Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-07

Diggins, who welcomed the members and invited guests and congratulated the l members on the large attendance and in particular he commended the mem bers from out-of-town, many of whom at considerable inconvenience had come long l distances to attend this meeting At the 1 close of his remarks he introduced Rev. 1 ". A. Keefe, state lecturer of the Fourth
 Degree, and faithful friar of Rev. Daniel | Mullen assembly, as toastmaster. Father i keefe was given most enthusiastic re-
 cepuon as he arose to speak. He, COZ
 graduated the assembly upon it's wori,
 under the present board of officers.
 Seated at the head table with Faith 1 ful Navigator Diggins were ReV.EM IT. 1 May, W. A. Keefe, Myles P Calvin, T>
 Coholan, all of this city. Rev. George l Donahue of Bridgeport, Rev. John J. Nc l~Cabe of Jewett City, Rev. P. R. -Des- 1 sureault of Occum. Rev. Richard P. Nor
 rissey of Plainfe,d, Rev. John Quinn of | Grosvenordale, Hon. T. C.. Murphy Thomas H. Beckley, J. c. Bland, Patrick
 F. Sweeney, John M. Lee. William II.
 Harrington, William Fitzgerald and. i Walter G. Casey. @r'+
 Father DonaEl2e who was the next speaker took for ~ his topic Christian
 Friendship, and as he developed his
 theme he stirred his hearers to great
 enthusiasm and evoked frequent out
 bursts of applause. He said in part: Friendship as a topic is of course as
 old as the hills and yet. men are not
 united on the conditions that make for
 dts perfection. Some think the ideal
 friendship exists between two females.
 Others hold that t is found best iii the
 natural friendship man has for wd-
 man. Some others, and among: them i he 1af 3r '. .i. : <
 clares the noblest and best and. truest
 friendship prevails between two men! This, however. has an academic value 1 All agree that friendship is a thing ut , beauty and a joy forever Long centur les before Kempis saw the light and p years before Christ came to make thI, vale of tears a valley of hope eternal the refined Roman had anticipated thu : truism. Without friend. thou cans s not well fve!" They rated friendship t So highly that in the letters Of Csce.-
 1t is quite impossible to distinguish be n tween Cicero's love for Terenia an, f Tulliola and his friendship for Atticus I They evidently tasted what Keats style J "a friendship with essence"
 When Christ came He purified an '. transftured human friendship. He Q made it regal because He gave us : : : chance to love the KingI He took a hu l man heart, not only to love us, but tha
 l He might perceive our love for Hsn
 The twelve men whom He chose for Hi
 apostles are eternally reminded of tn
 fact that they are not His servant .y but His friends On the heart of on
 of them, He pillowed His. sacred. ass y weary head! When Judas betraye !. Him with a kiss, He called him :. H. T friend, though later He called hIr - Night" because his heart was dark I- If you want classic farewell or part T ing. with friends, read the last d!s course of Christ to his twelve the n.gh before He died. V Shakespeare has noth 7 ing like it for pathos and beauty. Tn | thought of leaving His friends seem to be more bitter than His death+on tn - cross. Why friendship explains tn cross Greater love than this no ma = hath that 9 man giveth his life, for hi e friend" z.s;.;;.s.z:.e : In these post-belluEn days we hear 5 :. great deal about reconstruction l. Tn U idea and worry concerns itself aIWay about the material, and yet nothing ha . been SO. shell-shocked and shattered a the human heart or charity We need ],
 reconstruction of charity much nor, keenly than a reconstruction, even ::+ c
 Rheims! But in peace and war. a
 Catholic men. pledged to live and stres n 1.-the, nobility andf beauty s- of Catho!i e faith. our duties are always obyiou e and clear. Our first friend must be tn
 Divine Friend. That is clearl 5Unles
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