The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-02
FATHER COYLE IS
 WARMLY GREETED Reception in Honor of Popular
 Pastors Return LARGE CROWD ATTENDS  Members of st. Paui's Congregation Present Purse and Members of Syrian Congregation Present
 Beautiful Loving Cup
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS

Coyle, pastor of St, Pauls church, held last night in Knights of Columbus hall, was a happy affair. Father Coyle re- turned this week after a three months absence abroad and parishioners and others who gathered to greet him filled all the seats in the spacious assembly room.
 The popular priest was presented with purse which was said to contain a goodly sum, contributed by members of resolutions of appreciation by St. Elias congregation, composed of Syrians. The resolutions were written originally in Arabic and were then translated into choice English and elegantly framed.
 Mir E. Linnehan, state president of the heard of Birmingham Council No. 6S5, Knights of Columbus, was chairman of the occasion and presided with character istic vim and Hibernian wit. Seated on the platform with him were the Rev. Father O'Gallagher acting pastor of St. Paurs during Father Coyles' absence; the Rev. Father Coen, the new assistant at St. Paurs; the Rev. Father Kltrick, ps stor of St Alyosus church, Bessemer; the Rev Father Lawrence. O. $. B., of St. Bernard abbey; the Rev. Father Bel lama, hailing from far away Mount Lebanon, but now pastor of St. Elias church in this city; Sterling A. Wood, Dr. H. A. Elkourie, Hugh McGeever and others. Near the stage sat large dep utation of Syrians.
 MT Linnehan after short introduction in which he paid a glowing tribute to old Ireland and Father Coyle as son of the Emerald Isle, said:
 T feel highly honored at being select ed chairman of the meeting on this great occasion, and while 1t is only my duty to present to you the speakers who have come prepared to give our pastor a fitting welcome, yet I desire to give. express sion to a few of the thoughts that are in my heart When I read in the daily papers this week that our pastor had returned I experienced a thrill of joy that l know was shared by every person in this com munity. and I am sure that all here join with me in congratulating our pastor on his safe return. and in bidding him a hearty and cordial welcome not only as our pastor and a priest, but also as man of sterling worth and grand charac- ter.
 "In addition to the honor of being select ed chairman of this meeting I have the double honor of extending a welcome in behalf of the greatest Irish Catholic or ganization in the world, the Ancient or der of Hibernians and ladies auxiliary and of the largest and most influential Catholic society on the American conti- nent. the Knights of Columbus.
 "As state president of the A. O. H. it gives me great pleasure to welcome Father Coyle. I do not know that he is a member of our order, but I do know that the order never had a better friend in this section.
 "On every occasion where advice or as- sistance was needed it has been most cheerfully given, and from the first day that he arrived in this parish he has con- tributed much to the success of all of our entertainments and public affairs. I am sure that every member of the order throughout the state joins me in extend- ing him a warm welcome.
 q desire to extend a special welcome on behalf of Birmingham council, Knights of Columbus, to our beloved chaplain. It is said that we never prize thing un- til 1t is lost, and it Is the same with our friends. never fully realized what help and assistance it was to have our reverend chaplain present at our meetings until his chair at my right became temporarily va cant: and I am certain of one thing to- night, and that is that not only the mem- bers of Birmingham council, but of every knight throughout the southland re- ioices with me at his safe return and joins me in extending a cordial and knightly welcome In conclusion I would say to Father Coyle In the words of the old Irish toast
 Come in the evening, or come in the
 morning,
 Come when you're looked for or come
 without warning;
 Ten thousand welcomes you'll find here
 before you.
 And the oftener you'll come here
 And the longer you'll stay here the more
 we'll adore you
 The Rev Father Gallagher was then called upon for an address and in a five minute talk spoke eloquently of St. Paul s parish and of the beloved pastor.
 Mr Wood was next on the programme. t.1- 1,,tx, to ho purse, which he did In felicitous phrases. Next came Dr. Elkourie, In behalf of the Syrians, who presented the loving cup and the resolutions. His speech was re- garded as one of rare eloquence. His appreciation of Father Coyle was from the heart, and his reference to his coun. trymen, the Syrians, sons of the east, loyal ever to Holy Mother, the church, was at once animating and tender. Dr. Elkourie said that by a mistake in copying the resolutions Father Coyle was styled "Right Rev. the prefix title of a bishop This episcopal title was payfully alluded to by Father Kitrick. MT. Mo Geever and others as prophetic. Father Coyle, in rising to respond to the kind sentiments of greeting and to ac Knowledge the gifts, said he had never been so embarrassed or affected in all his fife.
 Not q tenth that has been spoNan o
 ne in .ulogy here tonight is true sait | Father Coyle When Father O'Rielly or blessed memory, was called to his re ward our bishop selected me to becom' pastor of St. Pauls. I was professor