The Worcester spy., 1898-11-20

nifying that he is vicar general of the
diocese of Springfield. Those outside
his communion address him as Doctor
Power; his own congregation of 1000
people, young and old, rich and poor,
speak of him fondly as Father John,
and those who are near. enough to him
to know say that the last title is the
one he likes best of all.
Father John he has been in. truth
to three generations of Worcester cltl-
zens of his faith. There are hundreds
of heads of families in this city Who
were children in his Sunday school, who
when they grew up, were married by
him. and whose children We're in time
baptized by him. His pastorate is as
interviewer with the social and domes-
tic history of Worcester as it Is bright
and shining chapter in the religious life
of the community.
To preach for forty years TO the same
people, to share with them their joys
and sorrows, to watch and enjoy their
growth and progress, is a privilege
that many ministers of religion are not
permitted to enjoy.
Father Power is a native of Charles
town Mass, where he was born, OF
Irish parents in August, 1928. He re
ceived his early education in lhe
public schools Of Boston and at
private Latin school. Later
he was graduated in 1851. He studied
theology at AK, in France, where he was
ordained in 1856. Returning at
once to his native America, ne
was assigned to duty in Worcester, and
here he has labored without intermls-
sion ever since. His first pastorate
included Millbury and Grafton. AS the
Catholic population grew, those towns
were made separate parishes, and Fr.
Power ultimately found himself con-
fined exclusively to st. Anne's parish in.
Fast Worcester. His church was
main wooden structure, which is still
in existence, though it is now devoted
TO commercial uses, the new and more
imposing st. Anne's Church, which
succeeded it, croWnlng the nil Dy the
normal school.
The civil war broke out while Father
Power was pastor at old st. Anne's,
and during the dark and trying times
which followed, he stood like pillar
Of patriotic light among his people. His
sermons We're rallying calls for the
Union and the flag, and no small share
of the enthusiasm with which the En-
met Guards were called into existence
and sent to the front, was due to the
influence of his inspiring words.
His great life work was the build
ing of St Paul's, the beautiful edifice
which stands on Chatham and High
streets the cornerstone OF Whlch was
laid with appropriate ceremony in 1869.
For we'll nigh 80 years FIR Power has
been the pastor of this church. The
great cost of the building was betrayed
bv a system OF monthly collections,
which involved no burden on even the
poorest., while all were given share
in the honor of the work The church
has not had dollar of debt resting
upon It for some five or six years back.
The substantial brick parish residence
across the way is FIR. Powers personal
property. and next to it is st, Gabriel's
orphanage. in which many parentless
little ones are cared for by the Sisters
of Mercy.
AS a pulpit orator, the pastor of st.
Paurs. while never in the least fiorid
or impassioned in his style, has had few
EQUALS in the church history of Wor-
cester. His impressive appearance his
clear. well modulated voice, his cogent
reasoning, his close following of a log
ical line Of thought, his invariable
practice of talking to the intellects of
mis- hearers rather than to their emo
tions. his scorn for cant and sham and
hulnbug of whatever grade or color, his
hatred of cheap sensationalism, his
broad toleration--all these are the at
tibutes of DR.. Power as preacher of
the gospel, and no sermon of his was
ever wearisome or long; be it deliv
cred on the hottest Sunday of July or
the bleakest Sabbath of mid-winter,
His exit from the pulpit was never well
coined by his congregation.
Father Power has not been heard
Dften outside the pulpit or the sanctu-