The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-31

the Congrcgutjon--Wo That Vas
Been Accomplished by Father
whcian During the Years he Has
Been Pastor.
New Years day will mark the close
of a quarter of century since the
ordination of Rev. James Il. Whelan,
rector of st. Patrick's church, West
| Scranton, The rector himself, had
! only intended to celebrate a solemn
high mass i'm the morning as a quiet
Commemoration of the silver jubilee of
| his 20 years of priesthood. His congre-
cation which now numbers over 800
| families considered the matter from
an opposite view and through Rev. ID.
A. Dunno. of st. Patrick's. a warm sur
prise was prepared. This testimonial
of the esteem and love borne by his
parish for their spiritual director was
rendered Rev. J. Il. Whelan yesterday
at the church.
The afternoon, beginning at 2.3O
| o'clock, was devoted to the paying of
n tribute by the children who attend
| the parochial school in charge of the
sisters of the Immaculate Heart con-
.
a chorus of greeting after which a Sc
lection was played by the school or
chestra. Master William Sharp in a
short address. paid a tribute to the re-
cipent of their attentions, in behalf of
his fellow pupils in the school. 1t was
splendid effort on the part of the
! lad and showed careful preparation and
u full appreciation of the purpose of
! the hour. A very fine selection enti-
tied "The Harp" was rendered by a
| trio with two violins and a piano.
! Then followed the rendition of the
| Jubilee Play" a quaint little piece in
! which nearly all of the children took
| part and proved very appropriate. The
| presentation speech of Master Joseph
! McCaffrey which was excellent in form
| and execution was followed by q ju-
bilee song. An instrumental selection
| was followed with a boys drill. which
| was very pretty. The exercises We're
brought to a close by the singing of
| sacred chorus.
EVENING EXERCISES.
| In the evening. the older members
| of the parish united in paying their
| respects to their beloved pastor and
! by means of speeches and addresses
! bade by several representative gentle
men of West Scranton. fully expressed
! the trust reposed in him by them. The
| Ward family orchestra of which Miss
| Harriet Ward is director, and the Law
| renee band provided the instrumental
| numbers of the programme. The
church choir, under the leadership of
| Miss Anna Durkin, also took part. The
! Hyde Park Father Mathew society was
present in body, and all of the other
societies whose members belong in the
| parish, We're represented.
The exercises opened with an over
ture by the orchestra followed with a
selection by the choir. Then followed
the speech making, interspersed with
choir, orchestra and band selections
The opening address was made by
School Controller T. j. Jennings. The
others who spoke We're: Messrs.
=. j. Mccain, F. j. johnson,
j. C. Gallagher and e. j. Neville
Each gentleman spoke in a felicitious
manner and their remarks were much
along the same vein. being replete with
congratulations and wishes for a con-
tinuation of the successes which ha /
| been Rev j. Il. Whelans throughout
his twenty-five years as an ordained
the years of service spent in making
st. Patrick's a representative church
in the city. Mr. Gallagher spoke in the
greater part in behalf of the Father
| Mathew society.
To Mr. Neville fell the pleasant task
of presenting the rector a check for
$l,475.50 as a token Of the feer-
ing of his congregation and friends.
The presentation took the recipient
completely by surprise. Father Whe-
Ian, however, in a few remarks, spoke
his appreciation for all that had been
done, for the kindly intentions, ami
expressed desire that the same hear
~ cooperation should ever exist. An
overture by the orchestra completed
this most memorable of events.
saturday morning at 10 O'Clock, Rev.
j. Il. Whelan will carry out his orig
inal intention of observing his silver
jubilee by celebrating a solemn high
mass at the church. This will then
complete the observance of twenty
five years of service as priest.
SKETCH OF FATHER WHELAN
short resume of the twenty-five
years might not be amiss at this time.
January |, 1873, Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara
ordained Rev. James Il. Whelan a
priest, and "A short time later he was
attached to St Marys church in Norih
Scranton, of which the late Father
Witty, was then rector. He remain
ed here little over two years. Going
then to Towanda, he was assistant to
DR.. Kelly for over five years. He was
called in the fall of 1880 to substitute
Father O'Rourke, at Olyphant and re-
mained there nearly a year.
st. Patrick's, then very small, was
now in need of a rector and Rcy
James b. Whelan received the appoint.
ment. That it was a wise and fruit.
tul selection is amply seen by tiC
beautiful edifce which bears the name
of st. Patrick. In addition to this
throughout the fifteen years spent
here, he has accomplished much. s.
Patrick's parochial school and the con,
vent of the Sisters of the Immaculat,
Heart, situated on South Sumner ave,
nue., have been built, as well as Tho
handsome brick structure standing ~
the corner Of Jackson street and Soutl
, sumner avenue, and used as a parson,