The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-10-19

spared to us is the ardent desire of your
afectionate and grateful people"
Mr.. Franey handed Rev. OReilly bag
containing about $625 in coin and at the
same time called attention to a ten-dollar
bill attached to the neck of the bog with a
slip of paper bearing the words: "The com
pliments of Mrs. Grant, as a token of Scotch
friendship" Applause followed and Mr..
Franey was warmly congratulated by tho
clergy and others about the platform on the
able manner in which he had acquitted him
self Then the three bands struck up tunes,
one of them being in the hall, and at the
same time there was grand display of
fireworks at the Grant mansion near by.
Several minutes elapsed before Rev.
OReilly could respond. He was evidently
deeply affected, but he spoke in deliberate,
conversational tone and made an exceedingly
graceful Acknowledgement of the gift. 1t
was a genuine surprise to the reverend
gentleman and he said that had he known
there was to have been such demonstration
in his honor by his parishioners he would not
have been found in town last night. He had
intended leaving town yesterday morning to
visit a sick member of the clergy, but some
Of his parishioners, by some very plausible
statements, managed to induce him to re-
main. At times the clergyman was quite
humorous. In referring to the bag of coin
he evoked laughter by saying, 81 suppose
this looks much better inside than it does
outside" He also said that the anniversary
had brought to his mind many sorrowful
recollections, particularly when he looked
back to the time of his ordination. Only
four pastors, of the archdiocese of Philadel-
phia of twenty-five years ago, are alive.
When Rev. O'Reilly concluded his remarks
he was invited to the old r. A. B. hall, where
a banquet was prepared. As he crossed the
floor to leave the room, followed by the
guests of the evening and the parishioners
Rev. O'Reilly stopped and taking the hand Of
Mine Inspector Stein said in tone of voice
that could be heard by all that in making his
acknowledgement he had failed to state that
during his residence Of twenty-three years in
the town some of his warmest and most
agreeable friends were among the Protestant
people.
The banquet hall presented a gorgeous ap.
pearance. Three great, long tables were
elaborately spread for two hundred people,
but before the close of the evening eight
hundred must have partook of the hospi-
tality of the committee. The walls and
ceilings were handsomely decorated with
American flags, bunting and banners of all
descriptions and presented strikingly
patriotic appearance The supper was first
class and was served in excellent STYLE to
the credit of the committee Mrs. James
Duffy, Mrs. John A. Reilly, Miss Mary Nc
Donald, Miss Mary Lally, Miss Ellie Conners,
Miss Katie Jennings and Mr.. Michael King,
the caterer. The decorations were the result
of untiring efforts on the part of Messrs,
Michael Muldoon, Thomas Ryan and Michael
Begley.
The committee that had charge of the ar
rangements for the presentation comprised
the following gentlemen; p ]. Ferguson,
John A. Reilly, NJ. Mellet j. ]. Franey, B. J.
Monaghan, NJ D. Malone, H. J. Muldoon and
c. j. Quinn.
After the banquet Rev, OReilly and the
visiting clergy retired to the parsonage,
while a large number of the parishioners re-
tired to Ferguson's hall and held social
gathering, during which they discussed what
was pronounced one of the most brilliant
events in the history of the Annunciation
church.
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