Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-06-07
TRIBUTE
Paid Memory of Father Abram }.
Ryan, Poet Soldier Priest
of South.
Beautiful Bronze Tablet Unveiled at
st. Boniface Church on
Sunday.
Major feathers, Mrs. Woodbury.
Gen. Haldeman and Judge
ODOherty Speak.
IMPRESSED GREAT GATHERING

Last Sunday afternoon feeling and
lasting tribute was paid by Louis
Vile to the memory of Father
Abram J. Ryan. the soldier poet
and priest of the South, when
beautiful bronze tablet was unveil-
ed by little Miss Eileen Clines.
daughter Of Col. Thomas ID. Clines,
Grand Knight of Louisville Council,
K. of c., at st. Boniface church, in
the presence of a large assemblage,
who were visibly impressed by the
words of the speakers. The hand
some and artistic tablet, the gift OF
The United Daughters of the Con-
federacy and their friends, was
placed on the front of st. Boniface
church. where the illustrious and
loved priest passed his last days.
Major John II. feathers, as
Chairman of the committee, presid-
ed during the ceremonies. In his
opening remarks Major feathers, as
friend and comrade of the Con-
federate Catholic priest, alluded to
the fact that il was a fitting and
we'll deserved tribute to his memory
that the succeeding generation
should be the people to erect the
memorial tablet. Speaking of Faith
er Ryan's funeral, he recalled the
imposing funeral escort from st.
Boniface church to the Tenth-street
depot. among whom were the Epis-
copal Bishop Dudley, Rev. DR..
Broadus, Basil Duke, John B. Cas-
tleman, George B. Eastin, Bennett
H. Young, Judge Jackson, Gen.
Bruce. Judge Emmett Field, George
G. Norton, John H. Weller, Alpheus
Baker. himself and others, most of
whom have passed away. Major
Leathers also read from the memo
rial resolutions of the Orphan
brigade. and in concluding said
Father Ryan's name and fame will
grow in splendor.
The history of the memorial was
given bv Mrs. John L. Woodbury., who
/. was greeted with hearty applause,
Mrs. Woodbury., who is the daugR-
ter of the late Col. Thomas ID. Os-
borne. is a pleasing speaker and
was given close attention. Definite
plans for the memorial, she said,
were started in the office of Gen.
w. B. Haldeman three years ago,
but were delayed on account of the
war. In concluding, Mrs. Woodbury.
unfurled a small Confederate ban
ner as "the flag that Father Ryan
loved so we'll and made so famous"
At this point the tablet was UNI
yelled to the assembled multitude
by little Miss Clines, and the recep-
lion given it was most gratifying to
those who had been active in its
erection. especially Mrs. Woodbury.,
Major feathers, Thomas d. Clines.
Robert A. Watson, Charles w.
Decker. Frank A. Geher and DR.. j.
w. Fowler, who was Secretary OF
the committee.
Gen. William B. Haldeman was
introduced by Major feathers as
the commander of Kentucky's IA
nous command. the Orphan Brigade
representing the veterans OF the
Oonfederacy.
owe are glad" said Gen. Halde-
man. Ito erect this memorial to the
memory of the man of God who
ministered to the wounded upon a
hundred Confederate battlefields, but
his memory needs no tablet OF
bronze to keep il living, II 10 en-
craven upon the hearts of all who
knew him" He paid a tribute to
Father Ryan by expressing the in
auence which the poet-priest had
over the Confederate army and the
enthusiasm which he had kindled in
their hearts with his war poetry
Gen. Haldeman said that in his
opinion Father Ryan's two greatest
-poems are 1.-THE Sword of Lee" and
1.-THE Conquered Banner"
THE Poet-Priest of the South
wassthe subject of the final address
given by Judge Matthew O'Doherty
1.-TWO States dispute the honor Of
owning the birthplace of Father
RYAN" said the speaker '"They are
Virginia and Maryland. / think pos
sfbly he was born in Ireland, bu
that does not alter the fact that h'
was a son of the South. He was
minister of the gospel. but when thu
acid test for courage came in tn
civil war, the gentle, humble, kind
iy Catholic priest pluralized hi
functions and became the might
man of valor, as we'll as the minis
tering helper to the wounded ant
diving on the field of battle"
The first half OF his speech was
tribute to Father Ryan who, durlnI
the civil war, devoted his energie
20 the Confederate cause and, afte
the war. exercised his influence /
healing the rupture between tn
North and South. In championin
the cause of the South. the speake
said that Father Ryan never Above
hate to control people under his In
duence. Hate had no place eithe
in his patriotism or religion" sal
Judge OsDoherty. He emphasize
Father Ryan's law-abiding natuf
and closed by quoting the poe
priests stanza on the flag which h
championed.
The many economical and polit
cal problems which demand after
ton at this moment must find peace
full solution through the good an
conservative sense of the peopl