The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-21
Eloquent Priest of Springfield, Mass. Sways|
 Gathering at POli's Theatre.
Mayor Buckingham s Tribute to Father Nihill Introducing the Orator at Lecture and Concert of St. Patrick's ParisIl==NeW Church to be Completed by Fall of Next Year.

na, young Catholic priest of Spring field, Mass, as the speaker at the lec-
 ture and concert of St. Patrick's par ish at Polls last night, Mayor Buck 1ngham announced that it is now plan ned to have the new church of the
 parish completed by the fall Of next
 year. He paid Q high tribute to Rev.
 Father J. B. Nihill, pastor of the
 church, saying he was pleased to have
 an opportunity to publicly pay his re- spects to him. He reminded the par lsh1oners of their debt of gratitude to their pastor and urged them to be ever mindful of their duty to help i him.
 Father Mckenna's lecture on Dan 1eI O'Connell was a most scholarly ef- fort. With the compelling eloquency of his oratory he held the big audi ence enthralled for nearly two hours, painting in brilliant word pictures the achievements of the great Irish pa- tr1Ot, and soaring to lofty OratOrical
 heights as he recalled the nobility of
 the distinguished Irishman. Frequent ly he was interrupted by storms of applause
 Included in the audience was a good ly representation of the local catholic clergy, while the theatre held a large number of strikingly attentive listen CTS, not alone from within the confines of St. Patrick's parish but from all parts of the city. Musical features preceded the lectures, among the art
 
 sic Murray, Mrs. E. J. O'Nein and several pupils of Mrs. O'Nein who sang with her: John Wilbur Dowd
 Introducing the speaker Mayor Buckingham said:
 It gives me pleasure to welcome you tricks parish and to thank you for your interest and support. As you know the proceeds from this enter .a139 tainment will go towards the amount church l trust that your future sup port for the same cause will be as gen
 On May B. 1890, the first shovefuI of dirt taken from site of church. On August B. 1890 the corner stone was laid and in the fall of 1911 the church itecturally second to none in the state. The City of Bridgeport feels proud of it's catholic edifces and will repoice with the members of St. Patrick's church home.
 Just a word to you who are mem debt of gratitude that you owe to Father Nihi1I, who is giving to you the best years of his life, making many sacrifices for the benefit of you for having a man of the character and ability of Father Nilin one of it's citizens and I am pleased to have the opportunity of publicly paying my re- SpectS to him.
 It is fitting that during the month when you celebrate St. Patrick's day land, that you should meet and dis cuss the character and accomplish ments of some Ireland's heroes and statesmen. Their examples of heroiSm and sacrifices sound down through the ages and are an inspiration for all to better things and be better men
 Such a man was Daniel O'Connell | whose memory we are honoring to- | night, scholar and statesman and pa triot ready to sacrifice all for his ] motherland- As we hear of his life 1 it sink deep into our hearts.
 Tonight we are fortunate in not only | having the opportunity of listening to the story of the life work of Daniel | O'Connell but of having it told by one | of the brilliant scholars and orators | from our sister state, Massachusetts. | We appreciate his presence here to- night It is an honor for me to in 1 -roduce to you Rev. Father M. J. Me Aenna from Springfield, Mass.
 teE fha stmoTt b ts fbst4nty er of his dominant personality. Gifted with a voice of peculiarly charming qualities, a natural orator, with strik ng histronic attachments, he sWayed lis audience from patriotic thrills to ears of sympathy as he recounted the various episodes of the life of O'Con- leu He recalled the tribute of Rob ert Taylor, the noted statesman of the south, who termed OConnell the ideal 1ero. Speaking of the birth of O'Con- tell in 1775 he said the famous Irish nan had made it his boast that he vas descended from Milesian royalty. How genuine or sincere that claim, act that he came of old Milesian ,tock of a family whose sons were .ver noted for their bitter hatred of he saxon.'' He told of O'Conne1l's
 will stir the world
 O'ConneIFs education was received n continental schools, the brutal act if 1860 having deprived Irish Catho- ics of the opportunity of owning land r receiving education. He was bril- iant in philosophy, law and meta. aw O'Connen was admitted to the utter bar, but was deprived of the op- ,ortunity of being a member of the nner bar. E'The young barrister sue eeded admirably'' said the speaker, fsing from the income of 50 pounds
 year to the remarkable income of i1ne he abandoned law to take up the ,attle for the civil and religious free om of Ireland. It was on the eve of 9S that O'Connen was admitted to the 'ar. Passing over the dark page of 98. he told of O'ConnelI's entry into he making of Irish history.
 arff era was of ner hstor9 F0ah ssd Villain Pitt. this high minded fellow, nanfully availing himself of the ragic outcome of the disturbances of he time planned a legislative union f the fatherland with Great Britain. 'arliament had convened for the third nd last time in 1900 and the excite 1ent among the people was intense. hey feared the time had come when he light of Irish liberty was to be l xtinguished. "A man by the mention of whose anne I dislike to po1lute my lips arose nd addressed the house on the order f the day. said Father Mckenna. yOrnn0Sad vote calling for the 1 erislative union of fatherland -it}, Great Britain That miserable