The Irish standard., 1898-09-24
ST. ANDREWS CHURCH.
Pnrisl,lon Address to Most Rev
Archbishop Ireland.

Pnrishioners' Address to Most Rev.
Archbishop Ireland.
AS announced in these columns the
dedication of the new church at Como
Villa occurred last Sunday morning.
Archbishop Ireland performed the cere-
mony and Rev. Richard Cahill, chancel-
lor of the diocese. celebrated high mass.
The services were of most solemn and
impressive character and were wit
messed by large congregation Of the
faithful. After the first gospel the
archbishop preached a sermon on THE
Necessity of the Practice of Religion"
and was listened to with rapt attention
When mass was over John B. McHugh,
Thomas Kelly and Patrick Mcdonald
approached the altar, and, facing the
archbishop, Mr.. McHugh delivered the
following address:
Most Reverend Archbishop: On be-
half Of the worthy Catholic people
whose labors and sacrifices have played
so important part in the establishment
of st. Andrews church, and of the citl-
zens generally of Como Villa, l am
called upon to express, so far as it is
in my power, the love and reverence
with which you are regarded among
them. While the work which finds it's
contamination here today has been at
tended by not a few discouragements,
We. the Catholics of this vicinity, have
been sustained in our works which you
have been carrying on in the broader
sphere of your usefulness as priest and
citizen.
Standing upon an eminence, even in
the secular affairs of this nation, which
centers upon you grave responsibilities
and obligations, and attracts toward you
in a great degree the admiration and re-
spect of the American people, we Cath
olics continue to regard you only as the
Jealous and devoted priest of the church,
whose labors have been unceasing and
whose sacrifices in the cause of our holy
religion form an important part of the
history of this great section of the
American continent.
mot a few of the elders among us
have watched your career since, as
young man, you took upon you the sa-
cred duties of the priesthood Year after
year you have added to the cares and
anxieties of your chosen vocation the
nf ne
man. The young priest has, as the years
have passed by. evolved into the ardent
and unflinching champion of the cause
of temperance; the Jealous guardian of
the rights and prerogatives of the
church, and the elevated American pa
triot whose civic virtues and religious
obligations alike have led him to display
his devotion even upon the battlefields
of his country. The type of citizenship
which you stand for in the minds of
your countrymen represents the sheet
anchor of American institutions 1t op-
poses all forms of public and private in
iquity, and is taken as the true test of
what free state demands at the hands
of the true Catholic man.
I'VE know that in speaking words of
praise we bear somewhat hardly on the
humility which is the great attribute Of
those to whom the church has intrusted
the spiritual we'll being of it's people.
But, on public occasion such as this,
we must ask your pardon and forbear-
ance. You know that your people are
not disposed to exalt their pastor in the
eyes of the world. Their devotion is
manifested in less conspicuous ways.
Their reverence of the sacred functions
of your high office ordain silence rather
than speech. But you have been so
prominently before the public mind, and
with all your recognized high character
and attainments, you have been too Of
ten the immediate object of the attacks
OF the enemies of the church, to make
silence bounden upon us on an occasion
such as this We thank God that We
have such man to point to in vndica-
ton of our claims of loyal attachment
W IHe government anu INSTITUTIONS of
this great land. We rejoice in the admir-
able blending of priest and citizen which
is observable in yourself; and we shall
continue ferventy to pray that God may
save you to lis until in the amplest way
you have fulfilled your great mission as
the learned expounder of Catholic doc
trine and the splendid exemplar of Cath
Ole virtue and patriotism"
The archbishop made brief response,
thanking the gentlemen for their eulo-
CYSTIC address and wishing the new par
ish every success in the cause Of God
and country.
Before the congregation dispersed FIR.
Cosgrove received many congratulations
upon The grand church he had opened
in the interurban district for the glory
of God and the promotion of religion.
Another Division Organized.