The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-28
H0N0RS AND TITLES
THE LATE ARCHBISHOP WAS THE,
RECIPIENT OF MANY DISTINc-
TIoNs - HoNoRED BY DIFFER
EMIT GOVERNMENTS HIS ADJ
VICE EAGERLY SOUGHT BY
GREAT LEADERS.

GREAT LEADERS.
That Archbishop Ireland was held
in the highest esteem by different
governments is a welI-known fact. BY
reason of his thorough grasp of mod.
ern problems his advice and counsel
were always in great demand on the
part of leading men, both here and
abroad. His early associations in
France grew stronger as the years
passed by. Never for moment did
he in thought sever any connections
of sympathy and genuine interest in
that great country. For his services
in that relation France made him
Commander of the Legion of Honor
He delivered in Paris the address at
the presentation of the statue of Gen
eral Lafayette by the school children
of the United States to the Republic
of France. He also gave the Grafton
in honor of Joan of Arc in Orleans,
France, in 1900. Yale conferred upon
him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
He acted as national chaplain of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and was
Commander in the Loyal Legion.
For several years he was President
of the Minnesota Historical Society,
and was also the founder of the st.
Paul Catholic Historical Society. A
number of his best discourses were
published in two volumes entitled
''The Church and Modern Society"
The war between America and
Spain in 1898, brought new problems
before this government as regards the
Philippine question. The Governor of
the Islands at that time was William
H. Taft, afterwards President of the
United States. He called in Arch
bishop Ireland as personal advisor
and to a great extent relied upon the
wisdom and experience of the great
churchman. The Archbishop used his
utmost efforts to have the differences
between Spain and the United States
settled without recourse to arms
1t has been said many times in
recent years, with how much truth
y
of the Spanish-American war was
known to but two men, Archbishop
ireland and Theodore Roosevelt. The
fact is, at any rate, that no other man
outside of the Cabinet enjoyed a more
intimate knowledge of the events OF
these years than did Archbishop Ire
land.
Throughout his long career the late
Archbishop enjoyed the warm friend
ship of many Of the greatest men OF
Europe and America. He was broad
minded and generous, and could easily
discern the qualities of goodness and
of greatness even in those who diff
fered from him in religion. To know
him was an honor, to be on intimate
terms oof familiarity with him was a
privilege which many coveted.
By reason of his experience in the
Civil War as Chaplain of the Fifth
Minnesota regiment, his services were
always in demand, and always ready
| on the occasion of reunions or gather
| ings of the old-time fighters. No such
| rally within easy reach of the Twir
| Cities was ever considered complete
without the Archbishop's presence anC
| participation.
When the clouds of war began t
loom about the Stars and Stripes las
year, the old spirit of 81 asserted it
| self with noticeable vigor. At once
Archbishop Ireland took his stand By
| the President, and from time to time
issued letters to his people breathing
the most fervent patriotism. He sen
| forth clarion call not only endors
| ing the stand of the President, bu
summoning all to the defence Of de
mocracy and of American institutions
The statement of his position in thu
/ world war was published in nearly al
/ the newspapers of the country, ant
was declared to be one of the cleares
and most forcible expressions Of thu
duties and obligations of American
citizenship in these troublous times
On many occasions since the war be
gan the Archbishop has shown in tn
most substantial way that the desir
of his heart was the triumph of de
Imocracy. His Americanism was tn
kind that rang true on every question
and his craftsmanship was of tina
lofty character which compelled at
miration by reason of it's sincerity an
its genuineness.
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