Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-10

noblest works known to man. His
 model, his ideal is the great high priest, Jesus Christ. The priest la
 bors with but single thought, to procure Gods glory and the sanctifi- cation of souls, with no hope of re- ward other than the blessing of God and the approval of a good con science, and in the end life everlast- ing.
 With what fullness do not these characteristics fit into the life of your pastor. An unblemished priest ly career. zeal that never flags, a piety that leads to heroic deeds of charity-his life stands the embodi- ment of priestly excellence. With an eloqrence rarely surpassed, his voice has ever been raised in the cause of God and country. With the torch of faith borne aloft, he has ever rallied his people in faithful service to God and the practice of every ennobling virtue.
 That his labors should receive the recognition and approval of the right reverend bishop, that unsought and unsolicited this great honor should come to him, must be this day his chiefest joy. And yet the joy of this occasion is tinged with a shade of sadness. for one cannot reflect upon the gift without recalling the kindness of the donor. And our holy father, whose loving and tender kind ness has vouchsafed to us this days joy and glory. is at this time over whelmed with the deepest solicitude for unhappy France. It may not be amiss 10 remark that what adds, in our minds. unpleasantness to this cir cumstanee is disposition on the part of too many in our land to misrepre- sent facts and 10 misjudge our holy fathers motives.
 The causes which underle pres ent conditions in France are mani fold and will not be discovered by superficial observers who show them- selves to have been poor students of that country's history. But what ever the causes are. and many of them are not to the credit of the French people. the motives which actuate the present leaders in their antagonism to the Catholic church are clearly discernible. and give no man of ordinary Insight and Chris tian feeling an excuse for what seems to he deliberate misrepresenta- ton. The very foundations of Chris tianiiy are assailed. and the poor de- iuded creatures. who overlook the over-rullng providence of God. i'm agine that victory is already theirs. The Christ hater will ye: be com pelled 10 exclaim. 'Nazarine. thou hast conquered,' In the meantime. this outburst of diabolical fury will only serve to bring out in bolder re- lief the devoted loyalty and ilial af- lection of Catholics throughout the world to the head of the church."
 Father Treanor said it is d great source of joy to the Catholics of Wa terbury and the diocese with thesr constantly increasing numbers to have this honor conferred uron one of their priests. He reviewed. the growth of the churches in the state and then said that after going all ov- CT the diocese one returns lovingly to Waterbury. th's working mans paradise. and finds 1t strolgtr in the faith than any place else. conse quenfiy be knew of no place better fitted to receive the honor. He paid a haudssme tribute 10 the early pas tors of this town called attention to how deep rooted the foundation work of the ci.urrh was laid and how strongly each one sfser the other had Iabcred- co that there was nothing wanting in spiritual prosperity. Af- ter an acquaintance with Monssgnor slocum of sbout thirty years the speaker sasd thst he could enter into fh~ spirit of this occasion vi;h the peopIe of Waterbury and joia In ex- feadins csngrs:uIsf'ons 70 the:r worfhS paDlof, and hoDgd that the