The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-22

an arrangement that proved an cf-
fectual restrain upon future invita-
tions." though he still had more than
he could accept. 1t is safe to say
that no clergyman, whether native or
foreign. contributed SO much to the
Catholic charities and to the material
interests of the Church in the United
States as did Father Tom Burke; and
yet when Father Flood, now Archbisl-
op of Trinidad. came to solicit dona-
tions to the Memorial Church at Tai
| laght, lie was refused q permission
! which was granted to others who had
no claims whatever on tho Irish Cath
olics of America. Ingratitude is not
an engaging vice. There was a world
of well-merited rcproach in the SIM
Pile query: "Where are tho nine?'
AS has ben said already, Father
| Burke's first care was the mission OH
which he had been sent to this couu-
try. After resting some days. hs
| opened his visitation in the Convent
or ST. Vincent Ferrer. He remained
| III New York II few weeks. during
| which lie preached a couple or casual
| sermons. and he then went west by
way OF Washington, arriving. at Som !.
ersct, Ohio. on the evening OF t.la
eighth OF November, 1871. On tho
| very night OF his arrival he was des-
In rvjvo r1f S,,,S, ~.s,t,
| exhibition OF his wonderful readiness
as IL speaker. At the close of night
prayers it was found that the book OF
| mcditations had been mislaid, where
upon Father Burllo whispered to tl,e
Prior: "Ncvcr mind the book; Til give
out tho meditation" Ho paused for Il
moment and then said: ",Tomorrow.
my dear brothers, wo celebrate the
| Feast OF All Saints OF our Order. Tile
Church proposes these saints to us for
our cdficatioll, for our ENCOURAGEMENT,
and for our imitation;" and he pro-
cccdcd to develop these three points
into a meditation as finished in every
respect AS If lie had devoted a week
to it's preparation. 10 many a man is
"drcary platitudes" "ad infinitum"
and "ad nauseum," but the gift which
Father Burke possessed Of extempor-
izing a. mastery discourse was close
ly akin to inspiration.
Ills first notable preaching ia Anler-
ic;l was at a mission in Columbus,
Ohio. Bishop Rosecrans then resided
at ST. Patricks, and he asked tho Do
nlinican Fathers TO give a mission in
Ills cathedral. Father Burke delivered
the night sermons, except on few
occasions when lie lectured at Naush-
ten Hall, which was then used as a.
pro-calhedral. The mission opened on
the Feast OF the Immaculate Concep-
ton, and at the solemn Eigh Mass
Father Burke preached on the Feas-.
The better to hear the preacher, tta
Bishop went to tho gallery, where he
it's close, and then turning to the priest
beside him, he said: "My, 0 my! What
a gift! What a giit." The circum-
stance was deserving OF mention, for
there were few men in the American
hierarchy better qualified to pronounce
on the worth of discourse than Bish-
op Rosecrans. - p
Having finished the visitation OF the
Province, Father Burke assembled the
superiors Of the different houses in
council at ST.. Joseph's. Somerset; Ohio, y.
and having preached \ retreat, ths,
memory Of which IL still cherished by;
those who were privileged to attend It'll
he laid before the Fathers the recom- L
mendations suggested by his visitation.
Chief among these was a strict adj
herence to the fundamentals Of the y
religious life Father Burke was far
from being a rigorist; indeed it mas
AZ.