Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-20

was Q001caroQ y0SLefUay ACS1uooA with appropriate ceremonies, the pro gram as announced herein Saturday being carried out in detail, and not withstanding the warm weather the attendance was very large. The me morial services at the ball consisted or a few remarks and the reading of the death roll by County President T. F. Luddy; prayer by the Rev Father Traynor of Waterville; soprano solo, Flowers for the Dead" Miss Chris tina Delaney, and selections by the Ladies' auxiliary.
 After the exercises at the hall the procession formed under the direction of Grand Marshal John F. Calvin and his aides and marched to the cemetery where an immense throng of people had collected, including relatives and friends Of the order from all parts ot the town. The parade was very creditable one, much larger than some thought 1t would be on account of the excessive heat The out of town par ties in line were the First regiment H1bernian band Of New Haven, the rife company of Naugatuck and mem bers of the order from Bristol, An sonia and other places. The men on horses looked and appeared to much better advantage than men selected for such positions usually do. All could ride and some Of them appeared to be experts at the business.
 The Ladies' auxiliary. the clergy, re ception committee and invited guests, among whom were the Hon M F. Skelly of Woodbury. John M. Curtin of New Britain. Rev Timothy Mullen of Davenport Iowa, NJ. Gaven of New <7o ir7
 The ceremony of unveiling and blessing the monument was conducted by Rev J. J. Curtin of St Francis Xav- ier's parish, and Father Slo- cum. Other priests present were Father Crowley of St Thomas parish, Father Boderick of the I'm macuIate Conception. Fathers Sheehan and Keane of St Patr1ok's, Father Traynor of St MichaeIs, WaterviIle, Father Mullen of Iowa and others. After the exercises in the cemetery the procession countermarched to the highway and entered the lot across the road, where a stand had been erected large enough to accommodate the speakers and a number of invited guests.
 County President T. F. Luddy thanked the people for their presence and stated that he wished to take that opportunity to thank Father Slocum for the interest he had taken in the project and concluded by stating that 1t afforded him great pleasure to turn over to him, as custodian of St Jo- seph's cemetery, the monument which will stand there as a tribute of respect to the memory Of the men who had hewn out a name and reputauon for fho nf IT Irace in Waterbury. MT Luddy then introduced Father Slocum, who spoke for over half an hour. In the course of which he touched upon almost ev- cry phase of the Irish character. not forgetting to remind his hearers that the race had It's shortcomings, but ad- matt1ng thatits good points lowered far above its weak ones and holdinps one of its characteristics, fOrtitude up as typical of the Irish in all ages and un- der all conditions. He told the vast assemblage what a Celtic cross stands for, what 1t looks like. and stated that the one in the cemetery was perfect in design and cautioned his audience not to allow anybody to lead them to believe that the proper proportions had not been adhered to. The Celtic cross, which is common in Ireland, Scotland and other countries of the old world, is taller than any of the other crosses, and Father Slocum thought that this was the reason why some thought that the one just un- yelled was too tall.
 The rugged granite of which the monument is composed, Father Slo- cum considered typical Of the Irish race and thought 1t fitting that here upon these New England hills a col umn should stand to the memory of the men and women who came to this country from the hills and vaIes of Ireland and made their homes here amid sneers and scoffs and rebukes of one kind and another from the old New Englander, who, though thor Oughty honest and sincere, had a pre- Jud1ce against the Roman Catholic, but after he trusted him and found that he made his business his own af- fair, much of this opposition quickly disappeared and the early Irish immi- grant became the idol of the stern New Englander. Father Slocum be- Heved that it was we'll the faith of the early Irish was put to this test, because there is nothing which weak ems religious strength so much as in- difference. He was of the opinion that many of the people of to-day would find it hard to make the sacri- fees their fathers cheerfully made for the faith. It was by making sac rifces that the faith of Christ had been preserved by their fathers, and if Waterbury has ten Catholic church. es and Catholic population of 80,OOO it was because God had blessed the fortitude of the early Irish settlers of Connecticut who made their homes on these hillsides and were not afraid to make sacrifices for their religion and their families
 The Celtic cross. Father SIocum said, was typical of the Irish race, be cause of It's rugged nature it's power of resistance and its ability to exist under adverse conditions. In the time of their fathers, and for generations prior to that even in pagan times when the Christian religion was not the watchword, the Irish proved that it is impossible for any other race to