IRELAND, John, American Roman Cath olic prelate: b. Burnchurch, County Kilkenny, Ireland, 11 Sept. 1838; d. Saint Paul, Minn., 25 Sept. 1918. He came to America in 1849 and attended the Cathedral school at Saint Paul, Minn., and in 1853 went to France and studied theology in the seminary of Meximieux and subsequently in that of Hyeres, remaining there till 1861, when he returned to Saint Paul and was ordained priest on the 21st of December. During the early part of the Civil War Father Ireland tendered his services as chaplain of the 5th Minnesota regiment and later became rector of the cathedral, Saint Paul. An ardent advo cate of temperance, he devoted much time and energy to promoting the cause, organized tem perance societies and traveled about the country lecturing on the subject. For a time he was secretary to Bishop Grace of Saint Paul, whom he represented at the Vatican Council, Rome, 1870-71, and later became his coadjutor, being consecrated Titular Bishop of Maronea, 21 Dec. 1875. He was likewise very diligent in advanc ing Roman Catholic colonization in the north west and not only founded colonies but became a director in the National Colonization Associa tion. Later, in 1887, Bishop Ireland accom panied Bishop Keane to Rome to consult with Pope Leo XIII upon the necessity of erecting a Catholic university in Washington, D. C., and
on returning from Europe in 1888, he was made first archbishop of Saint Paul. At one time he endeavored to consolidate the Catholic paro chial schools and the public schools. The plan was tried at Faribault and Stillwater, Minn., but after a time was abandoned in deference to Rome. He founded the Hill Seminary to which he gave his valuable library. He was a distin guished lecturer and pulpit orator. As a speaker he was direct and magnetic, with a sav ing sense of humor. One of the phrases which has often been quoted as characteristic of his particular endeavor in life was this: watchwords of the age are reason, education, liberty, the amelioration of the masses.'" Dur ing McKinley's administration Archbishop Ire land was sent on a special mission to Europe to set forth the American attitude. He lectured on American institutions in France, Italy and Great Britain with great success. Of America's democracy he was one of the greatest exponents due in no small measure to his firm convictions regarding his country's place and mission in the world. He was a contributor to the leading magazines, and a member of the American Civic Federation. He published Church and Modern Society.' Yale University conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1901.