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Show About Archbishop Ireland. ARCHBISHOP IRELAND is the subject of a long article in the Dublin Freeman, provoked by the circulation of a report that the St. Paul prelate was ashamed of his native land and shunned Its people in his adopted country. The Freeman discovers the falsity of the accusation, and on the other hand points out the number of j Irish priests in the St. Paul diocese, many of w hom are natives of Limerick. the spot which this prelate cherishes as i the dearest on earth the scene of his childhood. Then the Freeman explains why some Irishmen accept such reports against John Irelandjand shows their credulity to be based on something misleading. It says: ! "We must, however, bear in mind that. Archbishop Ireland, although a truo and warm-hearted Irishman, is. also an ardent American, and that he: has done a great deal to prevent non-English-gpeaking peoples from obtain- I ing the upper hand in America, and naturally enough, during his 'anti-Ca- hensly campaign his love for Ireland w as necessarily somewhat obscured by I his aggressive spirit of Americanism. Thus, when asked by the bishop of Os-sory Os-sory his native diocese to preach at the opening of the new cathedral, his answer was both characteristic of the man and of his surroundings. 'How can-1,' said John of St. Paul, 'go over to Ireland and open my heart to my countrymen, and speak to them of the fullness of my love for Ireland, at a time when, hi America. I am bidding foreigners to leave behind them the traditions of Europe, and to give all the love of their souls to the countrymen country-men of their adoption, and all their energy en-ergy to the attainment of its ideals.' " , This reply is the archbishop's creed expressed in one word. Not for his distinction as theologian or administrator adminis-trator of purely church affairs do American Catholics yield admiration to John Ireland, prelate of St. Paul. It is to citizen Ireland's sterling patriotism, well balanced judgment and far-seeing stat.'S.T.anship. These qualities united in bishop and citizen have proved him a bulwark against the enemies of the church in this country as well as establishing estab-lishing him in high favor with those who control the nation's affairs. No man has a better hold on the common people nor nobody better qualified to arbitrate questions involving industrial j dissension or national peril. Archbishop Archbish-op Ireland is a man abreast of the times in promoting religious faith and urging civic virtue. . This is the American estimate of .the St. Taul prelate, shared alike by Catholic Cath-olic and non-Catholic admirers. Viewed irum sucn standpoint, we naruiy go amiss in our analyzation of Ireland's character. For example, it would be difficult to discover in Archbishop Ire- land any passionate love of music, least of all that he would display it in his own person. Not that love for music is illogical to reasoners of the Ireland mould, but it seems a contradiction of the real Ireland. The archbishop possesses pos-sesses a strong voice of distinct tone, well fitted to his often dramatic oratory, ora-tory, yet it is not What artists would call a musical voice. At least this is the opinion of a! St. .Paul church organist or-ganist who always found it difficult to accompany him during the celebration of high mass. Minnesotians now residing resid-ing in Montana, who attended mass in the old basilica at St. Paul, will smile when they read this paragraph, taken from the Freeman: ' "Besides being a scholar and a states-iran, states-iran, Archbishop Ireland is a natural born poet and a musician of no mean quality, possessed .. of a beautiful, strong, clear voice, to which he can impart the most soul-touching expression. expres-sion. "Those of his intimate friends, chiefly among the older, Irish settlers of St. Paul, with whom he sometimes passes a pleasant evening;, when he can steal the time from his overwhelming occupations, oc-cupations, and relieve his great mind from their many cares, are often charmed by his entrancing rendering of Moore's melodies and other patriotic songs." That's a nice little story, going to show a difference of opinion among St. Paul people regarding the archbishop's "Appreciation of music. A citizen of Butte, who once practiced his profession profes-sion in St. Paul, once told the writer cf an amusing Incident which happened at St. Cloud, Minn.; in the archdiocese of St. Paul., . The occasion was the laying of a corner stone for a German Catholic church. The population of St. Cloud is essentially German, so the German idea of eclat is strikingly manifest in affairs like the one in question. No programme pro-gramme would be complete without rusic martial music. Accordingly, the brass band of the town was brought into, requisition. r . It occurred to the priest who. accom- panied Archbishop Ireland from St. Paul that the presence of this band and the music.it played was entirely inappropriate, but he said nothing. Just as the benediction was concluded j the band struck up rag-time music to the tune of "There's a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." Very good air to stimulate enthusiasm when we first I r.eara or bcniey's battle off Santiago, j but entirely out of place, at a religious ! ceremony. The music, however, did iiOt disturb the composure of the archbishop arch-bishop of St. Paul, although jt vexed tnd mortified the St. Paul priest. Talking over the incidents of the day that evening, the . priest sarcastically mentioned the music. "I know nothing about music," replied the archbishop. "The Germans do. What was wrong in the music?" " 'Tis not the music' as music that I object to," said the priest, "but the airs the band played. Did you observe the last air, for instance?" "The last air? Let me think where I have heard it before," said the arch-lishop, arch-lishop, reflecting. "Oh, yes. It sounded like 'There's a Great Time in Town.' So there was so there was. The Germans Ger-mans are great people for music." |