The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-10-05

terest of the multitudes who knew
neither the creed nor the history of
| the Church. Archbishop Ireland ap-
pealed from pulpit and rostrum to
those of foreign birth or affiliation to
adapt themselves to the genius of the
! country in which they had cast their
| lot, to be Americans in their love of
and devotion to national ideals, Amer
leans in every sphere of secular civil.
| ization.
When the sponsors of a plan to Sc
cure the approval of the Holy See for
| the establishment of churches in
| America on distinctly foreign lines
were gathering in Rome, encouraged
| and supported by foreign interests,
Archbishop Ireland fastened on to
| meet them. When there he insisted
that the program was anti-American
and seriously injurious to the interest
of the Church in this country: That
| it would strengthen the suspicion of
| foreignism from which Catholics al
ready suffered and would put the
Church at very great disadvantage,
/
of his representations, recognized the
| force of his argument and refused to
entertain the petition. Many of those
who were interested in the scheme
lived to recognize his wisdom and
| they mourn now the loss of a great
and true friend who rescued the
Church in this country from serious
peril
| He labored throughout his career to
bring the lives and activities of the
| stranger from abroad into harmony
| with American ideals of citizenship.
He insisted that in the spiritual
sphere there is; neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free, there
| is neither male nor female.
| His forceful advocacy of the true
principles of religious and social life
won respect for Catholic Ideals, and
| he became the confidential counsellor
OF several successive administrations
1t was he who prevailed with the Gov
ernment to send commission to Rome
for preliminary conference looking to
the. settlement of the great problems
created by our acquisition of the Phil
! lppine Islands, and it was largely due
| to his labors and influence that relig-
| loRs interests in our new possessions
were so well safeguarded in the final
adjustment For several years copies
OF official reports concerning Philip
pine affairs were sent to. him with a
view to securing his judgment and ad-
vice. He was the Country's represen-
tatlye to France at the unveiling of
the Lafayette monument, Americas
gift to France in recognition of ma
tlons gratitude. For long years his
services for every great national inter-
est were invariably sought and freely
| given. His talents and requirements,
considerable as. they surely were, were
not the cause of his pre-eminent infiu-
/ ence but rather his being a faithful
representative of the Catholic Church.
Americas leading newspaper said of
i him a few years ago: John Ireland
is one of, the Country's greatest citi-
zens, one of his Church's greatest pre-
llates.''
He knew America, he understood it's
people, he loved it's ideals, he was pas
sionately. devoted to it's aspirations
and hopes. America tried him and
knew him. 1t had confidence in him,
1 it trusted him, it honors him.
His loyalty and devotion to the See
of Peter was genuine, beautiful, in
4 spring. He treasured every word of
direction, of exhortation, of command,
that issued from the source of Apos-
tolic authority. His best literary work
was done in defense of the rights of
the Holy See, and no prelate of his
s day did more than he to inspire obe-
dience, reverence and love for the per-
son, OF the reigning Pontiff.
He enjoyed the confidence of sue
cessive Popes, and the deep personal
love and highest esteem of at least
one. '"'The Archbishop of St. Paul,
said Leo XIII in my own hearing, lis
a truly great and good man. Give him
my deepest love-" The same Pontiff
sent him to France as unofficial en-
voy to win the heart of France to the
Republic. Some of the leading men
in several European countries priced
! the privilege of his friendship, and
of a regular correspondence with him
and most distinguished visitors to ou1
} shores sought to meet Archbishop Ire.
land.
He preferred a great cause to his
own. He loved the Church and his
; Country. Religion and patriotism were
twin passions with him. Religion was
mot merely one among several
thoughts, convictions, preoccupations
1t was the very essence of his soul
the breath of his life. So,. too, with
him patriotism was not mere, senti
ment, or an affair of expediency. Il
was a duty enjoined by Divine com
mand and seized upon by noblest hu
: man instinct, III
He was lifelong, consistent, wise
and uncompromising advocate ant
promoter of Christian education One
would look far for a diocese better
i ID sovided with buildings and teachers
sdI+e. leaves a rich heritage of CAREFUL.
lstudied program, and wonderfully
adequate equipment for the furthei
) development of this great Catholi,
/ work.