The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-08-25
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1885,

only vie with but even surpass II
grandeur of style and beauty Of archl-
lecture the many Protestant temples Of
Freetown. This heavy enterprise was
undertaken with only poor pecuniarJ
resources. It was in the month Of Oc-
tober, 1888, that the foundation stone
of the new cathedral was laid, For six
months the building went on without
interruption, after which the funds
were exhausted, and 80 the works were
suspended. On the following October
a new effort was made, but debts had
to be contracted in order to complete
the walls and put on the roof. To-
wards the end Of March, '85, the new
church was slated, and opened up for
divine services toward the end of last
October, amidst g. vast concourse OF
the people of Freetown. Here, then, is
one moro example Of the parable Of che
muster-seed that became mighty tree.
The muster-seed of Catholicity has, in
deed, become large and fruitful Tree,
in the Mission of which we speak, shell
tering beneath it's branches MANY hum
dreds of tue and faithful Catholics.
But at what cost watered as it WAS
by abundant torrents Of sweat, with the
health and precious lives OF several OF
its missionaries. Two of them deserve
& more than passing praise-the Rev.
Fathers Bcacken and Coyle, both form
er students of Blackrock College. The
former succnmbed to the fatal effects
of the climate in the early years OF the
Mission, the latter only Il few years
ago. In 1884 tbs town was visited by
the epidemic; black as well as white
were falling, and falling fast, from
the disease. That was al occasion in
which the priests love for, and attach
ment to, his people could be seen. Our
missionaries spared no pains to allevi-
ate their wants. They visited the few
er.stricken, ministered to their needs,
tried to assist and relieve them in every
way, and, when all nope failed, accom-
panied them to the grave. One Of
theul, a true priest and jealous mis-
sionary, fell victim to the disease and
to his zeal as we'll. The ReY. Father
Coyle, after having labored with the
zeal Of St. Paul for two hard years,
aroused the people to a sense Of their
duty and state, convinced and convert
ed vast number, and caused a real
commotion in the Protestant ranks,
was seized by death as he was just en-.
tering into what would be, were he
spared, a valiant and glorious mission
airy career. On Sunday he ministered
to the wants Of some poor. Catholics of
one of the neighboring villages, on
Monday his fatal malady declared it.
self, and on the following Sunday even
ing vast concourse of thousands, Pro-
testants as we'll as Catholics, accom-
panied tie last remains Of him, wh.m
they loved to call their father, to the
grave, Ills life was that of priest, his
death, though sad and premature, was
a triumph. His smiling face and win
ming heart, his pious and fervent and
devoted life, his zeal in correcting vice,
and his bold intrepid words in denoun-
cling the false doctrine Of the surround
ing sects, merited for him from the
Catholics tbs love of children for a
father, and from the Prutestants rever-
ence and respect. May such bright ex
amples be never wanting, and they
never shall, in establishing among those
who are yet, unhappily, in the darkness
Of error the truths OF the Gospel and
the purity of our Faith.