Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-09
ST THOMAS CADETS.
Pleasing Incidents of the First Annual
Reunion, Held Last Night. -

Pleasing Incidents of the First Annual
Reunion, Held Last Night. -
Rev Father Duggan was agreeably sur
prised by the members of the st Thomas
cadets in the Lyceum building last night,
the handsome picture of the cadets which
has been on exhibition in Pollak's window
being presented to him in presence of a
large audience, composed principally of
the members of st Thomas cadets and the
Brooklyn Dramatic club. A committee
consisting of Joseph Phelan, John Luddy
and Edward Dumphy was appointed to
call at the residence of the pastor and in
form him that his presence was requested
at the Lyceum as soon as possible. Father
Duggan obeyed the summons and was sur
prised at the large gathering. Chairman
Calvin then called the meeting to order
and Joseph Kennedy, the spokesman of
the society, arose and in a speech which
delighted the audience and pleased the
pastor presented the picture to Father
Duggan as a token of respect an esteem
from the members of the society. Master
Kennedy said:
MY duty this evening is one that en-
bodies the elements of the most profound
pleasure We, the st Thomas cadets,
must ever be grateful to our beloved pas
tor for his painstaking zeal and tender
sympathy, coupled with the most watchful
care, in building up our society to its pres
ent standing. Time may come when, as
men, we may be called upon to shoulder
musket in defence of our country. and the
knowledge we have already gained of mill
tary management will stand well by us.
Then our minds will revert to the scenes
of our youth, and the majestic proportions
of st Patrick's church will appear before
our gaze, and the pious pastor who de-
voted his life's energies to its construction
will come wildly before us. We desire,
too, that he have some little memento to
remind him in after years of the nucleus
from which he organized st Thomas
cadets. l, therefore, in behalf of st
Thomas cadets present you with this pic
ture and easel. Would it were worthier,
but such as it is we give with our heart
felt gratitude"
Father Duggan was visibly affected but
quickly adjusted himself to the situation.
In his response he laid particular stress
upon two points contained in Master Ken
nedys speech, viz: That though the cadets
might in after life be called upon to act as
soldiers in defense of their country, they
were never to forget that they were SOL
diers of the cross; and the desire they en-
tertained of always being under the
shadow of the church. Il will treasure y
said Father Duggan in closing, 'this pres
ent to the last hour of my life; always
giving it prominent place, IN order that l
may turn to look upon it occasionally, and
call to mind the scenes and associations
by which l was surrounded in receiving
it"
An interesting programme was then rem
dered consisting of songs, Rotations and
an exhibition of physical exercise, to
which the Misses Jennie V. Byron and
Nora 7, Luddy, and Messrs james NJ.
Lynch, Joseph Kennedy, J. ], Hazel, NJ.
Crowley, w. j. Shanahan, N. j. McEvoy,
Peter Shea and James Bowes contributed.
This was the. first reunion held by the
cadets and was most gratifying in every
detail.