The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-04
Dennis A. Meaher, Esq, Made Pre-
sentatiOn Address,
The Bishop Responded
With Evident Feeling.
Pontiflcal Vespers Celebrated
in an Impressive Manner.

Sunday was the feast of the Pentecost
and was observed with great solelnnity
at the Catholic Cathedral of the Immac-
ulate conception. The services were es-
pecially impressive and really came as q
part of the silver jubilee celebration of
the Right Reverend Bishop James Au-
gustine Healy of the diocese of Maine, the
anniversary of viii oh occurs on Tuesday.
At half past ten O'Clock In the morning
a solemn high mass was celebrated.
Father Collins was celebrant, Father
O'Brien deacon, Father Desjardin, sub
deacon. Bishop Healy preached very ell
oquent sermon appropriate to the day,
making some illusions to his silver jubi-
lee.
At half past four o'clock in the after
noon pontifical vespers were chanted.
The large edifice was crowded with de-
vout Catholics and the impressive SER
vices were unusually beautiful. The
Right Reverend Bishop was celebrant,
Father Hurley was assistant priest
Father Collins deacon, Father Desjardine
sub-deacon and Father O'Brien master
of ceremonies. Within the chancel rail
were Father Murnane of the Cathedral
parish, yass>rr O'Connor of st. Dominic's
and Fathes O'Dowd of the Church Of the
Sacred Zeal.
just bef~ , the benedictidn presenta-
ton of q &. ibute Of the love in which
Bishop He. y is held by his parishioners
occurred. Dennis A. Meaher, Esq,
accompan- II by Mr.. Deehan, the treas
urer of the Catholics of Portland, adj
vanced to the chancel rail within which
Bishop Heely was seated. Mr.. Meaher
addressed the venerable bishop in the
following language.
Right Reverend and dearly beloved
Bishop:
The Roman Catholics of Portland come
with fluctuations and tokens of good win
to greet you on the occasion of your sill
yer jubilee, and in view OF your many
duties, will be brief.
Yesterday completed 25 years Of your
faithful services, replete with good re-
suits, pleasant memories and fruits
which will abide in the dim centuries yet
to come. These are your monuments
and browning jewels, "Facta potentiora
verbs" They need no encomiums, no
words of praise Twenty-Five years ago.
Massachusetts parted W it'll her honored
and valued priest, ripe in knowledge
CLEANED from institutions of learning in
both hemispheres. Here in the home OF
your adoption you had broader and
higher duty where scholarly attachments,
religious teachings and fatherly guidance
have been features in our marked progress
since your advent. There has been more
labor and responsible lily for your lord
ship las every noble crown Is and on
earth will forever be, a crown of thorns. "
We realize these things and as your
children try to make your duties less
arduous by improving our advantages
while we gratefully acknowledge our
debt
Today we attend in large numbers in
this sacred edifice with all its solemn and
instructive surroundings, varied memoir
les and dear souvenirs of your labors-
A more appropriate place or time is
nowhere found than here and now. Cath
olics and non Catholics come with greet
ings and approval Of that life OF sacrifce
SO potent in its influence over the minds
of men. Indeed what the State of Geor-
gia and the Commonwealth of Massachu-
sets have lost in you has been our gain,
and in harmony we say: "Ripe in wis
dom was he, but patient and simple and
childlike." The Catholic fathers and
mothers of this city and their children,
old and young, all known TO and loved
by you, have in their hearts a warm
place for their Bishop, and when he says
to them he is ian old man, the hope
and wish on their lips and in their
yet to come I'VE do not count n mans
years until he has nothing else to count,
and with Cicero we value Fan old man
that has something of the youth" Par
don us ifin our Judgment from our stand
point we might be tempted to offer you as
a birthday present spirited saddle horse
or ask you TO don, not the cane of the old
man, but the pole that lands the playful
trout.
Your lordship may well rejoice over the
fiourishing condition of religious inter
ests in your diocese, remembering this
grand cathedral, your churches, schools,
converts, the increase In the priesthood,
religious societies and the great good
which has been done by you during these
many years, all fit subjects for solace and
fond contemplation at this time With
more than fifty parishes and one hundred
thousand Roman Catholics in Maine,
your children have become strong factors
in the affairs of state, true and loyal to
their church and country, obedient to the
laws of each, good citizens removing
prejudice and gaining the confidence and
esteem of the Intelligent and cultured.
The second day of June of this year
marks an era in our local church history,
a proud era, land mark where we may
we'll pause to consider, reflect and be
thankful, and s'still be doing never
done" Your health bids us hope and
the possibilities before you and us give
new courage and an assurance Of a future
of grand and triumphant progress under
the benign influence and fostering aid of
Divine Providence. "Genuine work
alone what thou workest faithfully, that
is eternal as the Almighty Founder and
World Builder HIMSELF Such, dear
Bishop, we may contemplate on this joy
GUS occasion with honest pride and well
considered satisfaction yielding to you
always full share Of credit for our past
successes and future anticipations. The
arduous life of priest and bishop are full
of sacrifice, Astounding In good
works, Offering up masses, hearing con-
fessions, administering to the sick. al
ways remembering the poor and remain
Ing poor and performing other duties