The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-06-09

roof the dome of heaven.
In the case of this scalan, one of the
last Of it's kind each person, in wet
and snowy weather, brought with him
little bunch of hay to lay under
knees in the slushy, muddy ground,
upon which they knelt. | thing God
always heard the prayers of these peo-
pie. About five years ago this scalan
was superseded by a chapel, but by
money sent home for that purpose
from servant girls and laboring boys
in America.
After mass the congregation join the
priest in praying in turn for each per-
son sick in the parish, and then for
the repose of the souls who died dur
ing the week, each being specially an
nOunced and each getting a special
prayer
Then follows the priests discourse or
exh0rtation, which, in our chapels, has
profoundly moving effect. The emo
tons of the Celt are very responsive;
it is a common Sunday experience to
find a congregation of 1900 cOnvulsed
with sobs; and l have innumerable
times been thrilled to the soul by
chorus of Wailings. which, rising and
falling in waves, filled the building
Approaching Easter, and approaching
Christmas, the priest begins the sta
tions"-that is, holding a confessional
in each district of the parish. He an
nounces from the altar on Sunday the
name of each party in whose house he
proposes holding station on each day
of the week following. Every woman
who is done the honor of having a
station called" in her house goes to
much expense to have the house and
its surroundings fitted in a manner
that will reflect credit on her and force
a word of praise from Father Dan-and
to have the best and most elaborate
breakfast the county can afford.
The men and women and children of
the townland, dressed in their neatest,
are collected at the station house when
Father Dan arrives on his rickety
iaunting car at 8 o'clock in the
morning. The best room in the house
has been prepared for him, and when,
sitting here he has lightened many
oppressive burdens by his counsel. he
says mass, administers holy commun-
ion and delivers to the sobbing peni
tents a gentle and touching homily.
After breakfast, to which he sat
down with the heads of the household
and the schoolmaster, he collects his
stipends, each father of a family of
that townland coming forward with his
dOllar-some farmer more comfortably
circumStanced than usual paying (VOl-
.ntarily ~ dollar and a half or 81.
This at the Christmas statOns-for the
payment is made but once a year.
other fees which Father Dan receives
are half a dollar Cor more) at each
christening, and So at a marriage. Ac-
cording to the circumstances of par
ish, a priest receives from $500 to $3.50
year.
Formerly the priest went to the house
to perform the baDtismal and matri-
monial services, and remained to share
in the merriment. But now he is en-
Joined to perform both ceremonies IN
the chapel.
The most trying duty of the priest is
the sick call. He is never sure of a
nights quiet At any moment he eX-
poets a laundering at the door, which
may order him off post haste, in rain,
hail or storm, over half dozen or
half a, score miles of moor that is not
without its hazards at high noontide-
TO visit some creature who is hunger
ing for his ministrations, before bid
ding a final farewell to care and ache.
But be the night never so bad, ana
be the priest already wearied and worn,
and be the way dark, and ugly and
far. a sigh is generally his most earn
est protest He arises, dresses hastily,
takes his staff in hand, and, his sum
moner- leading the way with torch,
bends him to the mountain path. Ii
at the wearied end of the journey ne
finds that the nervous old woman, who,
in a scare. sent for him at dead OF
night, is already sitting in the chimney
corner and treating herself to a rouS-
ing bowl of tea. he is perhaps, not TO
be too harshly judged If he do not
give earnest of much joy at her sud
den recovery. And such case is taf
from being eXpeDtiOndl.
FIpiscopalians and Methodists are
only occasionally met with IN our
living in small commuhl-
ties. in a valley or on hillside rlcher
than the remainder of the country.
The lands which they occupy were
given to their forefathers at time
when the Celts were hunted from their
homes nv the hounds of war. Out of
general sustentation fund their clergy
men are paid an income of about Slo0
a wear. Into these funds the Methodist
parishioners are expected to pay 70
cents every quarter year, each member
of the family: and the head OF each
Episcopalian family to pay yearly
sum of about $4-but when their CIR
are above the average they
nav higher sums. By means OF these
general funds the larger and rlcher
CONGREGATIONS in ireland are made TO
aid the smaller. There is no baptismal
fee in either church. The matrimonial
fee is voluntary. Five dollars or more
is usually paid.
Formerly the Episcopalian clergyman
was a. rich aristocrat, being paid tithes
Nv Catholic as well as Protestant. But
the Roman Catholics eventually made
a bold stand against the injustice.
Regular battles were fought by the
poor, unarmed people against the po-
lice and military forces who came to
enforce the law, but resulted with little
effect. for the justice of the cause
triumphed over all the powers of the
crown. and today the Protestant cler-
gvman in the Irish mountains is no
better off than his Catholic brother.
The minister collected his 1.-THE IN
harvest: the priest his stipend at
Christmas. In those days there was
clever half wit in my parish, who, one
day, meeting the priest and parson,
was stopped by them, and, to afford
them some fun, asked Nov, Ned. we
have been disputing whether, if you
had a son, you would make a priest OF
him or n parson-and we want you to
IF l had son." said Ned, "I'H tell
We what I'd have him. I'd have him
parson in harvest, an a priest at
Christmas. SEUMAS MACMANUS.