Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1918-09-28
DEATH
Takes the Most Rev. John Ire
land, Archbishop of st.
Paul.
Great American Prelate Succumps
to Long Illness of Heart
Disease.
Leaves as Monument One of the
Finest Cathedrais in
America.
ACTIVE IN PATRIOTIC WORK

Archbishop John Ireland, of the
st. Paul diocese of the Roman
Catholic church, died early Wednes-
day after a long illness of heart
disease and stomach trouble. Arch
bishop Ireland recently celebrated
his eightieth birthday. Shortly
afterward he suffered a second re-
lapse within six months and hls
condition became grave. the
Archbishop was in frail health for
\ wear. Last winter he went to
Florida. When he returned early
In the spring ne suffered a break
down and for several days was at
the point of death. After his ply
sicians had practically abandoned
hone for his recovery he improved
rapidly and almost Immediately
after he was able to leave his bed
ne celebrated solemn high mass at
fhe Cathedral. Until last fall
Archbishop Ireland took a promin--
emit part in patriotic activities ana
his physicians at that time at
tributed his breakdown to over
work
Death came quietly. A score of
prominent Catholic clergymen were
at the bedside. For three days
Archbishop Ireland's physicians had
kept their patient alive by the use
Of oxygen. Late Tuesday night the
final relapse came and in the dark
ened room where priests and nuns
softly chanted prayers for the
dying the end came without per-
ceptible sign. The Archbishop
sister, Mother Superior Seraphine;
sister Rose. Father Thomas A.
WEIGH. the Archbishop's secretary
Vicar General j. G. Byrne and
Bishop Joseph Busch, OF St Cloud,
were kneeling beside the bed. The
Dre1ata's sister had been In almost
constant attendance for more than
seventy-two hours.
Despite his years and his weak
ened condition, the physical resist
ance of the Archbishop amazed his
physicians. Last April after he re-
turned from Florida, where he
spent the winter, he became gravely
III. His life was dispaired of, but
he rallied, continuing in frail
health, however, until about two
weeks ago.
Members of the Archbishop's
household said arrangements for the
funeral would not be completed
until word was received from
number OF church dignitaries who
attended the funeral of Cardinal
John NJ. Farley in New York.
Archbishop Ireland held such a,
keen and active interest in general
affairs In the United States during
the past half century that he was
noted as a publiclst as well as for
mis- religious zeal He was one of
the most distinguished of the
Roman Catholic churchmen of
America. There were few fields of
intellectual. political or spiritual
endeavor in which he failed to take
a positive stand, making himself at
times the center of a controversy.
Born in 1888 in Ireland, car
penter's son, he was carried with
his parents in the tide of Irish
immigration to America while he
was child. Altar service at
Burlington. Vt, and a jolting trip
West on a prairie schooner were
among his boyhood memories,
bringing him finally to st. Paul,
Mimi. in 1852, when Indians in
CAV blankets stalked the streets OF
that frontier town. One evening
the Missionary Cretin, first Bishop
of st. Paul, while watching from
his window some boys of his parish |
at play. called to John Ireland and |
Thomas O'Gorman-who later be-
came Bishop of Sioux Falls-to
come into the church. He asked |
them if they wished to become |
priests. Both he and his playmate |
agreed that priesthood was their
ambition. Bishop Cretin sent them,
In charge of guardian, TO France,
where they were educated by the |
Marist Fathers. When he heard OF
the outbreak of the civil war In
America the student turned home
ward. fired with as much patriotism
as religion. After being ordained
at st. Paul, he eagerly accepted an
as chaplain in the !
Fifth Regiment of the Minnesota
Volunteers. He was ardent for the |
lInionist cause and shared every |
hardship of the soldiers life in
their terrible winter raids. Al
lula he gave yeoman's help by
rnshing ammunition to the front |
when il was sorely needed. He was
stricken with fever after less than
a years service and returned to
st. Paul pastorate.
He soon attracted national at
fention through his work for tenn
perance. The story is told of how
on one January night in 1869 three
drunkards staggered into his door
way and handed him rumpled
sheet. which read: For Gods sake |
organize a temperance society,"
The paper was signed by seven men |
IN clud,ng saloonkeeper Those |
were the days when st. Paul was
a1led with border turbulence and |
the riot Of drink. The next Sunday |
Father ireland began his campaign |
bv organizing temperance society |
Of eighty members. He made hut