The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-26
THE TIMEs:sAUGUsT 26, 1918

knew straighter; as man, no priest is more devoted to his work and his ] people and this big crowd tonight at- ! tests the love that he has for all of you and your love for him. His success is assured and the thing that is most worth while. on which success any where depends, is love and that he will always have"
 Chairman Shanesy then introduced Father J. P. Joyce of St. James as the man who had brought up" Fath- 1 CT O'Rourke and the one who knew him best of all. In substance, Fath- CT Joyce said:
 | "I once heard great preacher who said that there are three fundamental things every speaker should remem- Der to succeed in his work. These are to have something to say; to say it, and then to quit. have something to say and after I have said it will quit. I feel that the one phase of Father O'Rourke's work I want to emphasize is his work in the parish and especially his love for the chill dren. This I can no better demon strate than by reading a letter which was just received from one of his for mer students, now in the service of his country. This is the letter:
 Dear Mother:-
 "'Yours received and as usual was too glad to hear from home. Now, mother, I will not write much today as.I am in a hurry to get this to you. As noted by the clippings you have | tho To cohOo1 and Al. umni are to make Father O'Rourke a present of a chalice and I am sending a mite so that he will know, although far away on the ocean. he is not for gotten by a former St. James boy. How we'll do I remember the good times we used to have with him; his good advice and many blessings come up more freshly now than in those days. You remember now, mother, the good things that Father O'Rourke used to predice for me. I hope I shall never disappoint him. You might tell him as think it would please him to know, that l have gained my sec ond promotion in less than year on one of the finest battleships of the U. s. N, the good old Missouri. | "'Now, mother, you can hand my mite to Father O'Rourke and say sincerely wish it were more. But he will not care for the amount, only the remembrance.'
 "The balance of the letter Is per sonal," said Father Joyce. ''and to this boy-on shipboard, as to all of us, the going away of Father O'Rourke Is a distinct loss even though it is a pro- motion for him.
 Never has a stranger come to Boone county and in so short a time accomplished so much good or made so many friends as has Father O'Rourke. As friend, as a man, as a priest, as a citizen and as patriot Father O'Rourke is twenty-four carats fine. To use a well known slang ex- Ipression may say no winter man ever was made. He never neglected the slightest duty as a priest and a pa triot, and his kindly smile, his pru- dence, his ability have won him a place that bespeaks for him a con tinued active and successful life"
 Sidney Veaco next sang a splendid tenor solo entitled When The Boys Come Home" and won rounds of ap- plause. Mrs. Veaco accompanied him
 Chairman Shanesy then called upon Mir McGrath of Polo, one of the friends who accompanied Father 1 O'Rourke to Belvidere, who said that he was pleased to see that Polo had secured a man who was so highly thought of in his home community. T am soory he is leaving Belvidere but 1 Co1Xr Cr1a q h a iSp in In he said.
 The presentation of the chalice was then made by Miss Purcell on behalf of the Alumni and the students of St. James. The chalice is a beauti- full gold cup, suitably engraved to show the occasion of it's presentation. Miss Purcell, in presenting the cup, said:
 Dear Friend, Father O'Rourke:-
 "It has been pithily said that the end of a speech is better than the be- ginning and I hope to prove that it is so in this instance.
 "The basest of all vices is ingrati- tude and every child in St. James school as well as those who in past years have become alumni, wish to
 
 for the patience kindness and help ex- tended to them during your years as head of St. James school.
 Ut is with pride and pleasure there fore that I present to you in the name of the alumni and of the children of St. James school, this token of our appreciation and it is our hope and conviction that as we will never for get you or your kindness. You will ever be reminded of the grateful hearts you left in Belvidere when you use this chalice, the gift of all your little friends.
 Health, happiness, success and a long life to you in your new field ot labor"
 The speaker of the evening, Rev George w. Belsey, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, was then intro ; duced by MT. Shanesy. In part MT Belsey said:
 For about tYo and a half years I have resided in Be1videre and ir that time I have experienced much that has made me love the people ot this. city. And I can say tonight , above all things that I am grateful , for having had as one of my friends Father William O'Rourke. I have known many men, and have admired !. them but have loved few as I do oul guest of honor this evening and where there is love-. admiration is not need , ed.
 "I have not forgotten that Father O'Rourke is a Catholic but it is suct } catholicity as he practices that broad.