The Irish standard., 1899-06-24

es us kindness, charity, benevolence and
gratitude and inspires us to follow the
instructions of St. Paul, Bear ye one
another's burdens That banner of the
Red Cross derives all of its efficacy and
usefulness from the lessons taught US by
the blood-stained cross of the crucifed
Saviour. When He hung suspended be-
tween heaven and earth, surrounded by
all the terrors and agonies OF death, He
set us an heroic example of calmness,
benevolence, resignation and charity and
as He set US the example, He wishes us
to initiate Him in all the calamities OF
our lives.
"1f we keep our eyes on the banner OF
the Red Cross and remember the cross
of Calvary we cannot be remiss in our
duty in this sad hour Of affliction. Let
us then go forth with glad and joyful
hearts; let the spirit OF the cruci6ed
Saviour and His example in this trying
ordeal inspire our hearts with noble
thoughts and noble deeds. Kind words,
kind thoughts and kind deeds must
characterize us all in bearing one an
others burdens.
I'm the temple OF your minds let none
but kind thoughts dwell Be kind in
speech to all who are afflicted. Kind
words are the music OF Gods world.
They arc the solacc OF the broken heart
ed and the sunshine OF existence. Do
kindly deeds. Kindness is the pouring
out OF self on others; it is little thing,
but little things make life. Do not re-
pine over our present misfortune, but
rise, like true heroes and hcroincs, supc
rlor to the distressing surroundings,
and lift your heads to the heavens OF
God. The home OF happiness must now
be i'll each ones heart and not in the
thoughts OF the sad catastrophe.
BE not idle and sit not down to use
less dreaming; labor, courage and duty
are now orr only source OF joy. Put
on, then. the armor OF courage and man
illness. Let all that is noble in human
nature characterize us in our dealings
with our fellow men and in all our deal
ings with the poverty stricken. Let us
do all in our power to build up the
homes OF the afflicted and to place on a
firm and solid basis our once beautiful
city. Our generous friends will prove
loyal and true to us, and we must prove
worthy and grateful to them for their
generosity and gratitude. The faces that
are missing in the congregation and in
this sorrowfrl city will, in Gods mercy,
be replaced Under the benign influence
OF an all mcrciful Providence, generous
hands will rebuild all that we have lost.
The roughcst storm calm must soon
al!av
"ln all our work let all that is noble
i'll human nature characterize It's. Let us
write in letters OF gold everlasting graft
tude to the cities OF Minneapolis, St.
Paul, Saltwater, St. Cloud and all the
towns OF Our state May all that have
helped lis in our aflliction never taste
OF the cup of sorrow OF which we have
been obliged to drink, but may the full
est measure OF peace, happiness and
prosperity follow them in all their paths
OF life.
"While the catastrophe may seem
overwhelming in its devastation, yet re-
member that out Of every 20 of Our citi-
zens 10 were preserved and scarcely one
passed through the portals OF death
without the comfort and consolation OF
religion. Give not way to sorrow,
then, but let willing minds, with willing
hands and willing hearts, start out and
rebuild the homes made dcsolatc in the
povcrty-stricken city.
"God is with us and noble friends are
at our back. This congregation will rise
up in the near future to its former pros
porous condition and our little city is
destined to rise out of its ashes with
a brighter and better garb than it ever
wore in the past"
The ringing and courageous words OF
the beloved priest had the desired effect.
The weeping eyes were drier, and the
sorrowng faces frightened. Despair
gave way to hope, sorrow to joy. And
the inspiration of the hour will do won
dcrs in helping the congregation OF the
church OF the Immaculate Conception
to face the future.