The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-31

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At the celebration Of the fiftiett anniyer-
sary Of the founding Of st. Bridget's Par
ish, which took place in the church of tina,
name at Carr street and Jefferson avenue
yesterday morning, the sermon was
preached by the Reverend D. s. Phelan
who attended the dedication of the small
chapel in 1868. and in the audience were al
least three persons who. were present on
that occasion.
The preacher. when a boy of u years,
marched in the procession which left a
downtown church to take part in the cere-
mony which marked an epoch in the his
tory Of the Catholic Church in St. Louis.
One Of the most unique figures in the audi
ence was Frank X. Mulhall Of No. 4225A
Evans avenue. who without doubt has lived
longer in the confines of st. Bridgets Par
ish than any other person. He was born in
1859 at what is now JEFFERSON. and Franklin
avenues and was II years old when the first
church was dedicated. Two years ago he
moved into st. AIMS Parish.
Joseph H. Sycamore Of No. 232S Carr street
was living just across the street when the
church was built and dedicated. The other
person who was present at the ceremony
and was in yesterday mornings consrega-
ton was Emily Trotter. who fifty years ago
was, q negro slave belonging to the Mulhall
family.
BISHOP GLENNoN PREsInEs.
Bishop John J. Glennon. who was seated
on the throne at yesterday mornings mass
and was the chief dignitary Of the occasion,
had not been, born when the church whose
fiftieth anniversary he dignif1ed was dedi-
Gated.
The jubilee service was one which the
loyal parishioners OF st. Bridget's will new
er forget. It was a solemn high mass,
coram pontifce. and was celebrated with
unusual ceremony and magnificence.
The celebrant. the Reverend Father p. p.
Crane was born, baptized, received his first
holy communion and was confirmed in st.
Bridget's Parish. The subdeacon. the Rev.
erend Father Joseph Casey. also claims
baptism in st. Budgets Church.
The first part of Father Phelan's sermon
was discourse upon moral and spiritual
cleanliness. He dwelt on the point that as
ISOLATION with unclean things makes for
uncleanliness, and cited as illustrations the
ancient Jews. who. because OF their myriads
Of laws and customs. were compelled ever
to be busy keeping themselves pure.
"Christianity," he g continued. teaches
that It is not customs and practices that
keep man undenled. but that the right life
Is that one which has pure. clean heart"
He referred to the confessional Of the
Catholic Church as bulwark which makes
for cleanliness. and declared that Protest.
antism was Christianity without the con-
fession.
In speaking Of the dedication ceremony
nifty years ago. he said It was attended by
1000 Irish men and Irish women. ),
at was the custom In those days." Fa-
Their Phelan said. ito call the children of
Ireland Pats and s.Biddfes' The persons
who built this church and have made this
parish did not resent the name-they were
Of the middle class. which is the bulwarx
Of all nations. With all reverence may
the first church which they built ST, Pat
ss Irias q that day y would u1de Tater dance
than hight, but when occasion demanded It
they upheld their religion at any cost. Il
mothers that we Catholic priests Of to- day
are respected.
HISTORY OF CHURCH.
To build the parish the Irish and Ger
man priests and people worked shoulder to
shoulder.
The German once could not speak Eng
lish. at first could not say yes and no.
but from the number of Irish with Ger
man blood In their veins before me to-day.
4 b quite evident that they did soon leaTn,
the English language. and that the girls
At least said yes great deal oftener
than no. -
Father Lillis. the first pastor Of the
church, was q gentle soul, an ideal man
When he died Archbishop Kenrick said,
haxe lost my fond friend. Here he
great work st. Bridgets has done.
FaAer Walsh. or Mgr. Walsh, was hon
Not most aifsSle man Uy 81 t dne truth
stin hy had his fixed course for the riei,t'
and ~ nxed principles. from which he
never 9viated. HIS phenomenaily long pas
or woman Of St Brideet's II there who does
not low him. and respect his memory.