Evening journal., 1915-12-24
AUTO IS Church
GIFT TO PASTOR
St. Thomas Congregation
and School Children Play
Santa TO Father Connolly
POPULAR PRIEST
HOME FROM TRIP

The Rev. John J. Connolly, pastor /
of st. Thomas r. c. Church, was vel
coined home from a six weeks vaca-
ton in the West by his parishioners
last night and presented with an au-
tomobile. The affair was genuine
surprise to the popular priest.
Almost the entire student body Of
; the parochial school and the members
Of the church and their friends as
sembled about o'clock to await the
arrival of FathertConnelly.
Owing to the failure of the guest OF
honor TO .rrive on the expected train,
the evenings program was delayed for
half an hour. The occasion was more
than a meeting to welcome home their
pastor-it was meeting in which the
children and church members sought
to show their appreciation for the
work done, for the love and for the
esteem for Father Connolly and as a
mark of this appreciation, John
Skelly. a trustee of the church, pre-
sented the minister with 1916 model
n-passenger touring car for his
| personal use.
Shortly after the departure Of
Father Connolly a general fund was
started by the school children, and the
this fund until it grew to such a size
that the car was purchased and a fund
provided to cover the expenses and
up-keep of the car for a year. A
movement is also on foot among the
men of the church to continue this
fund indefinitely.
A committee went to the station to
meet the pastor and bring him home
in the new machine, but since Father
Connolly did not arrive on the ex-
pected train the party missed him. and
he came home in taxicab to find his
hopne all lighted up and the festivi-
ties awaiting him at the school.
The presentation speech was made
by John Skelly.
Father Connolly feelingly thanked
his church workers for the generous
gift. He said in part:
"Ilavng arrived home after this eN
tended trip and having travelled widely
in the past, ! am better able 10 draw
comparison between the other cOun
tries and this beloved land of ours. Ny
trip was impressive, the Rocky Noun
tain scenery was beautiful. The exposi
tion at San Francisco was a wonderful
thing. situated as it was on San Fran
cisco bay. The character and quality o
the buildings and the trees and tropica
plants planted there were exquisite, an'
when lighted up at night presented I
weird but pleasing sight.
"On the trip l made chance aequaint
ances and met many old friends whit
added materially to my trips pleasure
In San Francisco 1 met a priest whom
knew "a years ago in Paris,an togethe
we spent the greater part OF the tim
at the exposition. He was living at tina
place and entertained me during M
stay. / also had The pleasure of seein
Professor Safraneck formerly of th
Fort Dupont Band, while at San Diego
] also met several other Wilmingtonian
and spent happy hours with them.
son my way home from Chicago yes
terday | travelled in the same car wit
ex-President William II. Taft, and W
had very satisfactory talk together.
"While away / visited the missio
founded by Fra Guinipio in l169
lnelt over his grave and sounded th
same bell which was used in the mil
sion In his day. As the old bell resount
ed through the air one could not help br
be inspired.
81 enjoyed every minute OF travel, bl
was particularly impressed with Il
limited resources. its indispensable cl
mate and the great possibilities for Il
future. and pray to God that the PEI
pie ,s this great land and the moulde
Of our government realize the nations
destiny ahead of them and that the
viii rise to the occasion and take adval
4 tage of the possibilities which will
world history.
81 am very glad to be home after tn
II first vacation, and ! am home to sta
Little Delaware is large enough for m
Wilmington strikes me more than ev
I tonight as the best place to live in, al
~ St. Thomas Church, its people and
children are first in my mind, first
B my thoughts and first in my heart"
H. Following his address Father Co
nelly mingled among the members of {
& audience while Henry's Orchestra fu
nshed musical program Refreshmen