The Newtown bee., 1899-08-18
Town Topics.
Father Smith Handsomely Re
membered.
BY THE PEOPLE OF ST ROSES PARISH.

On Wednesday evening of last week
ut st Patrlek's Hall in the presence of
300 or 400 people took place exercises
which will long live in the minds of
thoae who participated. The occasion
was the presentation to Rev T.. B. Smith.
the assistant pastor of st Roses church,
in honor of his 10Th anniversary as a
priest, of a beautiful gold chalice set
with precious stones. medalions and in
scriptions, also purse of $3.50, by the
parishioners of St Roses parish.
Upon the stage were seated the pastor,
Rev 2. Fox, and the assistant pastor,
Rev T. B. Smith, besides the following
members of the committee who had had
the entire matter in cha ge; namely,
Representative John F. Heating (chair-
NAM, John r. McDermots, Joseph Law
cry, Judge OF Probate Michael Bradley,
James Donovan, Thomas Lillis, Michael
Madigan, Patrick Grove, John Kea1e
(Zoar), John Blake( Walnut Tree Hill 4,
Phillip Haugb, Patrick Cannon, Thorn
as Coles, Edward Keane, James Farrell,
Jr.. and DR. J. w. Gordon.
The exercises OF the evening opened
with few Introductory remarks by the
chairman. Mr. Heating, followed by 8
! recitation by Master Henry Campbell,
also q recitation by little Miss Loretta
McGrath, both receiving we'll merited
applause. Next on the program was an
address by Joseph Lavery, in which the
| subject chosen b Y that gentleman EMIT
led, 1.-The Priest and the Laity," was
most ably handled and was warmly ap-
| plauded by the large number present.
Following that gentleman's address
| there was presented dialogue, by Mas
ter William Bradley and Miss Ella
| Blake, which took the house by storm
| nd lad ;aFu f1 oJ
| lowing the dialogue came an original ad-
dress in verse by DR. J. w. Gordon and
which with the kind permission of that
gentleman is printed in full below. After
| the verse address the chairman, John r.
Heating, arose and in few we'll chosen
and eloquent words deliniated the many
good qualities which SO endeared Father
Smith to the good people of NewtoWn
and presented in behalf of the committee
and the Practitioners and the pastor OF
| st Roses parish, the beautiful chalice
the handsome purse, and the complete
| list of the names and the amount which
| each one contributed.
The pastor, Rev Father Fox, then ad-
| dressed the large audience, spoke of the
great assistance Father Smith had been
| TO him since he came to Newtown, and
ended by paying a glowing tribute to bis
good qualities as man and priest, latter
which Father Smith, though somewhat
overcome by the surprise, pulled him.
| self together and in ringing tones thank
ed the good people for their great gener-
| osity, extolled their many good qualities
as Christians, and promised them his
everlasting gratitude and prayers in re-
turn for the magnificent present.
This part Of the evening exercises hav.
ing been concluded, many of those pre-
| sent fiocked to the stage to congratulate
the Rev gentleman in person, after
which dancing was enjoyed by the young
| people and the committee royalty enter
talned by the Rev gentlemen at the Pa
| rochial residence.
Below is the address in verse delivered
by DR. j. w. Gordon:
FELLOW VISITORS AND KIND AND REVEREND
sIRs:
There's naught in this world but burdens to
There naught in this world but strife, every
where;
And, oh my dear brethren, what can mortals
1t the priest in his kindness advises not you ?
IT'S he who l1ghtens our burdens, our grief,
T1s ae Wh i gives to our soul that relief
heart
Can hope to obtain. when the Priests doth
their part.
In6n In honor or one, whom all SO revere,
We gather to night with true hearts sincere
To show this kind servant of God that we love
Himself for himself and his maker above;
In reverenctng him, we, God, honor show,
The Lord that doth rule and this servant be-
low;
For was Ii not he whom the Lord doth ordain
To teach us poor mortals to honor Gods
name.
Ten years have flown since this kindly priest
From the foot OF the Altar. saw the star in
the east
And then and there vowed, upon Bonded
knees,
To carry Gods teachings DER land. and DER
seas;
And true to his VOWS these years hath he
taught
Those teachings in which consolation is
sought;
And. thus. my good people OF st Roses
church,
Do we honor. to night, Gods servant so
much.
Now we hope and we trust, as the years come
So and go,
AS the older ones die and the younger ones
grow,
That th is same kindly servant of God may be
spared
Until, as Priest, he's old and g1ay haired;
And when rather time hath furrowed your
brow,
We ask, Father Smith. that you then, as you
now,
Do once in a while say prayer for us all,
Be we numbered in life, or hath answered
Gods call.