Poems: Patriotic, Religious, Miscellaneous | Page 5

In due time he had made the necessary preparatory studies, and was
deemed fitted to enter the ecclesiastical seminary at Niagara, N.Y.,
whither he went, having bid an affectionate farewell to his relatives and
numerous friends, who fervently invoked heaven's blessing upon the
pious youth who, they hoped, would return one day to their midst to
offer up the "Clean Oblation" which is offered up "from the rising of
the sun until the going down thereof."
The heart of the youth as he started for his future home was all aglow
with the fervor that animated him in the pursuit of his high and holy
purpose. He entered the seminary, leaving no regrets or attachments
behind him. One thing only did he appear to regret -- separation from
home and the loved ones to whom he had bid so affectionate an adieu.
Home and parents are ever dear to the pure of heart; for around them
cluster memories too precious and associations too endearing for

utterance. Father -- mother -- home, "trinity of joys", whose completion
and perfection are to be found only in the Trinity in Heaven -- these
must ever remain bright recollections in the lives of all who cherish
ennobling sentiments which do reverence to God and honor to
humanity. But if such be the effect of these sentiments upon the hearts
of men in general, they have a still deeper and more tender effect upon
those who, in response to the call of the Master, "Follow thou Me,"

have abandoned all things for His sweet sake, that they may find a
home hereafter in heaven, after having spent themselves
in dispensing
His riches and benefits to men.
Like nearly all great men, Father Ryan owed much to
the early
training and example of his truly Christian mother. Hence the deep
affection he ever manifested towards her.
After the lapse of long
years, we find his heart still fresh and loving, pouring out upon the
grave of his mother all the wealth of his rich mind and the affection of
his chaste heart. He tells us that
he had placed his poems upon her
grave as a garland of affection. Oh! what a beautiful offering on the
part of a gifted son to a devoted mother! Nature's richest and best gifts
consecrated to nature's purest and holiest sentiments! May we not
suppose that the endearing affection which he cherished for his mother
was the source of the inspiration which drew forth the "splendid
brightness of his songs"?
This filial reverence and tender affection,
could nothing more be said in his favor, would speak volumes in his
praise.
But how much more can be said, and said truly, were there
pen and lips eloquent enough to proclaim his praises! Mine are
unworthy of the task; yet mine be the duty of recalling some, at least, of
the virtues and qualities that marked him during life; for virtues and
estimable qualities he had, and they were many and conspicuous.
Heaven doth know,
earth doth witness, angels have recorded, that he
is worthy of praise. Therefore, in no cold and measured terms shall the
writer speak of the dear and venerated dead, Abram J. Ryan, priest and
poet -- once magic name, still revered and possessed of talismanic
power. If we cannot crown thee, O child of genius, with a wreath of
justice, let us, at least, endeavor to crown thee with a garland of love,
composed of thy own glorious deeds and achievements.

Having passed through the usual course of studies in an ecclesiastical
seminary with distinction, Father Ryan was duly ordained priest, and
soon afterwards entered upon the active duties of missionary life. But
little was heard of him until the breaking out of the late civil war, when
he entered the Confederate army as a chaplain,
and served in that
capacity up to the close of the civil war. He was then stationed at
Nashville, afterwards at Clarksville, Tenn., and still later at Augusta,
Ga., where he founded the ~Banner of the South~, which exercised
great influence over the people of that section, and continued about five
years, when Father Ryan was obliged to suspend its publication. He
then removed to Mobile, Ala., where he was appointed pastor of St.
Mary's Church in 1870, and continued in that position until 1883, when
he obtained leave of absence from Bishop Quinlan to make an extended
lecture tour of the country to further a praiseworthy and charitable
undertaking of great interest to the South. Bishop Quinlan having died
soon afterwards, Father Ryan's leave was extended by his successor,
Bishop Manucy. It was whilst engaged in this mission that Father Ryan
received his death summons.
During all these changes and journeyings, the busy brain of Father
Ryan was incessantly employed, expending itself in composing
those
immortal poems which have won their way