The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-11-18
THE TYPICAL IRISH PRIEST.
AS DESCRIBED FROM PERSONAL OBsERyA
TON BY ONE WHO HAD No LOVE FOR
THE IRISH Or THEIR FAITH.

D. r. Locke ('Petroleum '. Nasby''), of
the Toledo tO.) Blade, who has been travel
ing through Ireland furnishes that paper in
one ~ his letters with the following graphic
description OF an IRISH priest whom he visit
ed in his abode i'm one of the western cOun-
ties of that unfortunate island. He says
''Half wav between Kenmore and Killarney. in
Wild dcs1ate country lives one of those paris "a
es. aud % live gorge'usly: and 10 De perpetually
singing The Cruiskec1 Lava" wiki q plue In
-'Hs is a magnificent man. Ia face and figure
ne is rhe exact picture Of the lameuted salmon +.
genius and intellect mean something. and where
great ability huds great rewards he would have
great learning OF wonderful tuitons. of cool clear
Judgment. Of great nerve aud Uuhpunted heart,
he could were be 20 come % America aud drop his
prfestly robes be President ola great railroad cor
y0rat50n OF q Senator. or anything else he chose
TO re. But What II he in Ireland? His apfrtrne neuts
comprise a bedroom Just large enough 70 Hoid 70
very poor bel, and study. lu g. bett-r-class iarm
else does His door is UncarVetei, aud the entire
/ furniture of his rooms. leaving ont his library.
would not invoice SO HIS parish is one of the
widest and bloakest in ireland, and is twenty i've
miles long and eighteen wide.
Now understand that this man is the lawyer.
the friend, the guide aud director IN temporal as
well spiritual matters OF the entire population
Of TINS district. II a husband ana wlie quaITel II
. Is his dnty % hear ana decide II tenant gets
into trouble with his landlord he is 10 20 between
. TO arrange a. In short. every tr'uoie, Ereal ana
small in the parish Is referred 10 ann, ana ne
must act. He Is their lawye- as we'll a their
priest. He is their everything lie supplies 20
them the intelligence that the most internal gov
ernment on tarth has denied them.
But this il q small part of his duties. He has
. TO conduct services At sll the chsples in this
stretch OF country. He has to watch over the
morals OF all the people. Yet This Is not all. NJ
matter at what hour Of the night. matter whsl
the condition Of the weather, tue summons 70 the
bedside OF the DYING man to administer the last
sacraments Of the Church mus. be obeyed. II
may be TO do this requires a rtds on horseback OF
twenty miles in a binding storm. but 10 must be
done Every child must be christeusd. every
death-bed soothed. every sorrow mitiyated by the
only com fort this suffering people have-faith In
their Church.
What do you suppose this magnificent mar
gets Tor all this@ The largest income he ever re
ceived in his life ElO0 which, reduced Z,
. American money amounts 20 exactly S4s4 Ang
out Of this he has TO pay his rent his food, hi
clothing, the keeping of his horse: and all tha
remains goes in charity to the suffering sick
. every cent Of IL.
'.'Whv do vou.' ! asked - man capable Of do
ing much In the world. stay and do this enor
nous work for nothing -
4 was called 10 it the answer; ''wha
would these poor people do without me o.
That all Here is a man capable % any
thing who deliberately sacrifices a career. sacri
fees the life he htted for. sacrifices comfort
sinks his identity. foregOes fame, reputation
everything for the sake Of a suffering people :!
~ was callef to It: what would these poo
people do without me 80
II a vigorous Protestant, and have no espe
cinl love foT the Catholic ChHrch but 1 shall es
teen myself very fortunate i'll can make n recor
In this world that will give place in the mex
within gunshot OF where this man shalt I've laced
! am not capable Of making the sacrifice. FOR IN
fellows that he Is doing-I wish 20 Heaven was
I found by actual demonstra tiOn why the Irish $
love their priests. They would be In a gtill wors
way, If possible, without them"