The Detroit times., 1910-12-19


with these words the Rev. John
tConnolly. pastor of the Church OF the
4 4 Blessed Sacrament, Woodward and
}Belmontaves., closed most impress
siye eulogy on Thomas j. Navin, in
<Iconnection with the funeral services
1 |for Mr.. Navin in SIS. Peter and Pauls
1 icathedral, Adelaide and John R.-sts.r
morning. Mr.. Navin was a
member of FIR. Connollys congrega
and the priest spoke feelingly OF
him as a parishioner, public and
man, emphasizing that Mr.
/ Navin had to die TO be appreciated
kIFr. Connolly based his sermon on the
II am the resurrection and the
Ef1isht," etc.
.The Church of God is the -esur.
Erection and the light" said FIR. Con.
<nolly. land he who believes in the
Bleaching is assured of everlasting
kflife. When Thomas ]. Navin came
into the church for baptism over 80
*|years ago he asked, through his god
kjparents. for faith. Today marks the
end OF his career, and Mr.. Navin has
ktEone TO his reward for the keeping OF
X 1.-THE faith for which he asked. But
this ceremony is for the living as well
Jas the dead. The ceremony should
f'teach the living that faith will give
s'them the sainthood which God has
prepared for them. To be faithful TO
the church OF God is the lesson that
1--we should learn from the text and the
N ceremony here this morning.
Many tender recollections creep in
K on us on an occasion of this kind, the
thoughts of friend, true and loyal
ito the core. Such a man was the de-
(. parted, Tom Navin. But il is not my
purpose to eulogize him this morning,
Tor I feel just how hollow words are
when used in cases of this kind. |
might picture him in many lights. |
might picture him as true husband,
X friend and loyal citizen, always on
hand when duty called him and ever
4 faithful. looking diligently after the
welfare and wants OF those whom he
loved. | might picture him as a mas
ter mind. | might tell how he bore
others burdens, and | might tell you
of his many other good qualities. But,
after all, the warmth of the big heart
\ he possessed and three words from
his voice would have told you a story
much more eloquent.
Il might also tell you of his religion
which he loved Next to his God, he
loved his country. Then | could tell
Z you of incidents which would show
YOU the great loss We have sustained
Z In the death of Mr.. Navin. He was
most loyal TO his country. He loved
the land of his forefathers, much bet.
ter, in fact, than some people OF the
present day. The devotion he had for
B his fatherland and the land in which
he lived beggars description. But, as
III have said, all that ! might tell you
would only deepen the sorrow we now
feel This vast concourse of people
2 here tells the story much more strong
fly than | might tell it. Tom Navin
X had to die to be appreciated. He new
err received the tributes he deserved
while living.
I'VE have now heaped his casket
B with flowers. Why do we wait until
people are dead before extolling their
& good points? Let us tell them the
4 truth while they are living.
But Tom Navin's faith tells us he
I is not dead. His influence will go
,on-his spirit still lives. Men who
have become famous for books they
have written, or something of that
sort, have been forgotten, but men
who find their way into human hearts
never die-their memory is never
lost Tom Navin lived for others. He
Feared not what the world thought Of
him. He was a man whose faith was
ktrue and his thought was ever, How
Ican l give my fellowmen a deeper
faith in Almighty God? He had
mission here and during the past
1quarter OF a century, which he spent
an Detroit, he has builded family al
itars and been an angel of faith to
Imany. His vivid realization of the
pupernatural was the ground tone OF
his life.
Tom Navin has now gone TO an
fother world, where he is happy That
promise he received at his baptism,
promise that his faith would give
him life everlasting, has been ful-
niled. He now wears a truer crown
IMAM any we could give him crown
EW immortality. No man of charity
y <en go wrong. There is no doubt but
mat he got a true welcome when he
= met his God.
Let us thank God that we had tho
privilege TO have lived with Ten,
Navfn. IL was an edification To see
MN taking holy communion. A
s. great and true man has really gone
from us. Let us pray that we may
be worthy of the legacy he has left
e us, the legacy of faith. We Irishmen
NJ and sons of Irishmen, let us live az
n Tom Navin did, true to our God and
4 faithful to the land of our forefathers
andsthe land in which We live. Then
We Will be prepared TO meet our
Cod
The Rev. FIR. Connolly was assisted
4 by the following clergymen i'm cele
brating solemn requiem high mass
K The Rev. FIR. ,Dwan, of Gagetown
the Rev. FIR. Dooling, OF BEDFORD, and
the Rev. FIR. Halfpenny. of st Eliza
beth's church. in this city, all OF whom
( we're cousins of the deceased; and
3 Rev. Il. j. Mccormick. J. r. Command
Ih9mas J. Ryan, Pontiac; Thomas
X. Hally, Milford; T.. A.
t1spes. Manchester. Very Rev. NJ
.Dempsey, NJ j. Farrell. John
Linsky,, w. ID. Henigan. n.
~ sievin, =. j., III. ID. Sullivan,
Aortan; NJ. j. Crowley, Monroe;
(. Francis Beccherini, J. A. Kessler
James Stapleton. Emmett Van Dyke
md Joseph Casey. of st. Louis. Mo.
lormerly OF Fort Wayne. =
The music was OF an especially
<o4ufui character The double
IHrttt OF the church was assisted by
y knights OF Columbus Choral so