Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-04-30
MAGNIFICENT
TESTIMONIAL
GIVEN TO FATHER ENRIGHT

GIVEN TO FATHER ENRIGHT.
Wednesday evening, April 22nd.
witnessed a beautiful ceremony at
the Hall of st. Francis Church at
Mildred. The members of the par
ish, which includes Mildred, Bernice,
Murry, Lopez, Laporte, Muncy
Valley and intermediate places, pre-
sented to their pastor, Father j. A.
Enright One Thousand Dollars in
gold as testimonial of the high es-
TEEN In which he is held by his peo-
pie and the entire community. a
committee of gentlemen of the par
ish had the matter in charge, and
did their work so quietly that Father
Enright was completely taken by
surprise.
The Hall was beautifully decorat
ell with flags and bunting and was
packed with an audience represent
ing the entire parish and also num-
ber from Dushore, Towanda and
othes places. The members of the
Committee occupied seats on the plat
form, and, wnen everything was in
readiness, IA committee was detailed
to invite Father Enright to the Hall.
Upon his arrival T. V. Mclaughlin,
Esq, Chairman, opened the meeting
in Il few well chosen words and, in
his happy vein. introduced f. j.
Mullen, Esq, of Laporte, who made
the presentation address. Father
Enright responded feelingly to the
magnificent testimonial of the love
and esteem in which he is held by
the congregation. He reviewed his
in Sullivan County and
said that he had always found warm
friends and supporters both in his
and in the community
generally. Addresses were also de-
livered by Reverend =. j. Enright
of Gowanda, n. y. and Michael En-
right Esq, of Allegheny n. ",
brothers of the pastor. Reverend
Father Joachim of st. Bonaventure's
College, Allegheny n. y. Father
alma mater, also respond
ed in a happy manner. The exer-
cises We're enlivened by delightful
music by Clancey's Orchestra of
Towanda, Pa. and concluded with
Il reception and banquet provided by
the ladies of the parish. All present
were much edited by the manifest
ations of affections existing between
Father Enright and the people
among whom he has labored for the
past fourteen years. 1t was an oc-
casion that will be long remembered
by all concerned, and speaks elo-
quently of the ability and zeal with
which Father Enright has labored
during his pastorate in this County.
In presenting the gift Mr.. Mullen
spoke in part as follows:
Dear Father Enright:
] have been selected this evening
to perform task which affords me
great pleasure. 1t also brings
forciably to my mind a sense of my
inability to do justice to the occasion
In our relation of pastor and flock,
it has been your province to instruct
and ours to listen, yours to direct
and ours to obey. On this happy oc-
casion we have decided to reverse
the usual order of things, and, for
once have our say.
We who have sat at your feet and
received the consolation of our holy
religion through your ministry dur
ing the past fourteen years, feel that
1t is fitting that we should be per-
lnitted in our feeble way to express
in some measure our deep feeling of
appreciation of your zeal in the cause
of the salvation of souls and in the
up building and promotion of all
| that is best in this community.
| What were the conditions in this
parish in 1894? There We're three
communities in which quite mum.
ber Of catholics resided. Bernice,
Lopez, and Laporte. The popu.
la.ion of these towns from the nature
of iri.Id ustries, was to a great ex