The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-04-11

try chapels to hear the priest. when
he gets warmed to his subject, evoke
wall after wall from the women of the
congregation; and it is a frequent
thing to find whole congregation dis
solved in tears.
Until recently-and often, to great
extent, still-the clerk at these coun-
try chapels was usually that most i'm.
portant parsonage, the Priests Boy
a boy probably of from fifty-tive to
siNty-tive years Of age, who wears an
air of grave responsibility, for he con-
Sders that the cares of both priest
and parish are sitting upon his shout
ders. His manipulation Of his Latin
would not, | daresay. always please
the over-nice ear of IL grammaran;
but rough and rude though this Boy
looks. he can get off his Latin with Il
felicity and facility that makes all
the old women marvel much-a felicity
and a facility thar your carping gram
marian might never hope to attain.
These chapels are built, to Il great
extent, by money received from the
boys and girls in America; but, in adj
dition to this, every one in the parish
contributes in kind-gives so many
weeks work himself, so many weeks
work of the various members of his
family, and so many weeks work of
his horse and cart, il lie have one.
more inspiring. more impressive than
that of Il sunny Sunday morning
among cur mountains. when the pco-
ple-the boys and the girls, the men
and women and the children, in their
cleanest, in their brightest and best
wind down the hillside and over the
country roads to chapel. 1t is Il re-
freshing sight and Il joyous one, and
an eleyating one. The sun is in these
peoples hearts, and in their SOULS us
well as OH their faces The giris have
on their brightest ribbons, the women
their blueSt cloaks, the men and boys
their freshest frieze, or richest broad
cloth. Neghbor steps out with neigh
Dor, and friend with friend, ana
couples grnvitatc to groups, or groups
dissolve again in couples as they pro-
coed; the hearts of all going lightly as
their feet. Though the distance may
be miles, and the road he rough, they
never know it; ana their journey is
indeed all too short for the many,
many absorbing topics that they have
to pass in review. When they reach
the clapel-yar,l, their first thought is
to say a Pater and Ave, kncelllg by
the graveside of some dear departed
one; after which, since it is not yet
MasS-time, they mingle with the many
there assembled already, meet their
friends from the opposite end of the
parish, whom they have not seen for
seven days, swap the news of their
respective districts, learn the state of
the markets, the dongs of Parliament.
the latest prono,lnccments Of the poll
ticians, discuss wars and rumors of
wars, criticise premiers and Poor Law
Guardians, and foretell the fate of
kings and district councillors. One
other Thing, too, which they never fail
to inquire for, and TO debate upon, is
the recent tidings from Mary and
Michael in the states, the sort of times
that are there now, and the prospects
of Improvement when the new pres-
dent goes ill.,
If the priest he one of the real old
school he has consideration for his Eeo-
pie, knowing that, owing to the long
distances they have come, many of
them will be late, and, consequently,
for sake of this, he allows Il generous
margin beyond the sta.ed time for
saying Mass; and Il very considerable
and conscientious one will often send
his boy, Barney, up the 4Altevoguc
Road, to the head or the Rising
Ground, ito see if he can see any sign
of Shan Nor O'Kennely." always the
last man in coming, and if
so to hurry him up. During this wait
before Mass, and while the male por.
tion Of the congregation are standing
about the yard, and settling the af-
fairs of nations, the women have gone
inside; are doing the Stations of the
Cross; offering prayers for the dead,
and prayers for the living, prayers for
| the present, and prayers for the alb
sent, and an occasional little prayer
for themselves. by far the majority
of them pray silently, deyOutly, earn
cstly. With manner that is touching
and impressive. Always, however, in
our country clapels. you will find Il
gathering OF bcggars, and of profess
sionnl voteens, who invariably gather
around the altar rails. and unmistak-
ably exhibit their belief in the doctrine
that the Kingdom of Heaven is to be
taken by violence.
| suppose there is 10 country in the
world whose people show so much true
piety, and earnest devotion, as do the
congregations of Irish country chapels.
They kneel upon Il bare, hard floor,
their minds concentrated upon the
solemn sacrifice proceeding, their
hearts upliftcd to God, and their lips
moving in earnest prayer. The dill
atorincss of the pricst-and often, in