The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-05


 F Subjoined is the eu1ogy of Rev. T. R. Sweeney, delivered at the obsequies to-day at the Church of the Sacred Heart by Rev Walter J. ShanIey, DID. irremovable rector of St. Peters, Dan bury
 { .s My covenant was with him in life and peace. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and justice, and turned many away from iniquity-' Malach. i-5.s 4 t"This is the inspired eulogy of the High Priest Levi, the head of the priesthood of the Old Law, pronounc- ed by the prophet Ma1achias. It is a summary of his life, and indicates the source of his greatness, and the secret of his s1.tseess.g fT T 4
 Tine Eternal Wisdom of God was with him. keeping him in peace and equity and endoWfng him with power to turn many from iniduity. He whose death we mourn to-day, whose memory we respect by our presence ath is obsequies, was a priest with whom the Lord made a covenant, on whose lips was the law of truth, whose speech had no mark of iniQuity, who walked before the Lord in peace and Justice. whose 1aibors were fraught with abundant fruits, in the many souls whom he turned from iniquity, and gave the .knOw1 edge of holy Ln1ngS- ana GOnGuC16d through T18hL ways to everlasting glory. The Lord made a covenant with him in his youth, called him to serve in the ranks of the priesthood in his tender years, before the world could make it's im- press on his soul or mark his charac- ter. He heard the divine voice and responded with ardor, enthusiasm and generosity.
 fsThe Catholic priest is according to the order of Melchisedech, of whom 1t is written, The was without father or mother without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life .,
 .4rhe Church takes the candidates for her ministry from their homes, from parentss relatives and friends, brings them into place apart, where for many long years, she trains them to serve in the sanctuary, teaches them the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, and proves them by many tests, before she sends them into the world to labor for the perfecting of !. the saints, for the salvation of souls.
 Father Sweeney having graduated from the High school in New London, pFoznpt1y, eheer1uI1y and generously responded to the divine call, left fath- CT and mother, brother and sisters, friends and companions to- devote himself to preparation for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ.
 He pursued his classical and theo- logical studies in the seminary of St. SuIpice in Montreal. Down through the years of his priesthood, he fre- quent1y reverted with affection and gratitude to the years of his semin- ary career, to the superior training and excellent equipment received from the venerable fathers of Saint Su1- pice He was raised to the priesthood ir-June 1879.
 tsThe Lord invested him with the greatest power that can be conferred on man, gave him jurisdiction over the real and mystical Body of Christ, ele- vated him above all created dignities above the highest archangeI, deputed him to restore by his ministry the or der proposed by God in the creation, and which was disturbed by sin, ap- pointed him to stand between God and nan. to bea blessing on earth, to be the resouree of God, having the cre- dentiaIs of a. divine embassy It was a great day in his native parish when he returned with the oil of g1adness first time offered the august sacrifice of the New-Lasws. Surrounded by his friends and relatives.
 After serving zea1ous1y as an as- sistant at Meriden, GrosvernordaIe, Moosup and Norwich, he was ap- pointed pastor of Litchhe1d, where he built a church, which is an orna- rnent to the town, and the glory of the Catholic people. He was after