Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-05

AsSs' O1- ~ ". ShoAOi u.
the first floor DR.. Stafford went imme-
ately to his rooms and denied himself to
all callers
Promptly at o'clock an escort commit
tee assembled in the rectory hallway. This
committee comprised the executive COM
nlittee of fifty members and made a pic
tuTesque phalanX in evening dress as they
marched into the hall and advanced to the
stage to the strains of welcoming march
by section of the United States Marine
Band screened behind palms on the stage
When the head of the column of escort
reached the stage the men parted and made
a lane down which DR.. Stafford walked
As he started down this lane and an cleo
trio contrivance suspended in the center of
the stage blazoned forth Welcome Home"
demonstration lasting several minutes
was accorded the pastor. The hall was
prettily decorated for the occasion Stream
ers of the national and papal colors and
flags were draped about the stage and bal
cony, and the showing of palms was nota-
Bile both for the quantity used and the art
displayed in their arrangement.
Address of Welcome.
The speechmaking of The evening was
bright and interesting. There We're opening
selections by the orchestra, and Judge Maui
rice d. O'Connell, solicitor of the Treasury
Department. made an address of welcome
on behalf of the congregation. He spoke
in part follows:
II rejoice that I am the representative
and the mouthpiece of each and every mem
Der of this immense congregation There
is absolute harmony here-ali rejoice at
your coming-all join in bidding you well
come.
by your magnificent citizenship, by your
loyalty to the fag-the glorious stars and
stripes-and by your love of country, fire.
quently evidenced by your impassioned APP
peals, you have nobly done your part In the
great work of bringing together the people
of the whole country in devotion to the
Constitution and the flag, and especially
toward making the people of our faith con-
spicuous-as they should be-for their ex-
traordinary loyalty and love of country.
Your usefulness Is recognized outside as
well as in your church. | shall always re-
member the place you had IN the affections
of the gentle. noble and great Mckinley.
A few weeks before you were made pastor
of this church by our beloved cardinal
President Mckinley talked with me long
and earnestly about you He spoke of you
as affectionately as father would of a son
and referred to your magnificent work for
church and country. and expressed the
earnest hope that you would be given the
weli-earned and much-deserveG promotion.
The more exemplary We are in our lives,
and the more loyal we are TO the teachings
of the church, the greater will be our 10y
atty to our country. In other words the
better Catholic, the better citizen The
church is the greatest influence on the side
of good government and YOU DR.. Stafford,
are a power in this great work. We look
TO you as Il teacher ana iCaGeT. 1Ou serve
your church and your country. Your infiu-
ence in the church increases your worth to
the state.
I'VE look into the future with hopeful
ness. We know that if you are spared your
achievements will be greater than those of
| the past. We know that your success and
| the plaudits of the people VIII not spoil
| you. You will not become proud ard puffed
| up, but you will ever he the same dear,
kind considerable, helpful and tender
| hearted DIR. Stafford. whom We have all
| loved SO long and so dearly"
DR.. Harris Address.
| There was a selection by the choir, and
| then Dr. w. T. Harris, commissioner of ed
| ucation, spoke the pleasure il gave him
| to welcome DR.. Stafford on account of his
| many accomplishments in an educational
! sense ''In passing st. Patricks and its
| new buildings he said, 81 am always re-
| minded OF the real meaning of gothic archi-
| lecture which is to elevate the mind and
| raise 1t from things of earth to heavenly
thoughts. In thinking of this parish / have
| always recalled the history of st. Patrick
| who found the Celt entirely earthly. and
| by his preaching. life and example elevated
! them to the spirit life"
| Remarks by Mr.. West.
| Mr.. Henry Litchfeld West. District Com.
| missioner. addressed himself In a particu-
| larry interesting vein to the occasion and
| felicitated the congregation of st. Patrick
| upon the return of DR.. Stafford.
1T seems to me very appropriate" said
| Mfr. West. "for representative of the Dis
| trict government to participate tonight in
this welcome TO your beloved pastor AL
| men interested in good government mus
| appreciate and respect each and every
| agency that makes toward good citizenship
| and certainly of all these agencies the
| Christian church, speaking in broad an6
| unGenominational sense. IS the most effect
| i've. In addition to this, the occasion to-
| night appeals to me because 1t demonstrates
| the close and cordial relations between ths
| pastor and his congregation. In other
words, that Dr. Stafford is to you some.
| thing more than a mere minister, that he /.
regarded by you your friend and counsel,
lor. and that he worthily bears the name q
father. / am united to make u religious