Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-12
TIE DEUM AT ST, PATRICK,s
FOR IRISH FREE STATE

When, ireland takes her place among |
the nations Of the earth, then and not
till then let my epitaph be writtenp' the
immortal words of Robert Emmett, were
quoted in st. Patrick's church at the
high mass sunday. by the rector, Rev. NJ.
H. May. after he had announced that,
in accord with the directions of Bishop
Milan the choir would sing TIE Deum at
the closs of the service in Thanksgiving
for the news received of lasting peace in
Ireland Father May had already de-
livered fine sermon from the gospel
for the Sunday, John /. 1873, the search
ing question of the Pharisees to John,
WHO Art rhou?" Then he spoke with
ardor of the wonderful tidings which
was to be celebrated, declaring, that now
the epitaph of Emmett might be written
in letters of gold.
It was 20 the ireland which has kept
the faith that Father May paid an
eloquent tribute, the land which, he
said, through seven centuries has ad-
hered to the faith of st. Patrick and the
teachings Of Jesus Christine emerald
gem of the Western World which had
seorned bri5es and coercion preferring
death rathar than give up that which
was dearer than life itself. Christ had
His Gethsemane,s His Calvary then His
| glorious resurrection the country which
has been the martyr among countries
| the Niobe among the nations, has suffer-
| ed ands bled and has withstood endless
prosecutions while those who loved her
have often cried out in their trial of
patience, "How long, Oh, Lord, how
| long?" But TO her fidelity and her faith
have come at last the crown of victory.
| Father May briefly reviewed the gold
en- age of Erin of ancient times, the
Land of Saints and Scholars, the source
from which was lighted the torch of sci
ence and art and attainment, carried
/ to the other nations of Europe. He mar
rated his personal experiences, when, aft
er travels i mother lands, under the blue
of Italian skies, by the Swiss lakes
with their charm, noting the fields and
plains of Ine Orient, he had at last
reached Ireland, the land of his faith
ers. its skies, its lakes, its fields and
valleys meaning infinitely more to him,
having a beauty surprising all others,
because recalling the sacrifices and suf-
ferings of the generations who had Civ
en- their all for their faith and their ma
tive land.
al love this land of my birth" he de-
Cidl eQs EAtH1Tlcd-1 love anu revere
her fag-the Fed, White and Blue next
to the Cross # Christ; but I cannot but
love that motherhood of my ancestors %
and he stressed the pride which the
/ people of Irish descent all over the
world are feeling today, that the peace
which has come to the beloved Sireland is
a peace with llonor-without compromise,
or any weak surrender of their loyalty to
the religion of Christ or their fidelity
to the See CT Peter. 1t is time for
rejoicing, and while It may perhaps be
too much to say we will at once prom
Use to forget, at least we will try to for
get the seven centuries Of injuries on
the part of cruel Albion-at the same
time that we pledge our prayers. our
, moral and material support to the new
Irish Free State, he declared.
Patriotism and faith are so intimate
blended in the minds OF all true descend
/ ants of Irishmen that it seemed emin-
emily fitting that at every opportunity
daring the service the organ, played in
Z faultless skill by Prof. Frank L. Far
, rell, should ripple out Moore's Melodies
or some of the Irish hymns and airs IA
nous for centuries. The Harp That
Once Through Tara,s Halls, the Hymn
TO st. Patrick, Come Back to Erin, an6
Z others cropped out through the servic,
< as effortless as the deathless green of the
shamrocks crops out along the Irisl
: paths and banks. Finally came the eli
: max of the service, when, the great con
e gregation standing, the chcir sang I'D,
n Deum Laudanus'' the ancient Gregorial
n hymn of thanksgiving, sung in chan
t time, adding its volume and grandeur t,
t the chorus rising throughout the work
, from other choirs similarly inspired
: Father Mooney, who had sung the higl
t. mass, with Fathers May and Calvin, VIII
y came from the vestry, stood at the al
10 tar steps, the cross-bearer at the gospe
]. side. When the chorus reached tn
10 verse, ''Te- ergo quaesurnus eve beseec
: Thee, therefore, help thy servants) a
knelt, rising again until the grand finale
a 20, Lord, in Thee have I hoped; let m
= never be COMPOUNDED" The service end
g ed with the congregation and choir sing
ing a stanza of the ancient hymn, "Hol
God, We Praise Thy Name
In the congregation were number. Q
= non-Cathoiic musicians from out Of tow
as well as from Norwich, anxious
:. hear the singing of TIE Deum, so diff
= cult that many choirs hesitate to attemI
Is 1t.