The age-herald., 1901-12-28
Washington Day by Day

as a newspaper man is to have great success in this life" said the Rev pr. Stafford, the famous priest of St. Pat riclss church, Washington. whom eapa- ble critics declare to be one of the great est orators of the time.
 The occasion for this tribute to neWs- paper workers was the funeral of Clus- key Cromwell. member of the staff Of one of the Washington journals, "lt is the part of the newspaper said Dr. Stafford, "to teach the people the value of their institutions and to engen- der respect for them. The newspaper is a great moral force as well as an educational factor. Mans first respon- sbility is to his conscience, and then to the law; the newspaper helped him to render a good account of both. | "Journalism is a great vocation, and all who are connected with 1t deserve credit when they do the work which is possible for them to do and use the powerful levers at their command for the public good. It is work demand ing great delicacy, tact and intelligence in it's performance.
 l l the world, with men of all degrees Of morality, intelligence and honesty; or widely varying opinions upon politics and religion; diversity of views upon all | questions and manifesting all grades or | character and morals tends to soften all l angulorities of character, It beeets 1 kindiness of view in many directions; a charitableness of disposition; an unwil- lingness' to harshly critieise a fellow man; tendency to generously overlook shortcomings, to forbear and forgive. "This teaching of journalism in the university of the world creates such men l as Cluskey Cromwell. It makes men or his bigheartedness, his lovable nature his generous disposition.
 1 "Tbe world is better for such men. The further we get along in years and the more we know of the temptations of life, the vexations of the spirit and the diff faculties that gather about every mans pathway, the more charitably inclined we become toward the world.
 Judge by the standard of faith the life of this man we mourn, though seem- i ingly broken off in the middle, is not so; l it is complete, Blessed are the dead who | die in the Lord Such was the death or | this man. He prepared for it with great contrition for the sins of this life and a complete willingness to submit him. self for Christ. His soul is saVeo' though his life Is gone. It Is not hte | broken off, but a life rounded out TOT it was rounded out in the faith.
 These memorable words Of the great priest were spoken above the dead faith full on Christmas Eve, and the splendid church rung with the marvellous eio- ouence, an eloquenee of indeseripapie power to touch human hearts and con vince human understanding Many Of those who listened and believed were newspaper men and women, representa- tives of great journals of this land of journals, some of them having known and loved Cluskey Cromwell through all the wears of his successful efforts and some who had known him but a little yet loved him too.
 Apart from the personal interest in Dr. stafford's eulogy. the priests references |
 sion.
 It is doubtful if anything so foreeful spoken in so few words has ever yet been uttered from the altar concerning news papers and newspaper workers, 1 It is truth as this truth appears to holy man. who at forty is one of the great religious and intellectual lights Of l x.,bh has been acquired from the outcast dying with the unspeakable comfort and glory of the priestly blessing on the palaces Of the great and upward to the confessional. Assuredly this man speaks with the law and the understanding!
 On Christmas day. this man whose fame for goodness and greatness is proclaimed | up and down the earth, stood in his | church, where -oor Cromwell lay twenty four hours before, and preached the Glad Tidings of Great Joy concerning the Babe of Bethlehem. After every seat in the church had been filled. hundreds of the people stood and remained standing throughout the service. except those who were Catholics were required to kneel at times It is so on every occasion when 1t is known. Dr. Stafford will preach On the first Sunday was there the people crowded the wide aisles half way up to the great white altar
 Peace on earth to all men of good | will" the benediction of the angels to the shepherds upon the hills were the sacred words that rung all through Dr. stafford's Christmas sermon, and rung in nobler and grander melody than I ever heard from any other man in any place. any | where
 "On that first Christmas morning a | little Child lay in a manager. and by His side was His Blessed Virgin Mother. and | gathered about him were the wondering | and worshiping shepherds. For nearly | two thousand years in every age. mill lions on millions of human beings. from | tho wsest and greatest to the humblest and most ignorant, had gathered about | that cradle On this blessed day hundreds of millions are gathered there, giving holy truth that the Child was God and is | God
 ''That is religion; and there is nothing save religion in this world that has power to bring peace to any human heart!" | Dr. Stafford spoke as one inspired. and | he looked so. Before him the devout multitude listened and prayed. Behind | him lowered the magnificent altar and xxhfa fa1.