The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-12-31

wish the people happy Christmas
and to speak of the pro-cathedral.
After asking Il blessing upon the
assembled people Archbishop Ireland
said in part
| Il am pleased on the occasion OF
this Christmas visit to be able to con-
graduate you upon the grand advance
ment that has been made in the move
mcnt for pro-cathcdral for Mime
apolis.
1T is two years since first suggest
ed to you tile project. Two years
may seem long; and yet the time is
short when so great a project is in
hand, and when we consider the adj
I, v;ncement that has been made.
| AT first it was no small task to get
you to take up the matter in earnest.
and to realize that Minneapolis should
have Il grand and splendid Catholic
church. You were modest. You did
not at first see the necessity nor have
the desire for Il great church building.
You were inclined to be satisfied With
Il small one.
"And this would have been all right
if YOU were only considering your
selves. But there are your children
and your grandchildren to think of,
and to show to them that the church
is grand and glorious church.
minneapolis, I told you, deserves
this tribute on your part, that you
should build for this city a monument
worthy of itself, and worthy of your
abiding faith.
'"Ehe idea took some time to germ
mate, but now find you have grown
perhaps too enthusiastic continued
the archbishop, smiling Il may have
to sober you. spoke Of building
costing half as much as the one for
st. Paul. But now you say, at least
as much. And 1 say to you, Yes.
Make it as great Make it greater if
your hearts and your love for God
impel you to do so.
and you are right. You will get
more help by far for large and
splendid church than you would for Il
small one."
And here, illustrating the force Of
the idea, the archbishop announced the
two splendid subscriptions he had just
received.
"And now,' he said, ut is for you
to to take up the work with will.
You see the movement is upward and
onward.
'The plan is to divide the subscrip-
tons up into monthly payments, SO
that they will not come too heavily at
one time.
"It will take us all of the coming
year to get plans prepared for so great
a church, and the corner stone can
hardly be laid before April OF May
1906.
1.-THE solicitors will commence active
work in taking subscriptions immed
!, iately after New Years day. and VIC
. want this year to go ahead with this
so that part Of the work to be finished
!, during the year 1906 need not be de
, layed.
< THE work will, of course, talk,
p years to complete, and the subscrip
tons will be divided into small install
mcnts, to continue through five years
Y There has been some criticism o.
s the committee for changing thu
: amount. But it should be remembered
that the project did not spring up al
at once The idea was at first small
+ 1t has been growing ever since thu
q start, and as the movement has grow
the plans of the committee have natur
!. ally developed.
!, you need not worry about the prop
# crty that was at first bought. 1t i
O increasing in value. And when TIL
# time comes for selling (which i
e not yet-the value will be much in
l. creased.
II "You will have the best site in Min
II neapoIis for your pro-cathedral. Thi
). is absolutely fact, which cannot bu
$ be seen.
II "And now, go ahead! 1t is for til
d glory of God.
J. 81 know it is not without som
Re sacrifice that you can do this, but
J. is to your self-sacrifice that l al
# appealing. The more the sacrifice, til
y greater the merit. 1t is the tru
r. measure of generosity. And thos
v, who give to the Lord-the scripture
If over and over again say so-will re
n, ceive their reward, both here and here
al after"
1T EIINEpAr M INuN WALSH