The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-14

| of independence and love of liberty that
filled his soul as long as his life re-
manned, For within his house was
proudly cherished the memory of his
brave forefathers, who, with their
townspeople, in the year 1850, under
Hugh O'Neil, defended Clonmel against
Cromwell'S army of Saxon invaders.
When he was old enough to understand
the meaning Of the political and relig-
ious penal code, which English tyranny
had laid upon Ireland, prescribing her
faith and denying civil liberty to her
people; when he learned of the iniquit-
Gus laws that made Protestant a free
man and a Catholic a slave, his whole
soul was fired with intense indignation
and Just hatred against the cruelty
of Saxon domination.
A manifest call to the ranks of the
priesthood was heavens answer to the
constant and ardent prayers Of his
pious mother. This divine call to serve
at the altar for Gods people was cher
ished and cultivated by his early ad-
miration for the Franciscan order,
many Of whose members had suffered
| death and Imprisonment under Eliza
beth and Cromwell for keeping the
faith alive in the hearts of the Irish
people, This and the desire to go on
the foreign mission decided his choice
to become d member of the order Of
st. Francis rather than To be a sec
ular priest.
AT the age of seventeen the tall and
handsome youth bade farewell to the
true and fond mother, whose pious lips
had taught him to know and love God,
whose loving arms had carried him in
! childhood to Gods temple, as is the
custom of Catholic mothers, to place
him under the protection of Mary I'm
maculate. Entering the Franciscan
convent in Clonmel, he there spent the
time of his noVitiate, and having salts
fled himself and his superiors that his
vocation was to the religious state he
was sent to Rome to make his course
Of philosophy and theology. Sailing
from Waterford in merchant vessel
he was for many weeks at sea, before
landing at Civita Vecchia and reaching
Rome, a journey which can now be
made in three or four days. For the
next five years his home was
in the Franciscan convent Of St
lsadore, a. college founded for the
training of Irish ecclesiastics in
science, literature, philosophy and
theology. In the Roman University.
called the Sapienza, well known at all
times for the rare intellectual acumen
and polemical ability OF its professors
and students, the young Irish lad from
Clonmel always held an honorable posi-
ton, standing in the front rank of the
most talented among the students In
December, 1881, he was raised TO the
priesthood by the cardinal vicar of Pope
AIY Returning to Ireland,
he was appointed to do missionary work
IN his ever dear native town, ClOnmel.
Our fancy can picture the young
priest in the springtime of his life,
sound in body and mind, polished in
manner, priestly In every act, with a
heart all on fire with zeal for the reli-
giOuS and political freedom of his OPP
pressed and prosecuted country. He
had Travelled through Italy, Spain and
France on his homeward journey,
closely studying the social and economic
conditions of those countries, but no
where did he see the abject pauperism,
the agricultural dearth and industrial
Stagnation in which his native land was
held by British misrule. The young,
ardent patriot and priest could not but
resolve to devote his best energies to
further the cause Of Ireland's freedom.
Now began a most interesting period in
the life of FIR. Cuddihy In the year
1929, thanks to the persistent, bold and
defiant challenge of Daniel O'Connelb
the act of Catholic emancipation for
Ireland was Wrung from the English
parliament. Thus some of the harsher
statutes of the penal code, under which
our friend was born, and which were in
force when he went to Rome, were re-
moved. O'Connell now devoted his life
to obtaining the repeal of the act of
union. And among those who aided him
in advancing the movement and in ad-
Vocating the election of Irish members
to the house of commons favorable to
his policy none, if any, We're more elo-
quent and sympathetic than young FIR.
Cuddihy. None more earnestly sought
to hold up to the people the hope of
finally securing their national indie
pendence; nor were any more fierce or
bitter when flinging in the teeth of
English tyranny the story of the mock
cries, the briberies and perjuriea con-
stantly employed by it for the sure
conviction of the innocent. For 20
years FIR. Currihy stood by O'Conneil;
and 60 and 81 years ago, when but very
few now here and listening to me We're
born, MIR. Cuddihy was one of the most
popular and powerful speakers in Ire
land. His voice was often heard in
Waterford, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and
other cities, eXhorting the people to
unite in the closest bond of union under
I the leadership Of Daniel O'ConIelL
In the forties the hearts and eyes OF
the prosecuted and famine stricken
people of Ireland were turned toward
the United States of Aherica, and a
tide Of emigration commenced toward
these hospitable shores that no human
| power could STAY. The far-Sighted vi
sion of FIR. Cuddihy saw in this the
hand of Divine Providence conducting
| his chosen, prosecuted people Of ireland
out of the house of British bondage
into the promised land of American
freedom. He at once resolved to ask
| permission of his ecclesiastical superb
ors to go on the American mission, and,
| lest any allegiance that he owed to the
Franciscan order might prevent the ac-
complishment of his desire, he obtained
! full sanction of the sovereign pontif,
Plus TX, to follow his people to this
| land, to be the watchful shepherd of
| their souls and the staunch defender of
! their rights.
When our departed friend bade fare
well TO his native land in the year 1852,
J he left behind him 20 years Of heroic