The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-11-26
LATEST FAIR HAVEN NEWS
UNION SERVICES HELD IN GRAND AYE. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Months Minds Mass Celebrated at St. Francis Church With Fifty Priests In Attendance-Right Rev. Bishop Tierney Presided-Inmates of Home of FrIend- less Remembered.
 Union Thanksgiving services were held in the Grand avenue Congregations al church yesterday morning. The cler- Gymen participating in the services were Rev. Dr. Mitchell, Rev. MT. Culp, Rev, Elmer A. Dent and the new pas tor of the Ferry street church. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Elmer "A. Dent of St. Andrews M. E. church. His text was in Act 2S, 5: Whom, when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage" The preacher spoke in part as follows:
 Courage makes the best of every sit uation, hence our topic: The courage of thankfulness' Thankfulness is the source of courage. Only the thankful heart can make claim of property. It alone has possessions. Courage SUD- poses action; man must act accord ing to his ability.
 "A citizen who possesses the rights and duties of citizenship and does not avail of them, is 9 public ingrate and a public coward. Men without convic- lions possess nothing.
 ''The thankful heart alone knows what it has, and respects the giver and inc gift and has self-respect. It is therefore only the thankful heart that makes the most of it's possessions and develops them. The man who would as soon be donkey as man, is a donkey.
 '4The thankful heart alone possesses itself It possesses itself and therefore has a starting point. It becomes grate- ful; has the hope of glory.
 "The ungrately heart alone is poor and cowardly. It only sees what it does not have. It counts it's property by your wealth; it's unhappiness by your contentment. It Is poor because you are something, He is poor because he dares not accept the responsibilities of manhood. Give to him and he will despise you. You cannot trust him, for he is beast. He Is at enmity with God. His soul is on fire with hate Everything is wrong because he is not right. A son of perdition without gratitude.
 'tEvery man may possess enough to make him grateful, and hence to make him brave. We are spirits and possess ourselves. The soul cannot be robbed of God.
 "Are you poor in worldly goods? So am I; but we have more than when we were born. You are sick? Yes, but you are alive. Where there is life there is hope. Sinner, thank God that you are still on praying ground. Start to-day and live for God and humanity and friends gone over the river. Thank God that in the shadow they were not alone. Take courage; while they can- not come to you, you can go to them
 "Why this is a day for courage and thanksgiving! To-day whatsoever be our circumstances, be they the worst, let us thank God and take courage.
 tfWe have cause for thanks and cour- age as we look over tne prospects of the day. Poverty can never be the cause of crime Let us thank God that poverty condemns, not to crime. We have more and juster charities to-day than ever before Thank God not so much for education as Christian educa- tion. Thank God for a free and inde- pendent press. The cities are the op- portunities for Christianity. Make the cities for God. We are told that self rule is no longer in evidence, that politics have gone to shiDwreck and that politicians are skilled in the science of spells. And yet Christianity is the life of our civilization. The pub lie criminal is discouraged; legislation is less prostituted."
 'As the long silent industries begin to show renewed life, some hearts will tremble again fearing monopoly. In the kingdom of God there is no monop- oly. Tn the kingdom of God the wages are always raised. The demon of rum is still abroad, but thank God we do not have the drink habit. Altogether, let us give thanks to-day. May we thank God for the earth, and may we have the courage that dares to win heaven.'
 IA months mind mass was celebrated at St. Francis church yesterday morn ing in memory of the late Rev. Father Mulholland. At 10 o'clock procession of fifty priests, and the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Father Tierney, en- tered the sanctuary. Bishop Tierney was then seated on his throne.
 Bishop Tierney presided, and his chaplains were Rev. Father DeBruyck- CT of Willimantic and Rev. Father F. M. Kenendy of Norwich, the new pas tor of St. Francis church The officers of the mass were: Celebrant, Rev. Thomas Cooney of Grosveuordale; Fa- ther McKeon of this city, deacon; Fla ther Corcoran of this city, sub-deacon; Father O'Copnor of this city, master of ceremonies; Rev. J. F. McGuinness of Waterbury and Rev. D. J. Brennan of Torrington, acolytes; and Father Early of Meriden, censor bearer. Nearly all of the Roman Catholic clergy of the city were present.
 There was solemn high mass of re- ouiem, and at the close of the services the bishop gave absolution for the dead. There was solemn and impress sive music under the direction of Prof. Wm J. Rohan, with an Ave Maria at the offertory, by Mrs. Woh1maker. The church was crowded. Rev. Father Ken nedy, the new pastor, will come to the parish tomorrow and begin his new