The Irish standard., 1908-01-18

to make way for the new gray stone
Gothic building which now stands at
the corner of Tenth and G streets
northwest. The church in the heart of
the business district, is now monu-
ment of architectural beauty.
The improvements planned by DIR.
Stafford were completed early in the
fall of 1904 and the new rcctory was
dedicated Sunday. Nov. 20, 1904. The
friendship Of both President Mckinley
and President Roosevelt for deceased
was we'll known. When the buildings
were dedicated President Roosevelt at
the new rcctory with Cardinal Gibbons
and other civic and religious dignitar-
les. The gathering was one of the
largest of the kind ever seen in WASH
ington, some thirty thousand people
filling the space for three or four blocks
at the intersection of Tenth and G
streets. Tho demonstration at the an
pearancc of President Roosevelt with
Cardinal Gibbons and DR.. Stafford was
a memorable one.
1t was not only by preaching and lee
turing that DIR. Stafford acquired such
Il hold upon the people. Devoted to ed
ucation, his first act when appointed
open the girls school. ST. Vincenrs
Academy. lie also established the
Perpetual Alteration Society. BY the
union of st. Vincent's and ST Jo-
scph's schools in the handsome Gothic
structure more than four hundred pu-
pills are now accommodated. For years
cd why ST. Patrick's should be spirc-
, less. About a year ago the announce
nlent was made that the fine group of
Gothic buildings would be still fur
ther beautitied by the addition of a
| towering spire to the church. DIR. Staf-
ford was deeply Interested in this
when he was stricken. His congrega-
tlon will probably carry the work for
word TO completion as u monument to
his memory.
DR. Stafford was known the whole
country over as Il Shakespearcan stu
dent ana lecturer. In answer to the
question, When did you begin the stu
dy of Shakespeare? DIR. Stafford re-
spondcd: 81 don't know. AS IL small
boy and all during my college course
on rainy days, or when I had the blues
| took refuge in the great bard and let
my class matter go, often until exam
nation. I found him ever consoling,
and gradually he became my Wade Mo
cum. | began to lecture the very year
of my ordination and / have lectured
| ever since. first took some general
subjects on religion, philosophy and sci
encc. but began Shakespeare the first
year. l prepared my Hamlet lecture in
% tcW days; a committee came TO me
in Baltimore and told me a lecturer had
disappointed them, and they asked if
[ would help them out. I said, Gentle
men, this is short notice, but am fair
~ familiar with Hamlet, and il that
Will suit you | will give you what
commentary I can and read some of
the text. They said that would be
Just the thing. The Hamlet lecture.
which I delivered in many cities af-
tcrward, grew. but was never essential
~ changed
1t is well known that Dr. Stafrord's
success on the platform was phenome-
nal. But perhaps the most remark
able feature of it was that-tlat in a
city where he had been preaching
constantly for ten years, and where
nc had been lecturing for nearly twen-
ty years, he still commanded the large
| and representative audiences possible
to gather in his city. Outside the city
nc had taken only a very limited num-
Der of engagements, and had COM
mandcd the highest price of any lee
turer on the platform.
| If DIR. Stafford had wished it, he
could have been Il wealthy man. One
OF the greatest theatrical firms in the
country offered him $4,000 a year to
bind himself by contract to lecture
for 1T, but he refused DIR. Stafford's
devotion to tho work of tho parish in
the connections mentioned had deter
red him time and again from accent
ing alluring offers that would have
taken him from it. To all of these
his answer was always decided
| negative.
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