The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-12-30
In Reminiscent Sermon he Contrasts
Present Conditions With Those
of Fifty Years Ago.
Not One Priest Now Living Who Was
Present at his Ordination,
Dec. 21, 1861.
Rejoices Because the Vast Changes
Have Seen the Church Keep
Pace With the State


At the Cathedral in ST. Paul last
Sunday Archbishop ireland, in SER
mon which contained a stirring trib-
ute to the Church and the people of
st. Paul and the Northwest, gave his
reasons why he did not desire a gen
eral celebration of his golden jubilee
in the priesthood. He also told the
sentiments that were his when Bishop
Grace ordained him. 1t was a re-
markable coincidence that the arch
bishop should give his sermon in the
same place he was made priest
half century ago, and that at this time
he is the prime factor in the building
OF two MAGNIFICENT churches in the
Twin City-the new cathedral in ST.
Paul and the Procathedral in Mime
apols.
He spoke of the men and women Of
the early days with feeling, and while
perhaps only few of the parishioners
at the time he was ordained were pres
ent, many of their sons and daughters
e.and grandchildren were there.
r. There comes u time in every ones
life when he wants to look back in
retrospection on his past" said the
j ..9I,ast Elhnrsaa% vas II g
GAIi.- 49, a.ly y. my OrGinaCl04l
to the priesthood. My reasons for not
wishing any demonstration in honor of
the event were many, but chiefly the
day was too sacred to me, and wish
ed to cherish memories of days long
gone, when as young levite l knelt
at yonder altar and with the hand Of
Bishop Grace on my head took the
VOWS which day by day and year by
year since that time I have tried to
keep sacred.
ut was day never to be forgotten; !;
the Cathedral was crowded, and if the
, flush of pride came to my cheeks at
that time we'll remember the faith
full parishioners with faces upturned
10 heaven, probably with a prayer for
the young priest who that day took
the VOWS.
Few of Old Parish Remain.
GAS 1 say, the Cathedral, which at
that time was considered a magnificent
building, was crowded, and today We're
1 to try to gather all who are alive to
attend the services scarcely two score,
l venture to say, would answer the
call, for most of them have gone to
their reward.
"Of all of the priests at the altar
that memorable day not one remains
besides myself. Father Oster, the last
of the three who were present, laid
down his earthly ]abors year ago."
The Archbishop then turned to the
qualities of manhood and WOmanhood
in the people of st. Paul fifty years
ago. He told of the work done by less
than twenty families which helped
build the little log chapel.
THAT chapel cost about $75," saic
the archbishop, land when it is con
sidered what an enormous amount /,
was at that time, we Of this present
generation may we'll look back with
pride to the early settlers of st. Paul
Later, when this Cathedral was built
at cost of something like $4,000, the
people considered it wonderful build
ing-and it was. 1 love it and l love
the people whose generosity helped tt
erect IT, Soon these walls will sinh
into oblivion for the more magnlf1cen
cathedral being erected on the Hi
hard by, and want you to hurry along
the work of completing that building
The Archbishop spoke for nearly al
hour on the subject nearest his heart
and while he lauded the work OF tht
early Catholics in Minnesota, he alst
paid tribute to the people OF othel
faiths.
He told Of the stirring times OF tn
Civil war and of the vastness of Amer
lean resources, declaring that the on
great fact for which he was gratetu
was that the Church had kept pac
with the advancement Of the counO.
in secular lines.
Tribute to Early Priests.
minnesota in those early days wa
a vast wilderness Of forest and prairie