Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-04-30

We believe that god who promised
to always abide with his church,
made manifest the efficacy of that
promise in an especial manner when
he guided the hand of your vener-
able Bishop in your selection for this
work.
Churches sprung up as if by mag
ic. The message of the gospel of
Christ was carried to every nook and
corner of this parish. The material
advancement of the Church and the
spiritual growth of the people went
hand in hand, until now after four
teen years of labor we can point to a
measure of progress, which believe,
everything considered, has not been
surpassed in any parish in Penn
sylvania.
This beautiful editice in which we
are assembled this evening, erected
to the greater glory of God, will, we
trust remain to future generations to
perpetuate your memory and attest
your zeal in the cause of religion and
virtue. This magnificent church pro-
perty here in Mildred, equaled by
few, excelled by none in rural com
munities in this Diocese, is, under
the guidance of Heaven, largely of
your creation. The splendid little
mission church in my own town of
Laporte, the joy and pride of our
Catholic people and the admira-
ton of non-Cathollcs, owes its exist
ence in so great degree to your la.
Dor, that all regard it as your very
own. The Chapel at Lopez provides
admirably for the spiritual needs of
the people in that community
All this has been accomplished to
provide for the material needs of the
parish in the short space of fourteen
years and, what lis better still, all
this property is free from indebted
ness. If we consider this question
merely from the material standpoint,
from the standpoint of business ac-
uman and business success, your
work has been remarkable. But far
be it from us to measure your work
by any such standard, With
intellect Illuminated by faitA and
love, you saw in the beginning what
we all realize now, that the doing of
the work that pertains to the ma
terial side of the Church would a
waken and.guicken our zeal along
spiritual lines. These beautiful
churches are the means, the avenues
that brings souls nearer to God
and stimulate desire to love and
serve him. every instrumentality of
the church has been used by you for
our advancement. Sunday schools,
Church Societies and every other
means of winning souls to God have
been provided for our benefit.
You have counseled the weak, pro
couraged the despondent, borne
with the thoughtl+ss, stimulated
the Indifferent and approved the
Jealous with equal success. You
have mingled with us in social inter
course and comforted us in sickness.
You have thrown around the baptis.
NAL font and the marriage alter, the
halo Of sanctity. You have brought
to the poor departing soul the consol.
alton of our holy religion. You have
poured balm into hearts crushed un.
der the weight of affliction: and
bound up the cruel wounds. In
short, you have been to u- not only
our Priest, but also our leader, our
counselor, our friend.
Nor has the influence of your work
and charm of your personality been
confined to the members of your
| flock. Throughout the entire section,
regardless of creed, your character
and conduct has been an influence
for good. Without any sacrifice OF
your convictions or of the dignity
that becomes priest Of God. you
have treated all with uniform kind
ness and consideration. You have
won the appreciation and esteem Of
this entire community.
To accomplish so much good in
the space Of fourteen years has beer
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