The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-13
FAREWELL TRIBUTE.
Rev. III. ID. Connolly Receives n
Handsome Present.
St. John Practitioners Attest Their Devotion to
Beloved Pastoral Phaeton and a
Handsome Sum of Money

Seldom has congregation been seen so
overcome at once with joy and sorrow as
that which assembled last night in St
Johns Parish Church to bid farewell to
their beloved pastor, Rev. NJ. d. Connolly
and present to him fitting token of their
esteem. a meeting where the thought of
separation between true pastor and a gen.
erous appreciatiye flock is the leading fea-
ture cannot be called wholly pleasant af-
fair, yet this was one in every respect an
propriate rejecting honor alike on priest
and people.
The opening of st. Mary's Cathedral. on
Van Ness avenue necessitateS the closing
of ST. Johns Church, the territory known
for the last few years as ST. Johns Parish
failing within the boundaries of the New
Cathedral Parish. During the last six
years the Rev. NJ. d. Connolly, residing with
the Archbishop, has been the pastor of the
temporary parish, and he has so labored
among the appreciative people that lie has
endeared himself to all classes. Knowing
that the Rev. Father was soon to be trans
erred 10 some other field of labor the good
people determined to give a genuine sur
prise to their pastor before his departure
from among them. Accordingly an arrange
ment had been perfected by committee of
gentlemen. and yesterday at 745 o'clock
Father Connolly was invited from his resi-
dence, near by the church, for what purpose
he had not the remotest idea.
RECEIVED AS THEIR GUEST.
The church is now simply a secular build
ing, and when the father entered he found
1t filled with his late parishioners. The
Committee OF Arrangements, with ". F.
Wilson as Chairman and Edmund E. Hill as
Secretary, were seated in chairs, and rising
no fafh ha;r
The fact OF his early departure from among
them and the plous associations of the place
naturally gave the meeting rather religious
aspect. But the choir of the church. who
had done much to assist the father in the
work OF the parish, had arranged a pro-
gramme OF music calculated TO take from
the meeting anything of a somber chxN-
acter.
In few well-chosen words the Chairman
explained, what was known to all but the
father himself, the object of their meeting,
when the Secretary read in the name of the
people most touching address, expressive
of the feelings of love anu devotion animal
ing the hearts of all, both old and young
alike, which was in part as follows:
THE ADDRESS.
From the day that you first came among
US we have been taught to look forward 10
ali event that we could never contemplate
with comp0sure-that of the merging of this
parish into another and your probable de-
parture from among us. The nearer the
time approached and the more we learned
10 love yUu the greater became our reluct-
ance TO think of it. Now that the will of
higher Providence than our personal wishes
makes the separation inevitable we have
asked you to meet us here this evening in
order that we might express. even but
1eebly, the sentiments that animate the peo-
pie of the parish, of both old and young
alike, toward their beloved pastor. We are
not blind to the fact that during these six
years you have been sacrificing yourself for
US and for our children, and it is a sacred
duty deVoving upon us at the present mo-
nlent to acknowledge this publicly. As
simple token Of remembrance, and to aid
you III your new field of labor for God and
for the salvation of souls, we beg you to ac-
cept from grateful hearts the slight offering
we now make you"
TOKEN OF DEVOTION.
The address ended, the Treasurer, T. c.
Riordan, presented the father a sealed en-
velope. which, it was afterward learned,
contained an order for a buggy and outfit
and check for handsome amount.
The father was taken completely by sur
prise in the whole matter, but in his usual
happy manner, and speaking as he always
does, from his heart lie thanked the people
IN feeling manner, not so much for what
they bad done as for the sentiments that
prompted and accompanied it as expressed
III their address.
HuNAO'oJ CliSiOoSSu anu handsomely
bound In book form, was handed to the
father as souvenir. The following names
were appended TO it:
William +. Wilson (Charmau), Bernard Brad.
ley I; j. WeIch. James W. Smith, Owen Dono-
hue, b. Gallagher. Thomas Asbworth, Martin
ODea, j. Deasy, Edmund E. Hill Secretary
AT the close of the fathers words the
people knelt and received the blessing.
Ihenceforth the meeting was quite informal,
and the father shook hands and chatted
Familiarity with those present