Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-02
rotect the basket, but to open the

protect the basket, but to. open the way
 We read in the f27th psalm," said Father Slocum, in his opening remarks. ''that unless God builds the house, they labor in vain who built it.'' The speak . CT then reviewed the history of the Catholic church in Waterbury for the past fifty years when a handful of men of that creed gathered together and built 8 small church on East Main street. They had the same confidence in God, he said, that you have today, and hoped for the time when the'r faith would have standing in the new world. He believed that God must have built the Cathloic churches of Waterbury, else this would not be the tenth in fifty years. They had faith iii the natural as well as in the super natural and knew that while God had promised that the church will last for ever, he did not promise it's glory to any particular locality so that while we trust in God to bless our labor still our labor is necessary. He showed how by indifference on the part of the people the church had almost disap- peared from the city where Christ was born, a Mos1em soldier guards the man. ger at Bethlehem, and throughout that country only the worship of MahOmet is known. He dwelt at considerable length upon the advantages the church has ill this country and wanted to see every Catholic, not Catholic of a Sunday, but seven day in the week Catholic. He regarded education, lib erty the amelioration of the working classes and the morals of the land as the WatehWOFds. He counseled every nlan to.begin these in his own home and Sinyeighed in no uncertain terms against the man who talks f1ippantlybe- fore his family of things that pertain to public safety or leaves his children s the example of a drunkard or an i'm moral life. "We may say we are Catholics he said, land stand X for what is right, but if individually we are rotten then we are nothing but liars" He pointed out the duty of Catholics both as Catholics and citi- zens of the community they live in and stated that the parishioners of St Fran cis Xavier's should be encouraged in their undertaking by the splendid lega- cy left them by the pioneer Catholics of that district most of whom are now laid away on the green hillside wonder.
 Father Curtin thanked the assem- blaze and read the following in Latin and English, copies Of which were placed under the cornerstone:
 "On the first day of November. 1t being the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of All Saints. his holiness Plus X recently elected happily reigning, his excellency Dio- mede Falconio. apostolic delegate to these shores; Theodore Roosevelt, pres ident of the United States of North America; Abiram Chamb erlain, gov ernor of our beloved state of Connecti- cut; the Right Rev Michael Tierney, bishop of Hartford; Rev William J. | Slocum. preaching the sermon on the a occasion; his honor Edward G. Kilduff, mayor of Waterbury; Rev Jeremiah J. Curtin, pastor of the parish; Rev John A. Fleming, assistant; James J. Cas- sin and Thomas SHalpin, lay trustees; Edward Bergen & Sons, and Max X Du1rschmidt & Go. builders, in the presence of large concourse of clergy and elaity rejoicing, the Right Rev Michael Tierney, D. D., laid the corner stone of the church of St Francis Xavier for the greater honor and glory of Almighty God. for the good of Cath olic religion, our glorious American re. public and our own city of Waterbury, with solemn ceremony, according to the ritual of the holy Roman Catholic church. in the year of our Lord, nine teen hundred and three"
 This was followed by the lowering of the flag in the schoolyard under the direction Of the military companies. the drum corps rendering appropriate selections. The rectory across the way was decorated with American and Irish banners and presented a cheerful appearance.
 x After the exercises the crowd. dis appeared almost as quickly as it cam and by o'clock things had assumed their normal aspect The church tru. tees the church committee and several volunteers assisted Father Curtin and Father Fleming in carrying out the ar engagements and everything passed Qn very smoothly.
 One of the first persons to step upon the platform reserved for invited guests was Michael Donahue, a man now nearing the 9Oth milestone, who came to Waterbury about sfxty-five years ago, when the nearest church to this place was in New Haven. He has l attended the laying of the cornerstone of all the Cathloic churches built here since that time. and judging by the way he jostled through the crowd yes terday he is liekly to be present at a great many nore