings
and murmurings of dissatisfaction in
different parts of the Union. During
| the period which he spent abroad the
spirit of dissension had crystalized to
such an extent that when Father Ire
| land landed in New York in 1861 he
found the country on the verge of the
great struggle, the Civil War, which
for four long years was to deluge the
nation in blood. Even now, the war
cloud was breaking.
Father Ireland did not hesitate a
moment to decide which cause he
should make his own. He immediate
! ly declared in favor of the Union, and
prepared to do his part in every way
possible for the upholding of the Stars
and Stripes, DISSEMINATING from the
| boat at st. Paul, he at once threw
himself heart and soul into the strug-
gle. On every occasion his patriot
ism famed forth, and his devotion to
the flag became second to his devo-
ton towards the Church Such was
Eihis robust energy and fiery eloquence
in the cause so close toShis heart, that
he soon attracted the attention on
Alexander Ramsey, the famous war
Governor
Army Chaplain.
About this time the commander of
the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infan-
try requested Governor Ramsey to
appoint new chaplain for the regi-
ment. Writing to a close personal
friend, in. a letter still preserved in
the State Historical Associations Lii
brary, Governor Ramsey quoted from
his letter to the regimental command
er, Il take great pleasure in appoint
| ing John Ireland to fill the vacancy
/ as chaplain of the Fifth Minnesota. :"
The new chaplain at once set out with
| his regiment for the front Before
long he showed both his indomitable
| energy and his fearless courage on
| the field of battle and wherever duty
assigned him. The battle of Corinth
and a score of other engagements wit
messed his valor and indefatigable
spirit. Through the sitting heat and
the frequent rains of the Southland
he inspired life and cheerfulness into
| the men on their long, tedious
marches. At Iuka his inspired ex-
ample filled the men with renewed
courage, and his assistance in rush
ing ammunition to the front where it
was badly needed proved his true
| mettle. The soldiers came to regard
him with as much docility as they
did their commanding officers; and
this feeling was intensified by the
fact that he was also their spiritual
guide and father.
About a year after he left st. Paul
for the South he was stricken with a
malignant fever. The disease came
upon him while he was on duty with
his regiment in front of Vicksburg,
which was just then under siege by
the victorious Grant. As a result of
ceaseless work. constant exposure
his tent for a number of weeks. In
spite of this he steadily refused the
advice of physicians that he return
North. His strength finally became
so impaired that there was nothing
left for him but to obey the order
of the physicians and return to the
Imilder climate of Minnesota. A thor
lough rest in the invigorating atmos-
I phere of the North soon dispelled all
symptoms of fever. Being restored to
health he Immediately began to look
around for some special form of work
that would bring his energies and his
restless activity into play. He die
mot have to go far to find the object
of his quest.
First Temperance Work.
The first boat to reach ST. Pau
dropped some. kegs of whiskey thai
were left at the trading post ant
marked the beginning Of subsequen
!. scenes of riotous lawlessness. Thi;
? blight on the growing city Father Ire
lald determined to remove if possibl,
1T any rate, to minimize. Wit
9 characteristic energy Father Irelan,
? entered the fight against liquor. an,
g so decisive was the victory which h
won that it brought him fame and rt
Il nown throughout America and eve
d in the countries of Europe. Be b.
), lscame known henceforth as the grea
g i for,rorarooa Ynforr,1sr