The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-05
THE LATE. REV. TIMOTHY R. SWEENEY

4 ward promoted to Portland and fn- ally to this parish. Whilst he exer- cfsed the ministry here and in Part land he was active, energetic, and jealous in fulfilling his duties as member of the diocesan school board
 '"The law of truth was in his mouth, and he turned many from iniquity. The office of the Christian priesthood is to continue Christ in the world, to win the-ghunaan. race to remember him and to. follow him. Christ has given his priests certain gifts and powerss to this purpose. He has bestowed o11 them power to teach. There could be no. divine ministry without the gift of sure and certain teaching. With the gift sof the Word of Go d. with which they are endowed, priests will always move the world, and in a sense control the world. That Word of God will be in the future, as in the past stronger than armies, a fire to. burn, hammer to break. That word began amid the miracles of Pen. tecost. It grew and spread in the power of it's inherent. gifts, and it ex- 1stS to-day in the undiminished wig or of it's divine prerogatfves. On the day of Pentecost this new force, not allowed for in earthly science, was added to the motive forces of the uni verse This noble power, exercised by the Apostles and their successors, attacked and overthrow the rooted power of organism, extinguished heather philosophy and presurnptuous heresy, disciplined barbarous peoples, and laid the foundations of the great est nations of the world.
 Father Sweeney valued the power of the gift of teaching Whilst not aiming at the oratortcal, he was a good instructor, and in the days of his health, he was assiduous in informing the minds and directing the wills of his people, to know God and to serve Him. At my last conversation with him about two months ago, when he was unable to ascend the few steps of the front porch of his house, he ex- pressed the wish that he would soon be able to address his people from the pulpit. He walked with God in peace and justice. He trusted men, he trusted everybody. He was without whom our Lord eulogized for his sim pIicity of heart.
 EE-e was a stranger to the ways of the world, unsophisticated in the sense that he did not easily suspect evil. The day came when he found that the world was not as honest nor as guile less as he supposed. He, in time, dis covered that deceit, selishness bick- erfng, imposition, were the spirit of the day, and it was a. shock to him His whole demeanOr changed into marked reserve, that made him in a measure exclusive, and secretive He loved peace and abhorred conflict. and was ingenious in extricating himself from situations that bristled with troubIe.$ He was a manly man, a cour-. ageous priest, and when circumstan- ces demanded, he was inf1exible in his attitude against that which was base. He was most forgiving, and dismissed firm his mind and speech incidents that offended him. He 1ov- ed justice. <, He twas just, fair and equitable. The claims of the unjust had no favor with him. He defend ed the rights of the weak, was partial to none, but fair and just to all, in fexib4e in maintaining right. He was above parties. above individual or lo- cal interests, unInoved by transient ad- vantage or personal interest.
 His love of peace sprang from his kindness of heart, which was mani fest in his bright smile, warm hand shake, and hearty tone of voice. It was not the greeting of worldly poll itician, whose affa bil1ty is selfish, but the disinterested good will of an hon. est man and 9 devoted priest, who loved his fellow men. The kfndest men are most sensitive to kindness. The smallest act of kindness exercised in his favor was appreciated highly. His face frightened, his voice deepen ed with feeling, as he told of some little act of thoughtfulness, cons1dera- ton or courtesy, which had been be-