The Irish standard., 1904-09-03
TRIBUTE TO PASTOR
Aev. Michael Dermody Leaves For New
Field Of Labor

Aev. Michael Dermody Leaves For New
Field Of Labor
Rev. Michael Dermody of Flan-
dreau, N. D., was recently assigned
to the pastorate Of the Catholic church
of Aberdeen. The popular state chap
lain of the A. O.. H. was accorded a
splendid farewell, an account Of which
is published in the Flandreau Herald
as follows:
'"To the individual there is no keener
pleasure than that arising from the
work we'll done, whether it is in the
discharge of business or professional
duties, in the counting room, in relig-
ious work, or in the turning Of a SEN
tence.
"No matter what that work may be,
whether in the humblest occupations
or in the highest professional work, lie
who does it to the best of his ability
finds that joy SO truly portrayed in the
words of the Divine Master, We'll
done, thou good and faithful servant
''To none may these words be more
fifty applied than to the Rev. Michael
Dermody, pastor of Flandreau, who
concluded his pastorate of six years
last Sunday morning. pastorate most
fruitful in it's spiritual and temporal
success.
"His genial presence ndkindly man.
her Won the hearts of all from his very
advent into the parish, and his earn
estness and fidelity in the discharge
of his priestly duties strengthened the
bonds of love and affection until it
conld be truly said that priest and
people had but 'one heart and one
soul.' There was no interest, however
trivial it might seem, affecting the
spiritual or temporal good of his par
ishioners, but what his enlightened
zeal and practical Judgment turned to
the best advantages; and all, old and
young, rich and poor, found him at all
times truly a father.
"Gifted with the highest social quail
tiles, sound constitution, and an un-
tiring energy he loved to labor for his
people, and counted no toll too great
that made for the happiness and bet
terment of his parish.
ga temperance society, embracing
in it's membership two-thirds or more
of his people, Married Mems and La
dies Sodality, an Altar Society, and
above all his great labor of love, the
Children's Classes-all admirably Or
ganized, bespcak his zeal and devo-
tioness, and have made his parish one
of the best in the diocease.
"Ever the patriot as we'll as the
priest, four years ago he organized the
fraternal and benevolent organization
of the Ancient Order Of Hibernians
1t has now membership Of forty.
"Ever the model Of devotion to his
priestly duties, his people found him
their exempler as we'll as guide, and
were not his modesty as great as his
worth, he could, with the Great Apos-
tie Of the Gentiles, say to them, BE
ye imitators of me, as am Of Christ
Besides the esteem in which he
was held by his own people, he en-
joyed the unqualified respect and con-
fidence Of those not of his faith as
scholar, man of high character, toler-
ant, and devoted to the welfare of the
community. His departure from Flan-
dreau was regarded by all as a public
loss, tempered only by the satisfac-
tion that to well done, thou good and
faithful servant his promotion to the
important pastorate of Aberdeen was
a veridcation Of the words, because
thou hast been faithful over few
things I will set thee over many
"OH Monday afternoon and evening.
August Goth, almost the entire popula-
tion Of Flandreau and the surround
ing country rendered farewell recep-
tion to the reverend gentleman. The
exercises We're held on the spacious
lawn adjoining the church and resi-
dence, and Catholic and nom Catholic
We'd with one another in paying him
their tributes Of respect and affection.
Addresses wer made by Prof. p. NJ
Lawrence, Hon. Geo. Rice, Hon. John
p. Kelley, DR.. F. A. spafford, chair
man State Board of Regents, and Hon.
Edward Jordan. In concluding his
address Mr.. Jordan presented the Rev.
Father with solid gold watch and X
G. charm-the gift of the people of
Flandreau and vicinity.
tNT,l,n laIqana - 81, "a =. .a.1, J, ..,,,,ys