The Irish standard., 1918-09-28
The Noted Pre|ate Was Pre-
Eminent Amongst Men,
LET Ne Lie Out There
With My People Under the
Green Sod Of Calvary"
His Dying Wish.
Sketch of His Career.

Sketch Of His Career.
John Ireland third bishop and first
archbishop of St. Paul, was born in
| the famous old village of Burnchurch,
county Kilkenny, Ireland, September
| II, 1888. He spent only the earlier
years of his life in his native land,
which even at the time of his birth
was beginning to turn dry before the
| potato famine, which was to cause
Ireland so much misery. His father,
| like the father of the young NaZarene,
Of whose doctrines he was to be the
apostle, was carpenter. The elder
Ireland was tall and gaunt in frame,
| fiery ir temper. impatient in DISPOSE
ton, but honest and hard working.
| Most of these traits lived again in
the son. From his mother who was
a patient. Woodworking woman, full
of religious zeal, he inherited his de-
vout religious principles
When young Ireland was little more
than a baby his father embarked for
America. Landing in New York in
the latter part of tho fortics, the boy
spent few months i'm the schools
of that city. The Irish immigrant
shortly aftcrward moved to Boston
and then to Burlington, VT, where he
built for himself and his family a
small log cabin. Here young Ireland
was first initiated into the active
service Of his church, performing the
duties of an altar boy.
n One spring, needing the call of the
West, the Irclands for fourth time
packed their belongings, began the
tedious journey to Chicago. For sew
eral months they stayed there, but
finally moved on again to Galena, ILL.,
Young Ireland, ever eager for his
books, took advantage of the brief
stop in Chicago to become student
at the famous seminary of st. Mary's
Of the Lakes. At Galena, too, he
snatched the opportunity to enter the
public schools. But again his school
ing was Interrupted, for his father,
with the wanderlust still on him, en-
barked his family on the old Nominee,
one of the first boats to travel as far
north as St. Paul in the passenger
trade, and started on the last lap Of
his journey, which was to bring his
family to the place where his son was
to live, labor and become famous.
1t was early in the spring of 1853,
that the Irclands landed at what is
now Jackson street. In the little from
tier town young Ireland took up for
the second time his duties as altar
boy in the rugged gray stone build
ing, then recently erected, which
served alike as school dormitory,
bishops house and cathedral.
Here it was, while pursuing his du-
ties and his studies under the parish
priest, that he came under the notice
of the first bishop Of St. Paul. the
missionary, Bishop Cretin. He devot-
ed himself arduously to his duties,
and even as a boy Of ID he showed
signs Of a wonderful intellect and of
keen desire for argument and debate.
1t was his delight to daily with the
Presbyterian minister, to whom he
carried milk for his mother, and en-
gage the clergyman in religious dis
cussions. A willing worker, bril-
liant student, dutiful when other boys
were rebelliOus, submissive to the au.
thority of his parents and teachers,
he early developed marked ten
l dencV for the nrieSthOnd
Bishop Cretin noticed this tendency,
y and, as an old French missionary has
/" handed down the story, the bishop,
: one fall evening, looking from his
easement window, saw young Ireland
; and Thomas O'Gorman, the present
; bishop of Sioux Falls, S. D., playing
y together in the cathedral enclosure.
Raising his window, he called to
= them. Both responded, and as they
p stood before him, the bishop, wrink-
] ling his gray brows, said:
k Boys, would you both like to be-
come priests?"
The youths had evidently discussed
the project before, for both had an
& affirmative answer ready.
II Initiation Simple.
"Kneel down, then," said the bish-
( op. "and I will create seminary to
the Lord"