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IHKINi; IIKTV VKAIIS OK HIS PRIKSTIKiv J!i. if I DliDICATl-l) TO HIM ()\ THH OCCASION' OF HIS SACI-:RI)()TAL JIBILHH. liV Till-; I'KIKSTS OK TliK IHocKSK WHO II.WK HAD TlIK I'ltn ll.KOK OK SKKVINd INDKIt III.M AS ASSISTANTS. " ni'cause it is the jubilee and the fiftieth year." — Lev. .nee; //. ST. JOHN, N. B. : Baknks & Co., Pkintkks, 84 Puinck William Strket, 1898. ■i.r-l l! nvr-^ -r- ^ FIFTY YEARS A PRIF:ST. 'I I !i jnHE active ecclesiastical career of the Very 1{kvkkk\i> j MoNSKivoit Thomas Connolly, Vicai-<}eneral of the A» Diocese of St. Jc.hn, l,egan on Sunday, the ninth of July, one thousand eif,'ht hundred and foityeight. On that day he received the chrism of holy priesthood -the power to offer sacrifice and forj,'ive sins-at the hands of the lii.rht Reverend William Dollard, first Bishop of New. Brunswick. The ceremony, whicJ! was eventually to do so much for reli-non took place in St. Michael's Church, Chatham, ami was th.-^fiist solemn function of the kind within its walls. In sul)se.|uent years St. Michael's saw other young Levites raised to the holy priesthood, l)ut none who did greater honor or rendered more signal service! to the sanctuaiy than that first ordinand. The occasion was n..table and prophetic. Around the veneral.le prelate, to assist him -'in the laying on of hands," stood a tTio of i)riests who were destined to become in after years prominent figures in the Church of New Brunswick. All three becan.e vicars-general, and one of them a bishop. They were the Reverend Joseph Pacpiet, a French priest of high character ; the Reverend Michael j:gan — a name to conjure with in the' olden days on the Miramichi; and the Reverend John Sweeney, then parish priest of Chatham, afterwards vicar-general, and still later bishop of St. John. If, however, the young i)rie8t of that July morning was spiritual son of such distinguished fathers, the intervening record of fifty years proves that lie wa» in every way worthy of his sponsors. He, too, in turn became a vicar-general, thus completing a quartette, of whom the church in any country might well Im^ proud. MoNSKiNOH Connolly was born on Duke Street, in the City of St. John, March 4, 182.}. His parents came from the north ■Ml, m jll'j-i fill "KT a A HIOr.KAHIIICAL SKKTCII OK TIIK of Ir.'land in 1818 and first settled in St. John. His fiitlier, James Connolly, who was a mason and contractor, speedily took !i priiininent position in the Catholic con<;refi[ation of the city, was elected churchwarden, or, as it was then known, committee- / Tin; Hiiiirr 1U;\ki{km> William Dullahu, I). I)., Kii>t Hislinp uf Ni'w Hriiiiswick ; ditil .\iii:iist •_'!!, IS.")1. man, ami contributed materially l)oth liy advice and money to the erection of St. Malachi's Church. In ISi'll the family moved to Fredericton, and there youii;^ Thomas Connom,v received his primary education. \t the Fredericton j,'rammar Hchool lie was classmate with youths who, like himself, hut in VKKY UKVKKKNI) MONSKJXOK THOMAS CONNOLLY. ;j other callings, lieljied, in aftei yoars, to make history in New Ihunswick, (iiaduating from that Hohool at the nf^e of seventeen he was sent to the only Catholic educational establishment in tlie Maritime Provinces, Ht. Andrew's College, in the vicinity of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Miramichi was tiie nearest point from which the Island could he ivached in those days of rudimentary travelling facilities. At Chatham he was joined by other students for St. Andrew's ; and in company with Michael Power — ane})hew of Father Eagen - Denis Dunn, suli- seijuently vicar-general of Chicago, and .lolin Pike, who afterwards died in (^)ueliec seminary, sailed to Charlottelowii. M St. .Vudrews he had also other classmates from New iirujiswick. Till' iirc-cni l>ish()[) of St. .Iiiliii \\;is there, I'Mwaiil hiiiipliy, afterwards paiisii priest of Carletoii, Hugh .Mc^uirk. and othei's well-known in after years. Ila\ iii'' com pleted his I'lassica! course at Si. Andrew's, the suli- Tni; l!i:\ KiiKNii Tmomas \\ '.u.su, .\>-^isli\iil tn FtiilieiCdiiiiiillv, IS7."> iSTCi; ilird ISTii. ject of this sketch was lu'xt sent, in 1S14, to (.^Hiehec to begin his tiainiiig for the iiriestlmod. TlK'i'e, too, lie had for college-mates and teachers men whose names now illustratt? the civil and eccelesiastii'ai liistoiy of Camida. The late Cf.rdinal Taschereau was at that time one of the professors iu the Little Seminary : the late Piishop Langevin, of Itimouski, was also one of his teachers; while Sir Hector Ijangevin and the present Archbishop of Quebec sat un A HIOORAPIIICAL SKETCH (IK THE the same forms with him. Hugli AlcQuirk, John Sweene}', J. C. McDevitt, John Moone}', Edward Diinpliy, Denis Dunn and John Pike were also students with him in the Little Seminary, Having completed his clerical studies amid the medieval conditions of the ancient city of Quebec, he was recalled to his native pro- vince and, as we have seen, was elevated to the holy priesthood in July, 1848. His first priestly act was the baptism of four children the afternoon of the day of his ordination. Then followed a month's stay in the town of Chat!;am, where he replaced Fathei- Sweeney while the lattei' took a trip to St. John. His fiist sermon, which was looked for with interest by the congregation of Chatham, was preached on the third Sunday of July. His text was noteworthy, and might be taken as piophetic of the attitude which the preacher would all his life assume towards tlu> civil authority: "Render, therefore, to Ca-sar the things that are Cii'sar's and tt) (iod the things that are Uod's." (Mat. xxii. 21). I'^rom Chatham, on the return of Father Sweeney, he wctit to St. Louis, Kent County, assistant to the Hev. Jos<'ph Pacijuet. This was his first ofiicial assignmtMit. Tn St. Louis and the missions which were served from it as a centre he spent four months under the fatherly eye and direction of one of the most cai)al)le priests this province has known. There, too, he learni'd to admire the system of Church administration which obtains in Fiencii parishes — a system which, while it is in some res|)ects a iiioditication of the canonical forms of Lurope, oilers by its onlei'liness and etWciency a restful contrast to the more eclectic methods of English parishes. In the fall of 1848 the exiger-ies of church administration compellefl Bishop Dollard to forego his intention of appointing Fatiiek Connoi,ly to a separate French parish. The years he spent at (.Quebec had given him a good knowledge of the Fn^nch language, w!iii(> his experience* under Father Pac(|uet was daily making life in a French mission a reali/atiim of high ecclesiasti- cal idei'Is. What his future would have been had he be.m left (m the eastern side of the Province, it is unnecessary to conjee tare. Doubtless, results would have been the same in uny case. H VERY REVKKEND MONSKiNOR THOMAS CONNOLLY. Heeognition and wider opportunities always attend on merit. The Bishop needed his services for the Fredericton mission, and tliither he was transferred towards the close of the year. t!' .* 't Ul. • hi Saint Dinstan's Chi ki m, Fhkukkhtdn, Tlif Hi'v. Timotliy Cax y, I'ustof. This second assijinineiit brou^'ht him Itack to what ho might iNill his native town. r»isiK)p nollards decision to chanf,'e his <'piscopal s(!e from Krodi'ricton to St. iJohn, whicii was carried 6 A KIOCKAPIIICAL SKKTCII OK TIIK into final eH'ect about tliis time, entailed certain transfers of clerfj;yinen. The l{everend .lames C. McDevitt was sent to St. Andiews and the Reverend Waltei' Ayhvard was brought from the iatlcr town to Fredericton. To him Fatiikk ConN( lly was appointefl assistant. The scope of country ministered to by the priests of Fredericton at that time was very extensive. Stanley, (Jrand Lake, Oromocto, Petersville, French Village, and the St. John River half-way to Woodstock, — all fell under their spiritual care. No easy life, therefore, awaited (mr ytning priest on his icturn to his own town. In those (lays only tiic niain-tia veiled highways were passable, particularly in winfei', while the con dition of the t'atliolic in habitants in the outlying districts was one of stru^i^lc withtheiude circumstances of pioneci' life. In iiiaiiy p I a c o s no churches tor puiilic worship were yet built, so that ]Mass had to be said in private houses and the sacraments admin- istered und(M' conditions which were cruchi and dis- couraging. All these inconveniences, however, had their forma tive and educative value to the yt)ung jji'iest. They ac(|uainted him with the conditions of the Catholic people and they enabled his quick administrative mind to grasp the^possibilitj' of improvt'd organization to meet pressing spiritual needs. Nevertheless, his short e.xperience among the French people, while it accentuated the contrast between the conditions lie had left and tiiose he was St. Hi:v. .loiiN M. OFi.AiiKiiTV. .\ii(li(\\ > : jissistiint to Fiitlii r( 'oiiiKilly .\ii,Uilsl li; to Octoiier L'O, |S77. VICKY HKVKIiKNI) Mt»XMIOSOH THOMAS CONNOLLY. 7 now ineetiii<(, (leiiionstriited to liim tliat, after all, a generation stalwart in the faitii could prosper even amid cirounistances that were outward!}' untoward and demoralizing. Everywhere he found reason to a<hnire the profound faitli and cleanly lives of people who, though poor in this world's goods, were dowei'ed by Heaven with uiialterai)le confidence in (Jod and unflinching attachment tf) His (."luiivh. Now and then, it is true, intense religious loyalty niatiifcstcd itself i?i grotescpie ways, as in the Sr. (ii:i!ii!ii>i:'-< CmKiii. W'oudsi'imk. 'Hxlfiior ;iii(l iiitriidi lini>licil liv .M(iii-^i<;iiiif ( '(PiiiioUv, 1S4!( 'i~. case of the nian-scr\, lilt at tiic ]iarochial residciic*^ who objected to buying mi'!: oi' a neighbor Ix'causc the cow-bell to his whimsical imaginati tn droiii'd ever with murmuring resonance the formid- able syllriiles. Mar-tin Luther! Mar-tin Luther I Oftener, however, his own faith was (juickened and strengthened bj this contact with men oi simple faith. On tme occasion he was led to perfoi ni what might well l)e called an act of he:;,ic charity through the appeal of an Indian. He was at French Village ^ A HIO(JltAl'llirAI. SKETCH OK THK shriving the Indians in the afternoon preparatory to mass next morning. An urgent sick-call to a dying man in the Woodstock mission, fifty miles away, came to him. He was undtr no strict obligation to heed it. A priest was stationed at Wood- stock and Fatiikk Conxollv had his own work to do where he was. The Indian mind, however, could take in but one angle of the difficulty : a man was dying and the piiest was needed to piepare him for death. "Go, Fadir," an oKI chief advised, "mass will wait; man's life can't wait." The priest went, but the trip meant a hundred miles in an open wagon and two nights without sleep. Grave responsibilities were now approaching. They came in September, 1S49, when he was named pastor of Woodstock, succeeding the Reverend Richard V^'reker, who was sent to Chatham. From the cursory glimpse we have had of the con- ditions obtaining in the Fredericton missions it can be easily inferred that Woodstock would be still less a sinecure. The area of country to be ministered to was liai'dly less extensive than that which he was leaving. From beyond (J rand Falls to a point thirty-five miles below Woodstock, a distance of 110 miles along the river, with an average width of twenty miles the district now conunitted to him contained unlimited possibilities of hard work. IJesides, the settlements on the riv(>r north of Fredericton were of later growth, and consecpiently conditions were still ruder and life more of a rough-and-tumbh struggle even than in the Fredericton mission. In the whole district named, outside of the towns, there were only seven frame-houses owned by Catholics. All the other habitations of his pt-ople were log-huts, often of the most primitive description. More than once the young priest had to be content with a shake-down in a corner, screened from the rest of the room l)y sheets hung from the ceiling. Father Vereker had been struggling for seven years to build a church in Woodstock ; the old building, St. Malachi's, being ♦entirely too small. When he left for Chatham in ISl'J the new building was boarded in and the roof shingled. Much, there- -„— ■^^ -. .. i . ^.HiL- . --TT . ■ ,.-f. . . . M, ' .., .j, "n , .imj i.i! »i.mu«m.L..MH^imji i i VERY UEVEKEN'I) MOXSUIXOU THOMAS CONNOLLV. 9 fort', remained to be done before the conijrej^fition could worsliip in it witli comfort. To tiiis undertakinj,' Fatiieu Connolfa' now addressed hin;self. Up-liill \vori< at the l)est of times, and und^r ahnost all conditions, the building of a church at Woodstock toward tlu^ end of the first half of the present century presented ditliculties in sonie respects almost insuirnountable. The people were poor a)id scattered, and labf)rinji^ under the <^liscourai,nng blight of the religious dissensions which had ended in the riot of '47. Some had deserted their farms and gone across the line to the United States, driven by fear of punishment for the part they took in that ill-adviswl aflaii- or utterly discourag- ed by the turn things had taken as the outcome of it. The stint of work that lay before the youthful parish priest was such as to call out for its successful aci'omplishment not only all his energ}', but discre- tion and tact of the highest kind. Passions and ill-will based on I'eligious difVer- ences heat tpiickly, but cool slowly. The ferment was not yet settled. All danger (if physical collision, such as had happened on the ll'th of July. 1S47, was passed ; maTiy of those who had taken part in that deplorable event had disappeared; but the memory of it still rankled. The young priest's task was to conciliate and win biick men's minds to one another; to restore, if possible, the gnldt n days of tolerance and neighborly good-will which had existed in the County of Carleton in the early years of its history. I!i;\. \V\i. (fLKAKV. (V'litia! Kiiiu'-i'li'.ir : iis>ist;iiit to |-';ithii' ('(iniKillv ill ISSU. i 10 A )IIO<il!.\rill('AI- SKKTCII OK TIIK Happily no better choice could have been made for this delicate duty than Fatiiku Connoi,i,y. I?(irn in the Province, he had no jxTsonal nieiiiorics of transatlantic feuds to cloud his mind or mis- lead his juiliinicnt. Up to the tin\o of his f,'(«ing to Prince K<l\vard tS.MNT Tkkksa's Cm Kill, Cai'k |{ai.i>, Kev. V. \. ColliMcttu, I'iistor. Island he had attended a school where all religious denom- inations met on e(|ual terms. There he iiad formed friendships with boys who, nnw as men, were inlluential in the aflairs of Woodstock. 'J'liev knew him and had no distrust of his VKRY REVEKKNI) MONSIONOK i'IIOMA« CONNOLLY. 11 IS s attifcude towards theinsc^lves. He knew tliat ^r«nit pro.of-a- tion had been ,sj;iven, and that, if tlie Protestant people lind in the end listened to the ju'oinptinuis of a few Orangemen, they did so more as a measure of jjrotection to themselves than from hatred of tlieir Catholic iieighltors. Kurt! lei more, as a hoy and later as a clerical stucU'iit, lie iiad passed some time in the county ; and no amount of specious r<'asoning or appeal to his religious prejudices could blind him to the fact " " "1 that, in the riot of '47 the Catholics had been as ag' gressive as aggrieved. Ill- advised they cei tainly were, and it is no st<etch of truth to atlirm that, if Fathku Connolly had been parish pi'iest of Woodstock on tlit^ l-Jth of July, IS 17, there would have Imm-ii no i iot. .Vll this is said witlwuit detriment to the iiieiiiory of Father Yereker, who did everything to prevent a bicacli of the peace, except to bid his people stay at home. "There is anew priest come to town," the word went round after hisarrival. A Wakefield farmer heard it. "There's a new priest come to town and he tan't talk iiisli,' he reported on his return to that intensely Protestant section now known as Victoria Corner. His neighbors would not credit his story. Such a marvel as a priest who could not address his people in Irish when he did not want outsiders to understand liiui was too sti-ange to Tin: lli:\ . ( 'ii.\i;i.k.^ Cm. i. ins, I''iiir\illi' : .\ssislaii( In I'at lur ( 'niiiiiilly. .\|)lil, ISSI, to Srlili'iiilirr, ISSI. 12 A HI(m;KAI'|II('AI, SKKTCH OK TIIK be credible. A (le](»;^'ati()n was at once appointed to attend' mass in Woodsto-'k the followin;^ Suntlay and report to the local Oran^'t" lod^o. Thoy attended, hut were greatly laken ahack to hear a good sermon in English on the Duties and liesponsihilities of Citizenship. He pleaded the cause of peace and Clii istian concord even more effectively in the public lecture which lie delivered about this time from the platform of the Mechanics' Institute, Woodstock. He was invited by Col. Wm. Baird, chairman of the Lyceum, ^^ oodstock, to deliver a lecture as part of their winter course of lectures. The choice of subject being left to himself, Fatiikr CoxxoM.v addressed his audience on Fraternal Love. The 'iub jf ct was unusual for a lecture platform, but its timeliness could not be denied. Henceforth during his stiiy in Woodstock Fathkr Connolly could, without let or hindrance, devote himself to the interests under his charge. Time and the annealing power of good neighborship were working for the return of peace and kindly feeling in the community. In the summer of 1S.")0 he accompanied Bishop Dollard <m a tour of confirmation in Madawaska, and preached in French in the different parishes. On their retui-n to Woodstock the Bishop confirmed in the new church. This was the first occasion in wliich that sacred edifice was used for divine service. It was not then dedicated, as there was yet considerable work to be done on it. The priest's house, too, which, like the church, was a shell when Fathkr Connolly came to Woodstock, was now also about ready for occupation. The old Jiishop was so pleased with the progress made that his paiting words were a promise to return and dedicate the church at the proper time. In October of the same year Fatuku Connoli,y, finding that his people, unaided by cnitside help, could not meet the expenses of putting their church in condition for occupation, went to Boston to collect funds. His mission, while it entailed a great deal of drudgery on himself, was eminently successful. The Bishop of Boston welcomed him with cordial hospitality, gave him full permission to collect, and recommended him to the tl ti n w ol hi tl in N CO VKKY KKVKKKM) MON8l«;NOl{ THOMAS CONNOLLY. 13- priests of tlic city. In iiis letter of endorsement, Bishop Fitz- patrick dwelt at length on the obligations which he was under to the diocese of New Brunswick. At that time the State of Maine formed a portion of the diocese of Boston ; and New lirunswick priests on the border were always willing to attend the spiritual needs of the Catholics across the line. The grati- tude of the good Jiishop enabled Fatiieu Connolly, after a month's sta}', to collect a sum suHicient to meet his most pressing engagements. Saini' Sii:i'hi;n"s Cm unr. .Mii.i.iow s, Hfv. E. Doylv. I'iislof: licv. E. .1. Mc.Vrilay, Assistant. Bishop Uollarfl did not live to redeem his promise to dedicate the Woodstock church. In August of the following year he was taken down with his last illness, and died on the 29th of that month. The first Homan Catholic Bishop of New JJrunswick was, above all else, a pioneer Bishop. He lisetl l)efore the age of dudes, and was not a cut from a clerical fashion-plate. With him substance outweighed shadows, and reality counted for more than mere a})peaiance. His long missionary career as a priest in Quebec, r^abrador, Prini'(> Kdward Island, Cape 15reton, and New Brunswick gave him a umque experience of n)en and conditions. • J i^i 14 A lUniiKAI'llK'AI, SKKTCII oK TIIK His love for souls l)roiij,'lit him so near the groat heart of humanity tliat he coiikl sutler no intlucnce to separate him from the common people. The accretions whicli centuries of feudal ijovernment in olden countries have caused to cling around the persons and functions of Catholic liishojis, removing tliem t(j a di( :.ance from the humanity tliey are expected to influence, were justly disdained by him. He was a representative of the way- Hoi.v l{i)SAiiv CurKrii, St. Stkimikn, Hcv. Win. Dolliiid, Pastor. faring Christ. To him the soul of a Micniac Indian was as precious as that of the wealthiest Catholic in his diocese. His elevation to the episcopacy did not spoil his native gentleness or render liim arrogant and domineering. All harshness, in fact, ran counter to his instincts. " He was a sociable man," says one who knew him well ; " a man of gentle ways, with a happy expression of face. He was uniform and of great patience. Catholics and Protestants alike VERY REVKKKND MONSKiNOR THOMAS CONXOLLY. 15 loved him, for he was sociable and approachable to all. When he was building St. Dunstan's Church, Frodericton, he received almost as much money from Protestants as from Catholics. As a Bishop he was not severe with his priests. There was indeed a glint of steel in his eyes when he frowned, but he s«ldom frowned, and his laugh was selfrtdeeming. He was quick to recognize a priest's labors and to let you know that he recognized them. A unique figure in the religious history of New Bruns- wick." v> ^n t \ : 1() A HKXiHAI'lllCAL SKhTCU OF TIIK II. JT^HK deinis,' ,,f I'.islioj. DoUanl, Au,<,aist l'U, 1S51, left tlie I Seo of Sr. Jolin or, latlier, the Bishopric of New A* I'.nuiswick vacant. The Very KevereiulJohn Sweeney, at tliat time pastor of IJarachois, was, by tlie will of the deceased I'.ishop. iiani.'.] Administrator. Tn the same document lie was also reci.nunended for the bishopric. Archbishop Walsh of Halifax had, however, a nominee of his own ; and in llS."iL' a new bishop came to St. John in the person of the Right Hcv. Thomas L. Connolly. Bishop Connolly was a man with a reputation. Originally an Irish monk of the Franciscan Order, he had come to Halifax at the instance of Archbishop Walsh. Ther.^ Ids talents soon won him recogm'tion. an.l he became Vicar-General. His rejtu- tation as a preacher, an.l, generally, as a man of varied al)ility, preceded him to St. John. His a.lv.-nt to th.- .puet scenes of B.isliop Dollard's apostoli.' labors was the signal for many changes. All was bustle, onrush, and icorganization. Old metliods were discredited, new ones introduced, an.l a gen.'ral reversal of former conditions was ma.le. In th,- shaking up that followed, F,\tiii:i( Cowni.Lv was transferred to Barachois, an.l the l{..v<.ren.i Andrew JJarron went to Woodstock. l-'ather Sweeny was removed to St. .John and made \'icar-(!eneral. Tins return t..a Fr.'ncli parish was not displeasing to Fatmkh CoxvoM.v. H.- had, as we hav.. s.-cn, always a.lnur.'.l the foi m of L'luirch g.)v.'rinMent which exist.'d in th..se parish.-.s, an.l now the coinf..rts of a .piiet lif.. woul.l b,> a gnvat relief after th.- turmoil ami anxieties of Woo.lsto.k. I'.a.achois, in those day.s, to.,k in what is n.,w th.- pr.'s.-nt parish ..f the sam.- name, with the outlying .listncts of Cape B.al.l, Cap.- Torm.-ntinw, and AlM.ushagan. In both Cape B.ald an.l Cape T..rm.'ntiiu- churches were buil.ling, and the peopl.. wer." p.,or. An i.l.-a of th." stru-'-d,^ ■I VKKV HKVKHKM) MONSHiNOU THOMAS CUNNUI-LV. 1 i iirid peruiry wliich attended the settlement of Cape Tornientiiie in its first years can l)e iiad from the fact that Father (Ja>;Mon was forced to cairy liis own food witii liiin from Jiarachois when 'rill. Miisr l!i;\ i:i;i;mi Tiiuma^ L. ('ir\(u.i,\. Aivliliisli(i|i of |l;ilit'iix : liisli(i|Mit St. .hiliii, IS.VJ .'•!»; (lied .hilv •_':, IsTii. h<' \isited that nnssion. His siieeessor, l''.ither Sweeny, not lieinjf aware of this custom, was compeHed, tliroiiuh tlefauh of liis own supplies, to j;o to lied siippeiless on the occasion of his (irst visit to the ( 'ajie. This incident, howexcr, had its tjood ell'ect. He at oncf Imilt a vcstiv, the inleiiorof which was so !tl 18 A HIOGKAHHICAL SKETCH OF THE arranged as to contain a bedroom for the prieat and a small kitchen in which his meals could be prepared. In our day the Emigrant Settlement at Cape Tormentine is a wealthy and Hourishing community, with a handsome church property. Cape Bald, too, which in those pioneer days was a strugfrling farming district, ecclesiastically an appanage of Bara- chois, has long been a separate parish. The present incumbent IS the Rev. F. X. Collerette. He is assisted by the Kev. Louis LeiJlanc, and both priests have ample labor in ministering to the needs of the country between the Capes. At a recent date another district was separated from Barfichois and erected into an independent parish. This is Aboushagan, the pastor of which is the Rev F. X. Cormier. The mother-chuich at Barachois, now shorn of much of her former glory, i.s in charge of the Rev. Napoleon ^lasst'. In this extensive field Fathkr Coxxolly labored for one year. During his short pastorate he found time to finish the interior of the new ..hi.rch at Cape I]ald. His work am.,ng the French was varied by frequent visits t<. the Irish families at Cape Tormentin.-. At his instance they were led to put a fence ai'ound theii' graveyani, a certain number of panels being apportioned to each famiiv. He had scarcely begun to be wcW acquainted with his people, French and Irish, when the Bishoi., in ord.-r to meet the e.xigencies of religion on the south-western side of the Province, inx ited him to take the pastorship of Milltowti and St. Stephen,' in Charlotte County, in succession to the Rev. .M. A. Wallace! His place in Harachois was filled by the Rev. John IVIooney. F.VFHER CoxxoLLY might well have objected to such fre,,uent changes. Five removes in as many years, consented to without a murmur, were proofs, however, of undoubted missionary spirit. The French j.eopl,. when they learned of his intention to leave them showed their sorrows in many ways, and on the day of his departure gathered in great numbers to bid him farewell. The women, following i„ ancient Aca<lian custom, threw their shoes after him as a special expression of their good wislies for his "Welfare. i1 Caimdhuai, (II riii; I.mm m i i.ati; ('(pn( ioi'tkin, Saint John. l>§ 20 A niO(5BAPHICAL SKKTCII OF THE Thus ended for the time his ministry among the French. Years would elapse before he would, as pastor of Grand Digue, renew his acquaintance with the simple Acadian farmers. Once more he was back among people of his own tongue and race. To a young priest, fi%'e years ordained, his e.xperionce of men was already kaleidoscopic, llaces, like individuals, have their own peculiar conceptions of religion. The basis and ground- wo.-k may be the same, but each people l)uilds its osvn super- structure of customs and national idiosyncracies ; and where s.'\eral races aie b.ought together, as with us, the priest who labo.s among them will soon be able to distinguish one race from anothei' like colors on a map. Fathkk Connolly had by this time got the colors by heart. Apart from the routine of {.riestly work, life in .Milltown during the year of his sojourn there presented mo salient feature. Conditions were easier even than at Jiarachois. IJeligion was well established, the people were prosp.-rous, and the" outside missions entailed no long drives. ^'et he was not idle. A school-house, which still stands, is a memorial of his activity. Again the oi-der came for another mo\e. From iJarachois to Milltown was a step in the direction of Woodstock. He was now a second time to return to that parish. The piiest tliat did not talk Irish was again needed in that storm-centre. It had been a mistake to remove him from it. During the two years of his absence dissensions had arisen among the Catholics themselves. W|,at the cau.ses were that led to these divisions it is not to our purpose to enquire. The internal malady that threatened the \vell-l)eing of the congrega- tion, particularly in the town of Woodstock itself, was aggravated by the ominous attitude of outside bodies. The condition of aflairs was critical when Fatiikk C(.nnoi,i.v took Father I'.arron's place. He f.iund the church doors locked against him, the keys being held by a man who had an account against the build- ing. Then was presented the unusual sight of two priests-- for Father Barron had not yet left — and a c(.ngregation shut out of church on Sunday. Acting on legal advice. Fatiikh Co.woli.v VKKY REVEHEND MONSICNOH THOMAS CONNoI.I.V. ■2\ forced <an entrance into tlie building duiini; the week and was in his phice in the sanctuary on the next Sunday. Tlius, at tlie outset of his second term in WootJstock, lie was met by ditliculties which again i'e(|uired all Ins ttact and patience. The outlook, however, did not dismay him. Tt was all ex- perience, not indeed of the pleasantest kind, but experience ; and experience is always valuable, lie took up his work, as l)est lie could, where he laid it down t \s o years before. A ' . " i glance at the lal)ors of the next twelve years will show us what the church on the * i upper St. flohn owes to Fatiikk Connoli-v. And first let us get an itica of how much dei)en(led on him in the care of souls. We have ali'eady defined the boundaries of his juris- diction. J)uringthe period of which we treat they were further enlarged to take in Aroostook County in Maine. At five jioints only in this wide area of country were theieCatholic churches: at Woodstock, at (Jraiid Falls, at the ]Moutli of the Tobiiiue, at Hivei' de Chute, and at Houlton. Catholi'-s there were everywhere, scattered and isolated, and they all liud to be provided for spiritually. On the Aroostook, at Williamstowii, .lackson- town, Newburg, North and South Hichmond, .Mlandale, Pokiok, r»enton, Canterbury, Hartin Settleniciit, Skill i.ake, and in numberless t)thei' nooks and coiiurs where Irish Catholics hide tlicmselves, stations had to be held in private houses regularly so \\\.\. l'l;\M l-i liliAIO.KN. l"l(irell('e\ ille : .\s>istilllt to FmIIki- ('iilllli)ilv. Sept., ISSI, to Sept., l^S-J. I 22 A BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH OF TIIK many times a yeaf. The careless and indifferent in all these places^ had to he visited, in order to hring the persuasion of personal influence to bear on them. The youn,.,' had to he taut,dit the catechism, the sick to l)e fortified with the last sacraments. When a dying person calls for the ministrations of religion, the call is imperative. Every other priestly duty, all s"ense of personal comfort or danger, must give way "before that solemn claim. It matters not how long the journey to the bed- side, how inclement the weather, how high the snow-drifts, the priest must go. What journeys, then, what exposure, what incidents of fatigue and discomfort, must not the accunmlated experience of these next fourteen years have brought to Fatiiku Connolly in that vast mission ! Moi'eover, given the well-kiu.wn disposition of Irish people to exaggerate slight ailments in order to secure a visit from the priest, we can easily imagine how many unnecessary journeys he was compelled to make. IMore than once did it happen that after a tiresome ride, often in the coldest season, he found the person, whom he presumed to be dying, up and a.-ound the house, and surprised, forsooth, at seeing him out in such weather ! One such long and bootless journey will be typical. In the winter of 18G1-62, when, on account of the Trent affair, British soldiers were hurrying up th.- Valley of the St. John to Quebec, he was holding a "station " in the O'Donnell Settlement, clos' to the southernmost boundary of Carletoc County. Word reached him tliat a man was dying near the mouth of the Tobi,,ue. After a tedious struggle with the snow-banks of that northern region, varied with the intermittent exercise of letting down fences, he arrived at his destination. On opem'ng the door of the log house, he discovered an old man, dressed in the faded unifonn of the Coiniaught Rangers, poking the fire with a handspike. "Ah, your Reverence, you're welcome," was the old man's salute. "What news from Quay'-bec 1" The sight of Her Majesty's colors as they journeyed past that day had driven all fear of death out of the heart of the old Ranger. The pritst asked no questions, but went to bed. The old man lived for many a day after. jl *• y. - 5 - i? i-Ji: ^'^ A HIOGHAIMIICAI, SKinCH OK Till.; If, however, liis ordinary (luties tlius entailed -reat liurdsliip they l.rought with them an une.|ualled iniluence with the p.'opie for whom he spent liimself. It could not well b,. otherwise. The tireless round of missionary work brought him in close touch M ith Ins j.eople everywhere. His willingness to rough it and to accommodate himself to conditions as he found them, won their admiration. When they were poor and struggling with adverse conditions he was as devoted as in their latter and more prosper- ous years. He was ever the father, couns(>llor, f.^iend. Graduallv he becan.e identified with the religion which was so much a part of themselves, and as the years progressed, and his ascendency <.ver then minds and hearts became a fi.xed and settled fact, thev leaned wholly upon his leadership. Seven priests do duty t'o-day in the district to which he in those days minister..! alone, but no one of them, however devoted aiuj self-sacrificing, can ever hope to wield moiv than a fraction of his inHuence. In such a broad field of labor the.e was great need of effective methods in orfl.>r to secure coh(.|vnce and permanence of results. J'ATMKH Co.N.vor.Lv was an organizer. The system which he i'stai.lishe.1 to meet the spiritual needs of his people, scattered as they were, was comprehensive and far-reaching. The country outside the towns or villages in which he had churches was sub-divided into districts, in which at certain set times he held stations every year. He was always punctual in lv,.epin- these appointments ; nor did he stint his work. He usually gathered the chihlren together and taught them the catechism himself, and made provision to have it taught in his absence. When it was necessary for some members of a family to remain at home from mass, he always advise.l that the young folk b., not so detain(>d. When contributions were to be made for his own support he persuatled the heads of families to giv.. their (,uota in part through their sons. The young men were thus reared with the working knowledge of the precept of the church — "Con- tribute to the support of your pastors." Thus slowly an.l carefully <lid he lay the foundations of a system, the ramifications of which touched every detail of church progress. VKHV IJKN 1;|{I:NI) MUXSKJXOK THOMAS CONNOLI.V. Til Woddstork liis work focussed on tlie completion of the lu'w cluu'cli, wliicli lui (.'filled St. (iertrude's, and on the estahlish- nu'iit of fi ])!ii'oeliiid st'hool. Kvery pennj' of his income, except what was al)solutely needed for his maintenance, went into the fund for the payment of the church debt. To increase this fund he |)ractised the most exactini,' economies. One winter he spent with no housekeeper hut a man-servant — the sanie who had discovered the i^uile that hiy in a cow-lwll. At len,i,'th, after years of weary economy, he was fre(> from chui'ch debt. Next came the (|uestion of Catholic education. Hitherto the Catholics of AN'oodstock had not had a school of tiieii' own. The children had therefore, often at the cost of petty persecution, to attend other scliools. He now proceed- ed to remedy this evident (lisal)ility. The Iniildinsj; which had been St. Mala- chi's Church was ready to hand. He turned it into a school-house, and invited iJartiiolomew Lynch, an excellent teachei' then em- ployed at (o;ind i'^alls, to take char<;e. That was in IS.")!;. I ,1(11 r Ml. Lynch's nianaj,'(>ment the sdiool prospcicd from till' ..i'^iniiin;; : and in the same year, 1 S.")('), we find it on the li,-t if pruochial schools entitled to a gnint from the Xew Bruns- wici Miveriiment. It is noteworthy that this i,'rant of 8150 was seci.K'd t'nf 1''atiii;i; Conxom.v through the kindly services of S. L. Tillev, who was not at the time even a member of the i;i:v. TiKiMAs 1,A\ i;uv. St. ( ieiir'^r : .\ssisl;int in l-";il iii'r( 'nlllKiUy. Sfiit. s, iss-j. Ill Aiivi'. •-'•', lss(i. 2G A HKXiHAI'llirAI, SKKTril OF THR House. The ac(|uaintance fonn.'d hctwoen Fathkh Coxnoli v |uh1 Mr. Till,.y on tl.at occasion aftrrwanls ripone,! into an intimate and lastin,i; frien.lslup. fn his latter years Sir Leonard was afroMjiient visitor at M<;h. (."owom.vs house. St. (iertru(h''s Chinch now felt the need of an or-an. Only u p.pe-or-an could, accordin^^r t„ Fat.iick Connom.v's plans. j^racV the freshness and I.ri-htness of the sacred edifice. l!ut where wer(> the funds to come I ivom >. Picnics were then in their infanej-, and his people hesitated to take ^ I the responsil)iIity of one. i But Fathkh CoxxoLLY was an organizer, and oiganiza- l tion can do much. He i" woiked up a series of com I niittees, each with its own '! department to look after, I and he in.sisted in getting much free lielp in one way or anothei'. The committee ^ collected from t!ie mer- cliants of the town and from the fai'mers of the „ , country alike. Great f|uan- tities of food were thus procured at little cost. iSS.S. This picnic— which comes down in local history as the Great Picnic -was held on Bull's Island, opposite Woodstock, in August, 1857, and was, pei'haps, in point of attendance and of net receipts, the greatest of its kind in our Province. The day was a public holiday in town and country. They came from the Tobicjue and they came from Nackawick ; they came from the Shikithawk and tliey came fi-om the Shogonioc ; they came in such numbers that the procession of teams on one road alone seemed to an eye-witness interminable. I l\i:v. .TdiiN .1. W'.M.sii, Holy Trinity Cliiirc', St. .Jdliii Assistant t(i Fatlicr ' ' ..mkiIIv. in 1 VERY UEVKRKNU MONSrCNOU THOMAS CONNOI-LY. -'/ All this great multitude Fathkh Connolly entertained and fed on IjuH's Island. A floating bridge led from the mainland to the picnic ground. A feature of the impromptu kitchen outfit was the boiling of water in wooden casks. Tiiis unusual process afterwards gave an old inhabitant the opportunity to rise superior in personal reminiscence to a new-comer from the Emerald Fslc. The Irishman was boasting of the thaumaturgic li Saint .Ioski'iTs ('mucii, Siikdi.vc, Kev. A. Ouclk't, Pastor. powers of some clergymen in the old country, who, by reading over water in a pot, could make it boil " by the fair dint of his larnin'." " Make water boil in an iron pot 1 Tut, tut, man !" the liluenose replied, "That's nothitig ; anybody can do that. Why, I saw Father Connolly make water boil in a wooden hogshead, And he didn't read over it eitiier." The Irislmian was outdone ; fact was stronger than fiction. 28 A mo(iUAiMii(Ar, sKincii ok tih.; The tlwiumaturgic value ..f oi-aiiizatio.i a.irl intelli-cu... was never better exeniplifierl tl.a.i i„ the resuhs of tliat one days f.vstivity. St. aertrucle's chureh g(,t a pipe-organ ; forlJ^Let proceeds of the .yreat pioiiic aiiioiiiited to 8I.7U0. While relijrjo,, wa. tlius pr<.-res,si„.ir nnd developh.i. i„ ,1„. Woodstock mission under such edicient guidance, a change in the othcal headship of th,- church in New Urunswick was i„,- pemHng. 'i'lie archiepisco- pal See .of HaHfax was ^ll^*"*.^ • niad(! vacant in 1 SoN l)y m^ y. the d«.atli of the M,,st ft - I IJcvercnd Wilhain Walsli W "^'^ ^ <>" thi' lOth of August. '^%, ^gf, l'.lsiioi> l'(i\N()i,i,v of St. •'olui, wlio enjoyed a well- deserved popularity at Home, was cJiosen hy the Holy See to succeed Arch- liishop Walsii at Halifax, ilis |)rouiiition left i he diocese of St. John again \acant, althougli Dii. (_'o\- xoi.Kv did not at once take posse.ssion of his new See, hut remained for .some months as administrator of Hi;v. Dksikk r. Lkcku. F()x Creek; Assistant to Mu,. ('o„„ollv, St John (Jet. -jn, ISSS, to Sept. »>, l,v,s!K-i„- ^^ ""'' C'arletoii and in Lower t'ove. ^^" fifter years tlie new Arcidtisiiopof Halifax won an international reputation. He possesse.l many of the elements of greatness. His bonhommie and sociability are historic. TluMe was a largeness and sense of perspective about him tiiat distin- guished him from ordinary men. P[e migh.t not stop to calculate ways and means ; he sought results. And if i,e forgot at time.s that the l,est results are for the most part the scpience of care- ful, painstaking preparation, it wa.s because he hated ploddin- VKltV HKVKHKNI) MOXHI(;NOH THfMAS CONNOM.V. 2U His Celtic impuIsivf'MOss somptinies wor liim mtlu'i- the approval of his heart than the eiidorsenieiit of his intellect. His European training,' removed him in a measure from that close symi)athetie toucli witli the poor whieli characterized the saintly IJishop Dollarri. The one was a missionary trained in the severe school of experiencf! ; the other a product of academical conditions, his views and opinions moulded in the liouibonism of European monasteries. Each did his duty in his own way. I'.ishop Dollard's policy was, all tliiiifjs considered, hetter suited to a young and stru,u;j,diii,<,' dioce.se ; ]5ishop Connolly's personality, learninif, and el()(|ucnce elevated the Diocese of St. John to a position of eminence in the ecclesiastical world. In oivitorical «ifts he was, it is claimefl, the peei' of Cardinal AViseman. hut he Mas not always up to his own standard. One monument of his taste and ]ii<,di aims in architecture remains, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conce{)tion ; hut it is a noteworthy fact that while h(! planned its propoi'tions and laid its foundations, the greater portion of the funds for its construction had either lieen left for that i)urpo.se by his predecessor oi- weic afterwaids collected hy his successoi-. V ST (Be s.i'm 30 A 1UU(;UAI'1II('AI. SKKTCII OF TIIK III. rATHER CONNOLLY ha.l n.ore M,an a priest's welcome for the next oeeupant of the episcopal throne of St. John. The Ui-ht Reverend John Sweeny had heen a collei,'e friend of his hoth in Prince Eldward^lsland, as we have seen, and at Quebec. In the solemn ceremony of ordination Father Sweeney had tutored and suppoited him. They had been brought toj,'ether at intervals since, and both had mourned the demise of Bishop Dollard. Fathku Conxoi.ly would gladly have welcomed his friend as I'.ishop of St. John at the earlier date which the plans of the deceased bishop had contemplated, if Providence had so willed. Now that the discernment of the dead bishop liad at length been justified, he looked upon Rish..p Sweeny not only as personally a tried friend, but as a man who would renew the best traditi<.ns of liishop Dollard's episcopate. From that April day in 1 SOO, ,.n whieh he saw his friend elevated to th.> episcopacy, down to the present hour, he has never wavered in loyalty or in priestly obedience to the Hishop of St. John. The connnencement of Bishop Sweeny's administi'ation was marked by the well conceived i)roject in favor of Catholic colon- ization. As a priest Dr. Sweeny had the idea much to heait, and did found a society known as the [mmigrant Aid Society. Through its woikings much was done to deilect the rush of Irish people from the cities and small towns to the country districts where they might make independent homes of their own. A ■Catholic colony was started on the borderland of Kings and Queen Counties in ISCO, at a place now familiarly known as Dingley Couch. Tiie nationality of the colonists was mixed, Irish and Bavarian. The latter colonists being of military i "aining brought with them elaborate outfits (jf rifles and ammunition. For a while the new ,settlenu-nt presented all the appearanc i of VKIiV HKVKHKNI) M(t\SI<;X(tH THOMAS CONNOLLY. 31 iiii armed cainp, iuid its location had a scriptural tang to it, foi- it was the land of Canaan. Tt was not, liowevei', a land flowing with milk and lionpv. The soil was poor, and after the first 'I'lli llhiii l;i:\ l.KiNU .lulls S\^l:l;^^. I ». I >. , lii~liii|i 111 S;iinl .luliM. iTdp-^ had di'plcli'd it, tli tc was im lichnt'ss left for sulis('(|Ut'iit tillage. One l>y one tiie eoloiiists, pai'ticularlv the t'oreigners, grew discouraged and left, until in our da\- Diiiglev (."oudi is more of a name for a worthless traet of eountiy than for a settle- ment of any kind. 11 ■«■ -$2 A HIUf^KAI'IIKAL SKKTCII OF TllK Bishop Sweeny, however, had on hand at tlie same time an alternative experiment in colonizing which promised better results. There were hirge blocks of vacant wilderness land in Carleton County, and report said that the soil was deep and ricii. The Bishop petitioned for a preliminary survey of 10,000 acres for colonizing purposes. After some negotiations the government of New Brunswick in iJ^GO ordered the survey, the land, however, to be subject to the conditions of the Laboi' Act. The tract thus set apart for Catholic colonization lay on the eastei'U side of the St. .John river, north of Woodstock, between the St. John and the head waters of the south-west Miramichi. Tt was at the time an unsurvej'ed and primeval wilderness. The intro- ductory conditions were the same as in Dingley Couch, liut the land (m the St. .John was richer than tluit on the Canaan. The success of the exi)eriment in Caiieton County in contrast with tlie failure in Kings was in a great measure due to the exertions of one man. Instead of leaving the apportionment of lots to some one paid for the purpose, as was the t-ase in Kings County, tlie Itishop invited the co-operation of the })astor of Woodstock. Thus was optMied to P'atiikh Conxoi.i.v a new an untried field of labor— the actives founding of a eolony. llajipilv lie possessed tl e (|ualities necessary for such an unusual undertak- ing— untiri.ig energy, unsparing self-sacrifice, good judgment, and a practical knowh'dge of pioneer lite He took to the work with characteristic' thoioughness. I'efore tlie government siii- veyors had set foot on the new survey, he had cruised the ground ill company with a ])arty of woodsmen in order to estal)lish by personal observation the favorable reports of the fertility of the soil. On this tri|i he lay (ait all night in a snowstorm which fell to a depth of six itu'hes before morning. This, however, were but one of the initial haidshipsof the under- taking. When the survey was comjileted and the tract dixided into lots, he had to apportion claims to settlers as they arrived. 'i'lu! success of his work depended on the characters of the settlers. More than once the society at St. .lohn recommended to him as colonists men who were unfitted for such a life. These he had VP:RV KKVKHKND MONSKJNoli THOMAS CONNOLLY. 3;3 to discoura-e or turn away. Often, too, the piiniary liardsliijis of the wilderness were so discouraging tliat some, dislieartened, would have thrown up the u. >rtaking if it had not been for the encouragement he gave them. ( )nce or twice he had to send collectors tlirough the old settlements of the county to collect food and clothing for the new-comers. Many of them, too, were .earning theii' first li-ssons in pioneer life. Fresh from Ireland, where the felling of a tree . was a penal offence, they knew notliing of the use of the axe. Tt would have been amusing, if if had not been pathetic, to see one of these awkward a.xe-men attempting to fi^ll a tree. instead of chopping into the trunk at niic ^jdc until the tree was almost readv to fall, he would scarf it e(]Mally all around, with the I'fl'cct that the tree stood, as it were, on a pivot, and the axeman could not tell where it would tumble. It was as likely to fall on the chopper himself as else- where. AVith such men Fatiikh {'owollv took the axe himself aiul exemplilied to them how the work -should be done, so detailed and painstaking was his inteiesl in their advancement. in honor of thi> patron of the new settlement, he called it •lohnville. "".Viiile liishop Sweeny's active interest i'l the success of Johnville never wavered, he was so satisfied with the progress niad(^ that he li'tt to F.\rMKi( CoNNot.LV the procuring of a second l!i;v. 1,111 IS I.kRi.anc, ('ii|H' liiilil : .\^si>|,inl tip l-'atlicrCdiiiiollv, Ui'tdbcr 1. ISSII, to .liil\ •_':?. I,S!I1. A MKMJHAl'lllCAL SKKTCII Ol' I'lIK sui-vfy of 10,000 acres when tlio Hrst was cxliaiistt'd. This the lattei' duly pt'titioiuHl ioi\ and the survey was made in iSlil, a year after the tirst survey. Within three years such was the influx of settlers tiiat tlie :!0,000 aeres ahvady laid off were insutlicient. A tiiird survey was then ordered, hut tiiis time tlie surveyors were not limited as to the extent of their survey. They added 1(),000 acres more to the area of -lolniviile. This l)rou^'ht the total survey up to .'?(», OOO acres. The layiiiff out of roads and the huildini,' of Uridines also fell under his sufjervision. (irants for these jiurjioses had to he secured throujj;h tiie county members, all of whom did not view fa\(ii'al)ly the advent of more C atholics to the couiitv. l\\ judi cious action he obtained, from yeai' to yeai, the })ul)lic moneys he needed. Jle was determined, however, that these sums should not he wasted in thv hajiha/ard ways that public moiievs for roads and bridi;es are often spent, lie had liinis,'lf ajipointed conmiissioner, and that bit of road had to be well made which he passed as satisfactory. I'>y this time the settlement had reached siuh proportions as to make a school a necessity. I'"ai iii;i; ('n^•^ll|,|,^ built a Iol;' sehooMiouse, which was u sample of the iii^eniiiiv that primiti\(' conditions will (le\-el(ip. Shingles muM iim l.e had for the roiif. Their place v\as taken by iiiediinn sj/ed tir sapling's, split thiouuh the middle ami lidllowed i.ul fm- their whole length. With these the roof was covered in -,11^1 a wa\' that the eoiicax it V (if one cullected I he rain from the eon\-exitv of the other. It was the me(li;e\id piiHlJle roof done ill wiiod. The lirst mass held in .luhn\ille was a unii|Ue incident. In the oiien air, amid the trees, near the spot where the tine church of St. .lohn the K\anj,'elist now stands, the Ijolv .Siicrilii'c was for the lirst time olVered in that wilderness. The chai'.i of human \(iices for he had briaii,dit his Woodstock choir there for the occasion awoke the soni^s of the birds in the trees oserhead on that .lune morninif, and the melodies of the fealheicd sonsisters accoinpanie<i the tiid<liny of the consecration bell. it was an occasion never to be forgotten. Perhaps only in the earliest I VKHV lU'.VKIiKN'l) MONHKiNOU THOMAS CONNdl.hV. ■> ; (lays of Aradia had Uio lioly sacrifice l)een ofi'crcd amid sucli l)ictiircs(|uc surroundings. The years Itetwccii I SdO ajid ISIiiS wore thus tlio husiest of his hfc. Apart from the scttlemont of Johnville and the arduous woik that it inipHcd, li(> had of course at tlie same time to attend to tlie nidinary (kities of Ids mission. Th<' ])Rople in tiie outlying (III Kill (II iili: .\ssr\ii'riip\, ( ' \i;i.l':i'n\, Sr. .luiiN, l!c\. .1. .1. |)(iiiii\aii. I'astnr. <iistricts were giaduaily rising to easier circumstances, and weie constantly incrciising in numliers. Tlie iwed of churches hegan actually to l)e felt in sexcral localities. Contempoi'aneously, tlierefort>, with the building of a church in .lohnville he also elected churches in Williainstown, South Kiclimond, and ( 'anterhury, near Skill' iiake. He was his own architect, and made out himself the sj)ecifications for the diflerent 30 A hio(;kai'mi(a skktcii ok tiik .j! M buildings. The |iliin lie followed in Hecuring the erection of these buildings were based on the joint oo-operation of Catho- lics in the different places. He divided the bill of scantling for each church amongst a number of the parishioners who prepared the lumber in the woods during the winter season ; then, when the fine weather came, he assembled them together and put up the chuich frame. Boards, shingles, and clapboards were also contributed, and the outside of the building completed by free Ial)or. The effect of such .systematic organization was to make tlie burden of building light upon all concerned. Uefore he left Woodstock for St. John, in ISG.S, there were new churches in Johnville, Williamstown, Richmond, and Canterbury. These years of labor in the sixties might fitly be called the most picturestjue of his life. They were filled with activities that differed mucli from the ordinary activities of a priest. We spoke of the earlier years of his ministr}^ as giving him kaleido- scopic views of men and conditi<ms. The experience that lay behind him wjien he had completed the twentieth year of his ministrj' could be duj)licated at that time by no other priest in New Brunswick. No othvr had worked amid conditions so varied or met ditliculties of the most exasperating kind with the same measure of sui'cess. Now that the brunt of the struggle was over lie needed rest. The constant mill -round of exposure, fasting, and hardship attendant on the care of souls in his large mission ha(! weakened his health. When, therefore, Jiishop Sweeny in the npring of 1S()S invited liim to take the rectorship of the Cathedral in St. John, where life would be regular and there would be no outside work for him to do, he accepted the invitation. J^)efore leaving Woodstock he installed as his successor the Reverend ^^ ni. J. Foley on the first Sunday of July, ISGS. If ever priest had claims to recognition and honor for signal services rendered to religion, it was Fatiikk Connolly. These IJishop Sweeny hastened to acknowledge. In ()ctol)er, ISdS, he appointed Fatiikk Connolly Vicar-(!eneral of the Diocese of St. .John, a graceful acknowledgment not only of the merit (jf VKKV HKVKKKNI) MoNSKJNOK THOMAS <;oN\()M,Y. ;{7 services, but of tlie loyalty of tried friendship. The ottice of A^icar-CJeneral gave Fatheu Coxnoli.v an authoritative standing in the diocese. Henceforth he was adviser to the Bishop, and had a voice in the direction of affairs. Thcjse who are in a positioii to know will admit that as Vicar-( General his relations with the priests of the diocesi- have l>een friendly and helpful at all thnes. During his incumhency at the Cathedral he re- ~ 1 organized certain depart- ments of parish adminis- tration, notably the man- agement of the cemetery. During this period also he was for a time Chaplain to the Jh'itisii soldiers station- ed in the city. He was also Chaplain to the peni- tentiary and founder of the Father Matthew 'i'otal Ahstinence Society, one of the most successful tem- perance societies in oui' p r o V i ti c e. His health, which had been injured by his trying labors in Carle- ton County, did not recuper- ate aki (|uickly in St., John as hehad liad n^ason toe.xjiect. While his work was less irksome at the Cathedral, it was never- tlieless trying by reason if the multiplied details of parish work that demanded his attention. ISesides, he was accustomed to out-door life and found it dithcult to accounnodate himself to the conlinenient which his new position entailed upon him. As soon, therefore, as tha aj)})ropriate opportunity offered he left the city, and in April, \X7'2, became pastor of the large and nourishing parish of tiraiid Digue, in Kent County. I!i;\ . Kiiw Mill SwAiiK, Sussex; Assistant t(i Katlicr Cuiiiiollv, .Inly, l.Slti, to Jiilv, l,S!)-_'. . i 38 A )lIOf;i!Al'lll( Al. SKKTCll OK I'lIK Thus after an interval of twenty years lie was again Uack Hniotif,'st the French people. At that tniie Shediac, which is now an independent mission, was a part of the eccelesiastical parish of (irand Digue. Amid the restful conditions of life in a Fiench parish he gradually recovered his strength. He was not destined, however, to remain long in (rrand Digue. Tn the fall of 1S73 the exigencies of religion again demanded his presence in Woodstock, and in Xovemher of that year he returned to that first arena of liis struggles. The text of his first sermon on his return will give the key to his feelings towards the Catholics of Carleton County. It is taken from the fourteenth verse of the tenth chapter of the Gospel of St. John, and reads : " I know mine and mine know me." Assuredly, none could know them so well or love them so <learly as one who had done so much through years of toil and privation for their spiritual atlvance- nient. Life was easier now in the Woodstock mission. Johnville had outgrown its early poverty and was already a thriving settlement with a church and priest of its own. River de Chute had also heen separated from Woodstock and was attended from Johnville. There was a priest resident in lioulton. The new churches in WilUamstown, Richmond, and Skiflf Lake were com- pleted. There would therefore no longer he so much "station' work to he done as in the old churchless days. Yet Faiiikij CoNNOM.V still found employment for liis activities. The parochial re.sidence in Woodstock, which had Ix'en (lesigii(>d on the narrowest dimensions, needed enlargement. He had th(> building raised and a basement stoiey in stone added to it. Allandale, a compact settlement, hack fi-om the river twenty- four miles helow Woodstock, needed a church. He at cmce began the building of one. Of the people of Allandale, let it be recorded, MoNSKiNou Connolly retains the kindliest recollections. <,»uiet, industrious, obedient, they made the priest welcome amongst them with a hospitality and good will that caiuiot ^■asily be forgotten. n^ VERY KEVEHEM) MOX.SKJXaU THOMAS CON'NOl.LV. :;9 In ISTT) the ViciiMTeneiiil's lahurs were fuither eased by the appointment of the Heverend Tliomas Walsh as assistant to hiiu. Father Walsh, whose early death in 1S71) was much rej^'ietted, was the first of a long line of young priests wiioin Father Connolly had associated witli him in parish woik. '^l Saint IIcisk's Ciiiui m. F \ik\ ii.i.k, Built by .Moiisii^iior ( '<iimi)lly ; Spire adilcd l)y Fatlicr CdUins in |S!I7 flS. The death of the Rev "end Edward Diinuliy in Septemher, 1S76, left the Parish of the Assumption, in Caileton, St. .lolui, vacant. Speculation was rife as to his successoi'. Tt was set at rest, however, \)y the appointment uf Father Connolly. In November of that year the Vicar-txeneral severed f(jrever his connection as pastor with Woodstock and its missiojis. Twenty of the best years of his life and industry had lieen devoted to the sj)iritual welfare of the Catholics of that me '^^ A HIOfiKAPHlCAL SKETCir OF THE reyion. He had his reward in the sense of labor well done and in tlie unfailing gratitude of the people. As we have already said elsewhere, no ecclesiastical figure will ever again dominate that county as he did. His keen sense of humor, his wit, his total lack of human respect, which made him strictly impartial in his treatment of all classes ; his energy and thoroughness combined with a striking personality, to make him the public figure he -as. In his day and generation in Woodstock he was the one power to be reckoned with in all things affecting the Catholic religion. Henceforth his life was to move along the lines of least resistance. The pictures,|ueness was gone. Grave duties, and perhaps graver responsibilities, remained, but the elements that hithet-to had made for a distinct in.lividual experience were left behind with the cruder phases of missionary life at Woodstock. He found his new parish thoroughly organized. A residence of cvmfortable proportions. g„od schools housed in a capacious school-building, with large hall and reading-rooms overhead ; a flourishing temperance society; a church edifice, with perhaps as handsome and artistic interior as was to be found in Me Maritime Provinces- all this Father Dunphy had left to his successor. Besides, the deceased priest hud provided in his will funds for the erection of a church for the use of the Catholics of Pairville, Milford, and vicinity, and had devised a property as a free cemetery on the Bay Shore. There was occupation enough, therefore, to employ his activities, with none of the wearin-^ anxieties which dearth of means brings with it. Under such favorable circumstances Father Coxnollv be^an h.s pastorate in Carleton. He at once addressed himself to U.e duty ot erecting, in compliance with the terms of Father Dunphy's will, a church in Fairville. He had now an opportunity- - subject to the approval of the Bishop_to build a church according to his own ideas of church architecture. The beautiful -^ but stron- and commodious -church of St. Bose at Fairville is a monumen" t() his taste and judgment. Its present pastor, the Reverend Charles Collins, has since added the graceful spire which shows VKRY HEVEHKNI) MdNSKiXOU THOMAS CONNOLLY. 41 ill the pictuie. Having completed the church, Fatheh Connolly liuilt a priest's residence. The preparations being thus made for the advent of a resident pastor, St. loose's church became a separate parish church, with Father Collins as its first pastor, on the l")th of November, ISS"). ThejVicar-Cieneral had always been an ardent advocate of temperance. In 1871, while rt«ctor of the Cathedral, he had founded the Father Mat- thew Temperance Society, and he had, by word and '■ . example, encouraged the temperance movement of the seventies. He was a familiar figure on platforms wiiere total abstinence was advocated, and men looked to him as a leader in a cause that attracted more attention then than it does at present. In 187!) he was elected president of the N. B. Total Abstinence I'nion, and in the summer of that year he presided o\er tlieir annual conven- tion. At home in Caileton he had under his guidance two erticient organizations, which did much to foster tiie temperance sentiment among his people. They were the St. Patrick and the St. Joiiii the Baptist societies. The lattei- was an organization of young men. The}' had a gymnasiuui and reading rooms in St. Patrick's Hall, and their public entertainments were the local events of each year. I )uiing the period from which we now treat — from November, lS7r>. to Mav, 18S!) F.vniKR Connolly had under him as Kkv. Damkl Cokbktt. Assistant to Fatliei' (Joimolly iit St. .loliii the Baptist (.'hunjh. JiilV, 1892, to Feb., 189(); (lied April 17, 18!)7. ii t- A UKMiHAI'IIICAl, SKi:i<|| OK TIIK assistants a iininhei' of youiis,' priests in siicccssiim, all of wlioiii wlio aiv aliv« to-day are proud of tlic fart that in tlicir no\ io" years of priesthood tliey had him as mentor and example. The lieverend John M. O'Flaherty, pastor of St. An(hews : the Kcverenfl William O'Leary, pastor of French Villa;,'e, C'»>ntral Kinf,'slear; the lieverend Francis I trad ley, pastor of Floreiiceville, Carleton County; the Heveicnd Tliomas I.aveiy, pastor of St. (Jeorge ; the Heverend John Walsh, pastor of Holy Trinity Churcli, St. .John City ; the lieverend Charles Collins, pastor of St. Rose, Fairville ; the Heverend Desin'^ Legere, pastor of Fox Creek, Westmorland County: and the Ueveiend W. C. (iaynor, of 8t. John the Baptist Chunh, St. John, were all attached, at one time or another <Iuring the term of which we speak, to tlie Church of the As.sumj)tion under the \'icai-(!eneial. In the spring of 1SS9 IJishop Sweeny erected a new parish witln'n the City of St. John, with the church of St. John the I'.aptist as parish church, and he invited Fatiiku Connolly to the rectorship. The N'icar-Ceneral accepted, and on the IGth of May, 1S>!», he formally took possession of his new charge. This was the eleventli transfer in his niissi<inary career, and in some respects it was a return to conditions akin to those he had had to encounter in the early years of his priesthood. There was a considerable debt on the clmrcli in Lower Cove : the interior of it had not yet received the elaborating touch of the (lecoiative painter; the new paiish lacked the organization which accomi)ani(>s separate existence : and last, but not least, there was no pai'ochial residence for the clergy. Here was work enough for a young and energetic priest. Increasing years, however, had not diminished the N'icar-deneral's energies. For tlie time being he leased lodging.- for his household in Sears' Terrace, St. James Street. He at once began the erection of a brick residence of three stories close to the church on Jiroad Stieet. He held fairs and bazzars, and or'ganized church sub- scriptions for the liquidation of the parish indebtedness. He had the nterior' of the sacred edifice painted and decorated at his own private expense ; and he furnished the sanctuary witli -r-K' — CmiK II 111' Sr. .liiiiN ■nil, Rai'iisi' and 1'\k(hiii \i. riKsiUKNCK, Hidail Street, St. .lolm, X. H. ' ' ' ■ ■'■.•■■ 44 A HIOCIiAPIIICAL SKKTCM OF TIIK statues, linens, vestments, tlowers, tand the otlier appiutenances of sacred worship. In the midst of these activities he was honored by the Holy See. His seivites to religion in New Brunswick had long deserved recognition from his ecclesiastical superiors. In May, 1S!>0, letters came fi'om Kome constituting him a member of the papal household with the official rank and title of Monsignor. On the fifteenth of the month h(> was formally iiivested with tlie dress and insignia of his new dignity bj' his Lordship iJishop Sweeny. He soon had his new parish well in hand. The gradual muulding of it into shape was congenial to him. His great experi- ence enabled him to lay broad and wide the founda- tion of a church-organiza- tion which as the yeais progress will piove its etli- ciency. Tn this work, and in the ordinary duties of the parish, he was assisteil in succession by the Kev. Desin'' lA^gere, by the Hev. Edward Savage, by tiie K('v. Louis Leiilaiic and later in the decade by the late lamented Father (.'orbett. His present assistant, the Rev. W. C. (iaynoi, has been with him since February, IS'.H). His active interest in the welfare of his congregation is evidenced by the purchase of a pipe-organ for the cliiirch in May, IS'.IS. This oigan was "opened ' at the Solenni High Mass of HkV. W. ( '. (JWMlK, I'rt'SfMt .Assistant to l-'iitlur ('(Piimillv. VKIJY RKVEHENl) MONSKJNOK THOMAS CONNOLLY, 45 his Jubilee Day, Sunday, July 10, :S98, and its tones wore first heard in the Te Deuir. of thanksgiving for his fifty years of priesthood. There is but litMe more to add to this sketchy outline of his labours. He is still the honored pastor of 8t. John the Baptist Church ; ever acti\e, zealous, energetic, the exemplar and model of a priestly life. Age has indeed settled down upon him but with that gentle unobtrusiveness with which it takes toll of some men. Advancing years bring him but little surcease of priestly laboui-. His morning mass is as regular as in his earliest ministry ; it is no unusual circumstance for him to attend sit-k- calls ; and, unlike priests with less claims to considei^ition, he sings the parish mass at least twice a month and he preaches every Sunday. It is indeed with him the eventide of life ; it is also the (juiet and the glory of the sunset. The years of his harvesting are now upon him and the harvest is abundant. Kach year of the half century of his miin'stry had its own measure of care, of lal)or, of an.\ious solicitude for the holy cause which he espoused on that July morning in iSlS, i,i,t i,i the perspective of the years as he regards them from tlic vantage ground of his Culden Jubilee in 1S9S, all sense of toil, of [irivation, of sacrifice, is lost in the joy of faithful and continuous stewardship. ,/>.*, "^v '^. / APPENDIX. Wliile Saturday, July !»tl., 181)N, Vas the aniiiv^M'.sary of Moiisigiiui- CoDiiolly's ordination, ooniplet^ui,', as lie did. on that day fifty years of his priesthood, the puhXjo celehration of the event took place on Sunday, July 10th. Tl'.V following account of the day's proceedings is taken, with per'nission from the morning papers the Sh,> and Teleymph : THK .MOKXIXii. \ 'J'he first (jhservance of the annivei-sary yesterday was hv a solemn iiigh mass in St. John the Baptist Church at eleven o'clock. The edifice was crowded and the service of an impies- isive character. The music of the choir was very fine, the Misses Coholan taking a itrominent part, while Mrs. John Connolly, of McAdam, als(. assisted and sang with all her old-time sweetness. Monsignor Connolly was celebrant of the mass, with Rev. W. F. Chapman, of Woodstock, as deacon, l{ev. J. J. Walsh, of H(.ly Trinity Church, sul)-deacon, and l{ev. Thos. Lavery, master of ceremonies. Among the priests in the sanctuary were N'ery Rev. .M. J. Corduke, rector of St. Peter's, '<ather Doyle, Father Farrell, Father O'Neill, Father Michaud, Father Collins, Kev. H. A. Meaiian, |{ev. .Mr. Murphy, and Itev. W. C. (Jaynor. Uev. H. A. Meahan. of >Moncton, preached the sermon, taking as his text : "And I will oivf you |mstor> acconliny to my own heart, and tlicv »liall tVcd \oii «itli knowledjiv and doctrine."' Jcr. iii. |.->. l)i;\iti.\ IU:i.uvi;i> HitKTinii.N, When idoliitr\ liad .■xttiided its l.anc ful inllncnie tindiiirliont the land, and llic hearts of the |i('o|iU. were heing turned from the serviee of the !i\ iny ( iod : when |iuMie homage was pai<l to the divinities of jiride, impurity and revenjie ; when in Miiiduess, lirou<iht on \>\ inlidelity and sensuality, men created the miiltilnde of their gods to e«|nal and even surpass in numlier their own APPEN'DIX FIFTY YKAKS A I'HIKHT. iiriiolilf |iii>sioiis: wlioii. in a woid. tlit" tna- (iod wa^ iiractically ivjcctcil, forfTottiMi. and almost iiiikiKiwii : tlicii was heard the voice of tlie divinely inspind jiiophet callini,'' on the people to listen to the \V(ir<l of the Alnii;,dit\ : " Acknowledjre thy iniipiity, () rebellious Isiael, retinn to nie, ye levoltinjr childien, and I will not tnrn my faee from yon. An<l I will oive yon pastors after my own heait, and they shall feed yon with kn<iwledge and doctrine." Thispromise.deiir brethren, had its complete fultillment in theixixin of the Christ, the Son cf (io<l: " Saciitiee and oblation thon didst not desire; burnt-otlerinirs and sin-otterin^s thou didst not re(piire. Then I .said, Lol I come to do thy will, C) (iod: " Hence, a new dispensation, a new hij;h priest, a new sacrifice: " b'rom the risinjz' of tlie sun. nnto the jroin^-' down thereof, my name is u-icat amon^f the (icntiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is otUrcd to my name a clean oblation." (Malachias i. 11.) The new dispensation is. my lirethren, tlie ChiTstian reli-rion : the new hii.di priest, the Christ, the Son of (iod, and the sacrifice, the clean obhition is the Holy Mass the sacrifice of liody and blood of the Chn.st, which are leally |)resent luider the appearance of bread and wine, and are offered to (iod by the priest for the livinir and tlie dead. The sacrifice of onr Lord on the cross was nrnloiditcdly complete. It was wholly sufficient for the purpose for which it wasotlercd. By it tiie Justice of (Jod was satisfied, for durinn- those three hours of in<lescriliiil>le and inexplicable sufierin-r on the cross, the .Son of (iod oave more iionoi' and irlory to (iod than had been taken or could be taken from him bv all the malice, infidelity, and wickcdnessof mankind. My it man'sredcmption was accomplished, heaven's gates opened, and those who were willing to profit by the divine oblation " were given power to be made tlie sons of (Jod." "He gave him.self for us that he might redeem us from all iniipiity, and purify unto himself a people acccptabh', pursuing good works." (Titus ii., 14). His priestly office <lid not. however, cease when lie expired on the croisH. He is the prie.st forever, and it was his loving wish and <'omiiian(l that the merits of his pas.sion be incessantly and forever applied to the .souls of men. In heaven with the marks in his side, in his feet and in his hands, he continues to present himself before the Kteriial Father, for " he ever liveth to make intercession for us." (Heb. viii.. •'' \nd on eartli he daily renews in the Holy .Mass this clean oblati infinite merits in the mystical action, which we cull the Eiieharisti< al Siierifice. On Calvary it was a bloody sacrifice, but in Holy Mass it i> the mystical and commemorative offering of the same holy vi<'tini, without blood, however, without suffering and without <leatli. "Do this for a coi«i- metmiration of me." (Luke xxii., Ii»). "The chalice of benediction w. It it tilt' 'ihaMo huiiol' A all |lt inn HIT to nsof II all j^iiod 1 tilt' iianti (I the lilt ill r, tur ml on iliiiitf litift'. Mica I loot I, fOlM- ii'tioii AIM'KNltlX KIKTV VKAHS A I'UIEST. in. Avliicli wf lilfss, is it not tlic I'oiiiiiiiinioii of ihf Mood of ('liii>t. and llit- liii'atl wliicli \vi' liifak. i- it not tlif paitakiiio' of tlif liody of ilic Loicj." (I. ('or. x., it>). Tiiily lif lias Ifft a iiit'iiiorial of all lii^ wondiTfiil woiks. " What shall I otlfi- to tlif Lord that is woitliy'; Whtivw itli >hall I kiu'fl lit'fori' tilt' lliyhllod/" Tlif fiy of thf liiiii an lifait 'r Ami tidin thf iiinltitiidf flothfd with wliito i-olifs, who have hfiii \\a>lifd in tlif hlooil of till' La nil I. i-oiiifs hack thf aiiswfr : Thf ic can he not hi n^;' swcftcr or nioit' aj.Tfcalilf to thf Alniijjhty than this elf an ohlalioii. this hi-aiitifiil, atliat'tivf, snhliiiif act of wor- ship, which is so adft|ii;,tf *'ii' thf f xprt'ssioii of f vci y hiiniaii fcfliiiLT and w liich liiinji's iiicn into such close union w itli him who savs, " My llcsli is meat iiidffd, and my lilood is drink iiidffil." (.lohii \i.. ."i(ii. From thf Itfjiinnim.^' man sought a worship such as this. lie lon^'ftl to ha\f soiiif adf- (|natf way. soint- himiaii, visi- hlf incaiis of jiiviiij;' c xprcssion to his thoughts. He waiitfd to know how to spt'ak to(iod in contidf iiff and in lo\f, to know that his ))rayfi would iif heard, to tiiiil a way liy wliifh lif could fiff himsflf from thf doiihts wliifh coii- tiniially hfsft man, a worship worthy of a ( Jod. Opprt'ssfd hy thf know k-djff of his own iiialiility iiitcUi- iTfiitly ami worthily to sfi've oiii^ St) liiirli, so inconipru- hfiisilile, what slioultl he hiis consolation, his ileli^dit and j.n'atitudc when he coines to know that throuji'h thf safit-il Imniaii heart of Jesus, iiiiitfti as it is lo thf l)i\ iiiily, he hasfountl a motif of wtir^iiip whicli supplies all the wants of thf himian soul. \\"f liavf ill Holy .Mass a sfi'viff worthy of < ioil. Thf piifst is thf Lortl him.-^elf aiitl thf victim ollfifd iioiif otiifr than thf safrt'il hotly aiitl piffitius hlitod t)f that Kteiiial Son in whom thf Father is wfll pleased. Coiilil We possihly ilfsirf niore ? We are no loiiofr askfd to jrathfr for .sacritifial pnrptisfs, the first fruits tif tiiir labor the tiistliiiyx of our Hkv. M. a. Mkaii.w. Moncton. iv. AI'HENDIX KIKTY VKAKS A I'RIKST. tlock.< iiic not ajrii'ealilt; aiid tlic siiiokiiiii' \ictiins \\lii<'li oiipo covfiTd the- iiltin> (if tlif teinplf liavu ht'Cdincim alioiniiiatioii. We now witli rt'M'iciii'u and licaitf* tilled \\itli contidi'iici'. a|)|)i'()a('li tli(> sacred altar: f(>ar lia.s uixeii way to niilKiinided love, foi- we mow realize that we have a treaiiiire worthy of iiitiiiite majesty, one who I'an interpict onr thoniihts, and in U'lowin'^' \Mirds make known to him the desiies of oni' hearts. Hert^ liefoie the Holy of Holies we lealize the (li<^nity of man, the winth of an immortal soul; we taste and feel somethin<i' of (lod's love and i)eeoine jieifeetly eonx'ineed antl persuaded that union with the Christ lu'ieafter in heaven nnist hejiin and continue with him while heri' upon earth. The crowninj;' glory of the (.'atholie priest, my friends, is the power which he receives in ordination of eelehratinji tlie Holy Mass. He is clothed with tlie .aithority of Jesus, and hy virtue of his sacred ottiee liecomes an A//i ,■ Chris/Ks. Hence this cele])ration, the commemoration of the Hftieth ainiiversary of a Chiistian priest and |)astor. "And I will U'ive you pastors accord in jr to my own heart and they shall feed you with know ledjre and doctrine." I sincerely thank you, Very Kev(!rend Monsijiiior, for your kind invitation extendeil to me to he [jresent. When re(piested In" one of your friends to addres.s this lari^e coni^rejiiition, my resjiect and esteem for your reverence |>rom])ted me to consent, and now that 1 understand my inahility to do justice to the occasion, in my humiliation I find, howevei', some cons(jlation in the thouifht that 1 can at least, while here Ml this lieantiful house of (Jod, unite with your friends and admii'er.s in tiiankinj;- the <iiver all <roo(l jjifts for the sij^nal favors he has conferred upon you. Priest of the uewdis[)ensation, " taken fioni auioiii^'men and .-ippointed for men in the thinf.fs that appertain to (iod," you have had the extraordinary privilege, foi- fifty years, of daily staudin;^- liefore the altar otieriu",'' the Holy Saci'itice of the Mass, thereliy jfiving infinite glory to (iod, tilling heaven with joy, and obtaining rest for the faitliful de- parted, hringing men grace and mer<'y and that peace that surpasseth idl understanding. Conscious of the siililimity of your vocation, and understanding the nature of your priestly ottiee, can we l>e astonished if to-day, this day of your sacerdotal golden jidiilee, you cry out with the \'irgin Mother of <iod : " Fffil mihi m(ii/ii<i i/iii /lali nxist " — He that is mighty hath done great things to me. ^'onr heart, in this solemn feast must he oveiHowing with the sweetness of holy joy and grateful love. " V'"' irtrihiaiin /)oi)i!iio." What shall I render to the Loi'd for all tlit' things that he hath rendered me. I will take the chalice of salvation, and will call uiMin the name of the Loid — I will sacrifice to Thee the sacrifice of praise, aial [ will call upt n the name of the Lord. Fifty years in close <-on\nMmiou with the .source of all life and love, instrument in tlie handf APl'KNDIX FIHTV VKAHS A I'lilKST. of <loi|, iii.liiin- to .Mmiiiiiiiiiciitc t(. tliuusaiKls of people lliose eliiuiiiels of divine iiieicy wliieii eoiitiiiiially How from that Saciwl Heart uliieli loves men so mncli. To ns wlio arc yoiinn..,- ir si'ems so lonjr, lonj;' ajio— tlie montli of .Inly, l,S4S: Mow saere.lly and tliankfnlly you juive treasured tlie memory of that thriee happy day ! the l.irthda'y of your sacerdotal life, the i)e<riniiinfr of thos,. years, s<. full of zeal an.l -iood »vorks. Vour ordination took place in St. Alielmers Church, in Father Sweeny's parish, St. .Miehaers. now the Cathedral Church of the extensive and llourishino- <liocese ,,f Chatham, which is so prn(h-iitly, wisely, and pater- nally ooverned l,y the j;enial, laroe hearted, andnohle minded Dr. Hoji'ers. It w;is the apostlic saint, the meek and hundile l)ollai<l, the man after <;od-s h.'art, who anointed you with Holy Chrism, ,ind around you, assistiuu-at the solemn rite and support ine- you hy their presence stood, like Said amoujr tJie prophets, the stately Huan, luiohty in woid au.l in deed, impetuous, ajryressive and as uncompromising- , is his prototype, St. Lawrence O'Toole. Father Eo-an, whose memory is yet '^rrvn in the faithful hearts of those who dwell alonjr the shores of t hi" Aliiamiehi '. With him was the piicstly I'ac.piet, the (Jraiid Vii^aire. a true prie-t of those [lioneer days. Craiul Vieairc Facipiet's name is still venerated and held in loviuc rememlicrance not only liy the jjjood Acadians of the the Baic des Chaleiiis, hut also throui,diout the whole nortlufn country of Xew Hiimswick. .Vnd another was there. Father Sweeny - he a true ami constant fiiend, whoa h.df century ae-o, reco<rni/.ed iii you, .Monsijrnor. the (|ualities which c-o to makeup the y.ealous. worthy and cajialile priest. And pardon me, venerahle prelate, if I say htVe in your presence, he was not deceived in y,.u. When mother church learned that he possessed the wisdom, pindence. and sacerdotal spirit which should always chara.teri/,e lliosi de-iined to rule, .-ind conse.iated him Hishop of St. .I<ihn, he renieniliered your worth ami rewarded voiir liKiit. appointed you his Vicar Ccueral, and later on. with pleasure and landahle pride, recommended you to the notice of our llolv Father, t he 4,neat and imuiort.il Leo .Mil., who raised you to the dijrnitv of a I'le- late of the Chureh. a meinher of his own household. "And they shall feed you with kiiowledi^'c and doctiine." In the sac- rament of holy ordcis. you were made a priest not only to oliei saciilicc, hut also to teach and administer the sacraments. "Teach them to olisei'eall thin^r.s whatsoever 1 have commended you." .\o\\ . man mav ask, and not always without reason, when is it that the pastor teacher ■only what is of f.iitli that which must he helieved and oh.served — VI. AIM'KNIH.X FIFTY YKAUS A FHIKST. tliroiiirli InmiMii fijiilty tlic tciiclifi' is liiililc to vvv, exposed to Imvc his- own iiitcipiclatioii of tlie (liviiic will (nicstioiicd. 'I'lit' aiiswci' of tlic |iiiisl is liis oidiiiiition ccrtiticatf, liis coiiiiiiission ffoiii tlie Cluircli o' Christ, which is '■the I'illur' and the (iroimd of Truth," the visibki iiifallililf <'hiii(li. fill- '• ill the last days the iiioiiiitain of the house of the Lord shall lie prepareil on the top of tiionntains, ami it shall lie exalted al)o\i' the hills; and all the nations shall How unto it, and many peojile shall ji'o and say: ( 'oiiie and let us oo up to the mountain of the Loi'd, and to the house of the (iod of .laeoli, and lie will teach us His ways, and We ^hall walk in Mis paths, for the law shall come foitli fnini Zion and the word of the Lord from .leliisaleiii. " As men are I'oinnianded under |iain of eternal separation from (iod, to hear and lielieve all the teaehiii",^ of the apostles and their successors, is it anylhini^- more than reasonalile to expect that tli»^ depository of the Christian doctrine should lie a trustworthy and infallilile acfiit. Other- wise we would lie forced to the conclusion that the Christ re(piired from man an im|)ossiliility. for how <'ould there exist a real, i^eiiiiine faith where there is not im|)lieit eontidenee. Permit me, dear liiethiMi. to remind yon, here, of a truth well known and iindersto<id liv eveiy nti'lliui'iit child of the church. It is this : The creed of the Catholic Church is not manufactured liy man. It is not the crcition of any |iope, lii-liop, |iriest or |)rclate. It is not the icsult of protracted study, of deep resean^h or of |)rofound knowledije, nor is it an emanation froi" the feitile lirain of dreamer, poet or skilled philosopher. It is simply the truth, all the truth levcali'd liy .Icsiis Christ to Mis church that teach- ing liiidy which He has made the infallible depository of His religion. '• Hear the church ; he who hears you hears .Me, and he who des|)ises you despises Me. ' Admittinu- this as true, can we po.ssilily object when wc heai- tht; apostles alHrm that they, and they aloiu', p<issess all ti'utli and alone enjoy the sole authority to dctine and announce it. " We are of Cod,"' says St. John; "he that kiuiwcth (Iod heareth u.s ; he that is not of (iod. heai'cth us not ; by this we know the spirit of tiuth and the spirit of error." Man naturally loves the treth. "Thou hast made us for for Thyself. () Lord," says St. Aujiustine, "and our heai'ts arc restless tmtil they re| lose in Thee." That yearning,'' after information of thinijs supi'riiatural. that innate desire of knowinj,^ (iod"s will, that Innnaii instinct of self-|ircscr\ation, that lon<ri nj^ after forc-ivencss, for pea<'e and reconciliation, is stionji' in every human heart. Now, the true Catholic who understaiuls his r-eli^ion feels -he knows that he possesHes all the truth iiecessai'v ,o unite him to (Iod and piocure for liiniself eternal salvation. This conviction comes to him on account of his belief in an infallible authority here on eaith. We can. therefore. « AFHKNDIX — Kinv VKAHS A I'HIKST. Vll, iv.i.lily in.d.M-tim.l liis ,vs| t aii.l ...ilimit.Ml riMilidt-iwc in the tcMcliinfr ..f Ins i)ast(n>. Tli(.n.uol,|y |K.isiiii.l..(l that |.ii..sts. lawf.iUv constitnte.f liav,. |.,a..ti,.ally ll.e assistan... nf tlu- H„ly Spirit : yt la.vvr t<. sucl, an .■xtfiit as t(. fth'ct its natiitc or n-n.lcr it bryond rccujriiit i(.n. Sl.oiild d(ad>t as t.i any (|ii..sti.Mi .,f dcM-tiiiic aiis..rtli.'v Ih.iIi |piiost =""' l''-"l'l<' l.iiv.. a livino-, visii.l... infallil.l,. aullmrity 't„ u liirl, tla^v may appeal ; this divinely prot.Tt.Ml tnl.nnai. thu teacliin^- Climch', ^■■ivesth.Mn p,.rf.-ct siMMuitv. tiiat rnusu\\u<r svu--i- i>f safetv wlih'h causes faith, hlu- h.v,., to .MM out all t.-ar. \o weak. vaciUatiuo- adhcivnc- to hr fo.uxl in conMir.Mat s such as ihrsc. foin,,..! as Ihcv arv hv thr word, to ad,.n- Cod in spirit and in truth : no waverin- or mean', con- t..-n.ptihl.-donl,tinn-, un«ortl,y ,,f n.an's intelliu-en.M.. and most insultintj to the veracity of (Jod. And th.^ priest, h.nv manfully and with whnb fearlessness and .•onvietion he ainio m's the word. '■ The spirit of the K..I-.I is upon me,- h,. say... •• lu'eanse t he Lord hath anoint. ■.! m.. : He liath sent m.. to prea.^h to the mck. to heal the eonlrile .,f h...rt, and to preach a release to the captivo, an'l a .leliveranee t(, them that are ■"'"'" "I'-" <> fl"' lieauty of Ih,- Christian faith '. How it strengthens .■ni.l e.u.ohles all who possess it. It rais,.> the mind fn.m earrhlv to heavenly thinys. |t tills the s,ad with a relish f.a' prayer and an'elii- ea<'ious desire for clos,. ,-,.niniunion withdesus the .Mast.'r : it lifts the lieart to thoughts suhlime, and iutlames t he « ill t .l.ler heroic deeds, worthy of the eai'ly martyis and first confessors of the faith. Xocreated power can destroy reliuion in the man of faith or extin- jfiiish in him the love of honor and truth -no intlnen<v is sti-oiij.' eiiouyh to turn him from his purpose or put out that holy lire within himrthat I'uinino- /,,d anil oe,„.,,„is devotion: ••'Ihe /.cal of thy house hath eaten me up." How dilierent the ei>ndition of thos,. whose souls are over- shadowed hy the curse of douht. I'uhappy mortals: while the full, hencti.Mcnt lij^ht of ( lod's life-niviny truth continually shines before them,' eleai' as the n iday sun. why should they remain yropinj;- in darkness, waiiderinjr about in sadiu'ss. confu-ion and wreteiied uncertainty; why not claim their lejiitimatc inheriti i ■. the rijrht to know and serve and Iove(iod. To day they wish toendirace the truth and be free I To-mor- un\ they are unhappy for want of stability ; now lost in admiration of the beauty, powci. anil humani/.iiioiiitluenee of religion, and ayain tindini-- fault, condemninii- everythiuii- in the form of doirmatie faith a.ml in theiT- pride practically wishing- to render the mind of (Jod subservient to their <UMi. (). the pity of it I Men created as m.hIs : -'you are >i-ods all of you, sons of the .Most Hi<-h '. heirs to the kincilom of heaven." And yet they forfeit their liyht beeaii.se, forsooth, they are unwilling.' to jiive" to Omnipotence the ureatest act of worship of which man Is ca|)able an iict of faith a surrender of ,i limited, iiiu'crtain, dceitful reason tu VUl. AI'l'KNDlX IMKIV VKAKS A J'HIKST. iincrfiitt'd wisdom, ,i siiciiCicc ot tlir Iniiium toilii; will divine. Why iiii|iii^;ii (iod's vciaiity in tiiis inaiHicr ' Why iniaj^'int- that the divine economy should he otheruise than it is'.' Why have any miseivines aliout the means or the way? it sh(add not lie thus, tor «,. have no excuse III ,iir,i- t,i justify sueli unwdil hy eonduet . t'oi- "a path -hall lie there, and a way, and it shall lie ealle<l a holy way, and this shall lie unto you a sliaiylit way. s<i tiiat even tools shall not err I herein." Bles.sed are they who li.ive lieen chosen liy the Divine Master and have been honored hy tiu' proud die-nity. He has conferred upon them - friends, ministers, pastors, icprcscntatives, dispensers of Mis mvsteiies, clothed with His authority and endued from on In'uh with Mis sacerdotal power. And yon, .Mcaisiciuir, ha\c lieeii () suiiiimc and iii< iprchcusilile dicnity : (Jodlike piivilejre ! \n\\ have lieen associated in the most intimate manner now over fifty years with the Son of (Jod, the Christ- - wdrkinii- with Him, aidinc Him in doino- His work, forminu' for Mimself a lieautiful elniich without spot or wrinkle, a con^reeation to ador<' the Father in .sjiirit and in trutii. Of your lahors connected with your wise and priest-like adiuiiiistra- rion for the hist live decades of years, we will say notliin>.i- the sanctu- aries emiched and orn.imented the (.•hiirciics linilt and repaired the t-juth, the lo\c and levcieiicc in the hearts of thi> thousands to whom you administered the Sacraments and cave the P>rea(l of Life, all, all thes(! thinjrs te.stit'y to the fact that (iod's |iromise in respect to hinidreds of •j'ood (.'hristian fauiiiics in New |-5rimswi<'k has liccn undonlitedly fullilled in you. "And I will uivc yon pastors .after my own heart and they -hall feed y<iu with know led;^e and doctrine." Amen. THK AFTKKXOOX. Sluirtly after one o'cloek tlie seveml Catliolic societies in the city l)e,<j;a!i to gather at St. Malaclii's Hall, tlie startiii.c- place of the societies' parade. Tlie Nortli End Societies were escorteil to tlie place of starting hy the Artilleiy l)aiKl, wliile the West End C. y\. I!. A. was j)layed to the point of assemhly hy the Caiieton Cornet l>and. (J rand .Marsiial Thomas Kickliani, with liis aids, .Messrs. John liiug, Jolin Ward. John Lee, and Jos. ArcMiiitli, allotted to eacii society its jilace in (jiiick time, and so well did they iierform their duties tliat tiie appointed hour for startinj,' had pas.sed by l)ut a few nunutes when the big line of men was under way down King street, headed by tlie City Cornet IJand. Immediately beliind tlie band came the I'niform Hank of Division Al'l'KMUX riFTV VKAUS A I'KIKST. IX. No. 1, A. < ). H. Tt wiis tlieir first appearance, and tlie company, in tlie very neat and attractive uniforms described in the Tdr- (/riij)li, and showinu e\ident;es of good drilling, was admired by all. Tlie success which met their first appearance in public may be taken as ])r()miHing the formation of other companies of the I'niform Hank. The other meniV)ei's of J)ivision No. 1 and L', A. O. H., were next in line, making a strcjng turn out. The Holy Family of Portland followed, and then the music of the Artillery Jiand was heard, giving the step to branches l;}4, IS;} and 1:5;$ of the C M. I). A., which were represented i)y a large contingent. The Irish Literary and Benevolent Society was next in line', followed l)y the Carleton Cornet Band. Then came the Young ]Men's Society of St. Joseph, the Father Mathew Association, the St. .loseph Senior Society and St. Malachi's Total Abstinence Belief Society. The procession was a very lengthy one. well haiuiled, and was a most creditable affair, one of the best of its kind ever witne.s.sed in tlie city. The sti'eets through which the societies marched \v(!i'e thronged with people, for the day was glorious, and all who possibly could were out to see tlie i)rocession. The route, as outlined on Saturday, was followed, aTid St. John the Ba}itist Church WIS reach(!d before three o'clock, th.e hour fixed for vespers. The societies completely filled the church, even taking up extra seats wliich had been placed in double colunni in all the aisles. iUit few outside the society men were; able to gain access to the interior of the building. Very Rev, .Monsignor Coiniolly sang vespers. The choir sang the J)l.ii/ J)n)niii'is, Zi)i</(ir<//i'x l,iiii(lali\, the Lamlnti' Do)iiinit))i and Mn(jnilli-at. At l)enediction of the Blessed Sacrament Miss Mary Coholan rendered Hummel's Sahitaris, and l.,aml)ilotte's ThhIidh Enia was sung. I»ev. Father La very, who as master of ceremonies had charge of the arrangements of services, appointed Bev. Father Michaud d<>ac(jn and Bev. Father L)03'le sub-deacon at vespers. -1.. m. Min i I X. Af'PKNniX— Kin'Y VKAKS A I'HIKST. After vt'spcis tlio l)f'n('dietioii of tlie I'.lcssi'd Sficraiupnt was given, and then .M(>nsi<,'nor Connolly letired to the vostiy and returned in a short time, having taken oflP his vestments. M(jnsigiioi' Connolly having taken a s(>at within the sanctu- ary, Re\-. W. C. (Jaynor, who, liy the way, has been a most eaiiiest worker in eonnei'tion with the jubilee celebration, addi'essed a few words to the people assembled. Jle said now that the sacred part of the celebration was over, addresses would be presented to .Monsignor Connolly, but first he desired to say a word to the societies. The turn out was a grand one, and Father Meahan had told him it was the finest body of men he had ever seen in line. The procession was a credit to St. John. Father (Jaynor read a telegram received from W. C. Winslow, Mayor of Chatham, stating he had been direct(ul by the town council to convey congi'atulations to Monsignor Connolly on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, which took place at Chatham fifty years ago to-day. The following telegram was received from the Hon. John Costigan and others : Ottawa, July !)tti. Ili'jlit 1,'inn ml .M<iii.ti(iiiiir C<iiiii(ill i/, V. <•'.. Si. Jiilni: HiiiMlicds of Xi'w Miuiiswick's sons, while fai- away fitmi tliat fail- old <'ily lpy the sea. will to-day join, as we do, with the rest of your tiock in oticrin<i- their incense and eonoratulations to yon on yoiu' jiolden jnhih'f. W e recall with pleasni-e your s|)len(iid achievements as a priest and prelate, and nioreovei' your unostentatious ellorts and ceaseless half centuiy of toil foi' (iod and country. J<MiN Cosi'icAs, John Connok, I). BruKK, .1 AMKS 1'. (^M[NN, I). J. DIIISCOI.I., H. A. COSTIIIAN, JoMN 1). <;ka('i;, A congratulatory letter was also received from His liordship Bishop Rogers, of Chatham. Patrick McCarthy, on behalf of St. John the Baptist Church, read the following addi'ess : To till Virji I'lnniiil Jfoiis/i/iidr Thoiitti" Coiinolli/, Viinr-diiii ml of llir hiixi SI- iif Sii'nil Jiilui : Vkhv Kkvkkkm) Monskinok, — Oil this the tiftieth iiuniveisary of your ordination to the priesthood, we, the {leojile of the Parish of Saint John the Baptist, feel houoied and AI'I'KNDIX — KIKTV YKAKS A I'lUESI. (Icliuliti'd I lint il i> diii' piivilc^rc to cxtciid (o you nuv licaitii'st mid imist siiiciTi' coiiH'i;!! iilatiiiiis. \\'i-ar(Ml,.f|ilytlinnkfMl that tlic Aliiiinlitv Arl liter (.fall tliiiiirsnom I lias accorded toyoii the .i|)|HPit unity, the '^nu-c, and the stienjith tii fnltil in Ml worthy a inaniier. a,- yon have done, the .sacred duties of your lioly ealliii-i', thidiijrh the snnshine and shadows of half a eeiituiy of l.nsy life, every day of which liionj^hl its nieasnre of anxiety, care, and responsi I lility, thoiiirh withal, we trust, its well earned iiiced of consolation. \\ c lie<^- to ex|ircss onr warnicst admiration of yonr indefat iiiiihle lahor in the cause of lininanity, and of youi' faithful and ahle |ireachiii^r and teachiiiy of the word of (lod. We are fully conscious of the patience and the kindliness of heart evinced hy you. on all occasions, towards, even, the huiiiMcst ainonost ns, and we j^ladly hear evidence to the /cal you have ever displayed for the well-l.cin^- of yonr tlock, foi who>e I'lilinlitcuiiient yon have never lieeii chary with iiistructions, exhortation, and ^^ood advico, which often, perchitn<;e, taxed your [ihysical force to the utmost limit. We respectfully re(|uest you, .Monsij;nor, to accept, together witiithis adilrcss, the acconipanyinji- inade(piate testimonial of our i,natitude. esteem, and love for you iiersoiially, and of our apprueiation of your tempcriince principles, and of your work for the {f lory of the Creator : and we earnestly wish that we may lie permitted yet for many years to enjoy the happy aihaiitaji'es t;ained from the admiralile administration of our pious, learned, eloipient, witty, and revered pastoi', of whom we are proud to say : He stands a clu'ef upon life's highest plane, Witli men who worldly honors never seek. And who are famed for lives that bear no stain And for the words of wisdom that they speak. Sijrned on liehalf of the conjrrejration of the Church of Saiirt .Tolin the Baptist. Patrick .M<'('arthy. Thomas ( Jorman. Thomas L. ('oiii;hlau. Patlick .1. Moouey. .Fames H. Doody. Thomas Ritchie. William H. Coates. •lohii .Mctionanlc. Henry Spears. .Michael Farrel. .Vh'X. McDeiiiKitt. Patrick Cassely. Thomas M. Foley, .lames McManus. .rohn Spears. William I^owe. Sr. Timothy Daley. -Michael .Moran. Hart. Kojrers. William NN'alhiee. Thomas Munis. .John Klmore, Sr. (Christopher Kane. Rohert Kitchie, Sr. Roheit .J. Ritchie. John .). .Shaimhan. Timothy O'Learv. Patrick" Critfith." James Do vie. .Jo.seph Dolierty, pilot. Frank Stone. Peter Treanor. Jas. Thompson. .Fas. Kllsworth. .Stephen Oakes. Thos. Pyiie. Timothv O'Keoff'e. Richard Walsh. Willi»iii Melntvre. Walter Whaleii. Mrs. M. Fleiiiinjj. .Mrs. Noriiiansel. .Mrs. .Jeremiah O'Leary. .Mrs. Marffaret Condon, .lames Mantle. ' ff] Xll. APPENDIX - FIFTY VFAHS A HRIKKT. Hugh (liilliiylier. .\lrs. Burns Aiidi-t'w I'linley. .laiiu's Kvan. B. Sinvtii. Mrs. (iilheit. Mis. Jas. Heiidetsoii. Daniel McDtMiuott. Michat'l Flciod. Daniel Morris. Mrs. .lohn .McCoskerv. .Folm T. I'ower. Kdlifit O'Brien, .Sr. ■William .Maj^ee. John 1*. .\lalonev. M. B. Owens. Francis Me.Malion. Mieliael I'owei'. William Heott. James O'Biien. Jolni Keiniedy. Jolni Sullivan. Davi<l Drinan. William Hai|ier. Daniel Harris. Francis .Me( inire. Patrick Killen. Tliomas Kille;!. James Oakes. .lames .\lur|)liy. Hiigli Dolierty. David Fleming. .Mrs. Catherine Mills. Hem-y Fimiegan. Joseph W. Doody. Jiimes .Mclnerney. James Daluy. Dennis .McCiratli. Tliomas McCiiath. I'eter Oak.'s. Bernard .McDermott. .Mrs. .Folm .Moran. James Clarke. J. D. Camphell. L(niis Lachaine. .Austin I'ower. Patrick .McManus. .Mrs. Uoey. Joseph Kennedy. I'atiick Fagan. Ileiny Stevens. .Fames l.,ang. Joseph .Mallet. Joseph Fiodriguez. Patrick ( !oiinan. Michael Cullinan. .Folm Abliott. Jo.seph Al i.ott. Jolm .Mur|)liy. 'I'homas .Markey. Horence Dri.seoll. .Fohii .Mc.Vnulty. I'atrick McCarthy. .John Hiley. 1'. Fit/.patiick. (,'liarles FmisIow. David .NFeaghan. 'F'honias .Alexander. .Michael Hourke. 'F'homas l^ydon. .\Fichael Coady. .Michael Couglilan. diaries Daley. 'I'homas Hiley. Daniel .Mur](liv. F'eter O'Donnell, Sr. .lohn Stevens, (ieorge .Stack. .Fohn O'Brien, Sr. l.,ouis F"wiiig. .Fames (iornian, .Sr. .lohn .Mc( Jollity. Fleiiry ()' Began, .lames l..ittlejohn. M.ugery L. McBeath. Thomas Cosgrove, .Sr. .Michael liiirns. .James Mc(,)uaid. John Hayes .Fosepli Baxter. Will, .lohn I'rice. |{oliert Hudson. .Vlfrcil Crow le\-. William Dri^c'oU. 'I'hos. .Mc( Jiiiggan, .Sr. F'eter ^F■Cal•|. .Fohn .NFoi 1 issey. .Folm Sullivan. Williiiiii .Martin. .Tohn .MeX'ane. Alfred I^ennet. .Matthew MeCiiiggan. I'atrick Biordeii. 'I'homas ( )'Brien. .Fohn Sullivan. William Cotter. .Fames .Me( iiiiley. Heiirv .Mc(iuire. .John J. Xoriis. William Hart. .Michael Claiicey. 'I'hos. .Mc(iuiggaii. .Fr. Williiim (^hiiiiii. .Mrs. J. C. Burns. .Michael .Mc( iiiiguaii. .Mrs. .1. ()-Begaii. .Joseph P. Doody. Heiirv Doodv. .Mrs. "Mary Holmes. .Fohn McCarthy. 'I'hos. McCarthy. Tiniotli\ .McCarthv. .Michaei .McCarthy. Kdward .McCarthy. .Fames Boss. Daniel Boss, .Mii-hael Bnssell. Cornelius Kane, Sr. 'I'hos. Kane. Herhert Kane. Frcdcrii'k Dovle. Mrs. W. .1. Coiilson. 'F'imothv Dwver. .Mr.s. Farley.' .Maggie Steveii<. .Mrs. ('has. Stevens. CharlHS Mitchell, b'raiik .Murphy. ( 'oleniiin Flaherty, .lohn O l-Siieii. .Fr. ■Miss F.' .Mitchell. .Miciiael Fifzpatrick. .lames H. Price. ( 'onielins Hennessey, (ieo. Lavers. .Mrs. < ieo. I.,aveis. .Mrs. havers. Thos. Baxter. Peter .Moii.ier. Bohert O'Brien. .Ir. Fdward Connolh . Mrs. .las. O'Xeil. Francis .Ahhot t. .Mis. Thomas .Murphy. .Mrs. O'Siillivaii. Annie La\ers. .Miss O'Siillivan. .lohn ( 'oiidoii. .Joseph .Matthews. .Mrs. Fen ie. .lo.seph O'Xeil. Howard .Mc( Juirc. APPENDIX — FIFTY VKAKS A PRIEST. Xlll. .loliii Conddii. .If. Artlnii' \'iiiuMil)iirir. .Mi'>. Hoii-ersoii. Tlionia?* ( all)] il It'll. Tlionias Burns. .Inliii Sullivan, .Jr. .Micliat'I .McCiivci n. .lol.ii Mi'Hiide. .lolin T. Riehaids. (iforire McDeiinott. Tlionia.s FoiTL'stol. Patrick Traynor. Tlioiiiat< ('oniloii. ■Ios('[)li Kane, •lolin Murpliy. Koltert .1. Ki'tohie. .Idlin Kliiiori!. .Ir. William E. Baxter. Fred. J. Ba.xter. .Jaine.s MeCi-eady. Cliiis. Nichols. Hose McFadden. Mary AlcFadden. Thomas Traviior. Wlien this had been read, Mr. McCarthy inesented the addreiis, and two pretty little misses Agatha Gorman, daughter of Ml. and Mrs. Thomas Gorman, and Gracie Doherty, daughter of Mr. and .Mrs. Hugh Doherty — advanced and handed to the Monsignor a Horal basket, which contained SGOO in gold, the gift of the congregation Tlie address from the Father Mathew Association was then read by ^Fr. Stephen H. Fry. Tt was in these words : 7V( //;- I ■</•// III n,r 11(1 Jfoiisii/nor 'I'lioiniis Coinioll i/, I'iair diinrol (if tin J hori. If III' Sd'nil ./ollil, Xiic /liiliisirir/:: ^'l■;K^ Ri;\KKK.Ni) anh Dicak Kik, - Whilst Ininilpjy tliankin<i' tlie(!iverof nil jfood jrifts, the memliers of the Father .Nhithew Association lieff to tender to you to-day their sincere and joyous felicitution.s on the occasion of the Fiftieth Amiiversarv of your Ordination to the Holy Order of Priesthood. It is witli trreat pleasure that we recall the fact that you honored us hy acce|itiiio' the office of Chaplain at our orpiiii/.ation on March S(, 1S71 ; and we are not unmindful of th ■ valuaMe assistance then f,nveii liy vou to our first (Mesident and the other otticcrs in the early days of the A.'s.sociiitioii. We are jjlad of the opportunity of publicly tcstifyinj.' our hifi'h rejfard for the manner in wl ich you have discliar>re(I the ihities of your Haered OHice ; meritiii]Lf as it did your ai)i>ointnieiit as Vicar (ieneral of the Diocese by our l>eh)ved Bishop, the Kijrht Heveieiid .Tohn .Sweeny, I). !>., and later on, the sinnal honor of liecoiniiii;- a Domestic Prelate af the Papal Household, the ifift of his Holiness, the Illnctrious I'ontiH', l.co. .Mil., as a reward for your loni.'' and faitlifid services in tiio ministry. nil XIV. APPENDIX FIFTY YEAHS A PRIEST. When we eoiisidei' the trials, liai'(l.>shi|)s ami privations endured liy the missionaries for many years after your ordination, it is a matter for general rejoicing to see. although half a century has elapsed, that you are so well ahle to pei'form the holy functions ; and the menilters of the Father Mathew Association lio))e and pray that ymi may be spared many years to continue to otticiate in your native city. Stki'Hkn H. Fky, j \V. H. COATKS, CoillllliU'i . Timothy OBkikn. I The third address was from the amalgamated Catholic societies, and was read and presented by .Mr. James Barry. It was as follows : '/'() Ihi Virji Riririiid Moiislr/iiof Thoniii-'i Cdiiiiollii^ Viitirdi iii nil nf ihi Dioctsf ()/ Sit III/ John : VkRV ReVKRKND MONSICNOK, — Fifty years of active an<l continuous ministry inti'rvene lictwceu that .Tuiy moiiiiug on which you were ordained to the holy priesthood and this auspicious <lay. Five and twenty of these yeais have iieeu conse- crated to the interests — the temporal welfare and sjiiritual progress — of Suiiit .lolm City and its suhurlis. It is fitting, thcrcfoi'c, when all others who have henetited In' your untiring exertions in the cause of religion are expressing their :iense of gratitude for the nuuumliered hlessings you have liccn instrumental in drawing down upon them, that the Catholics of Saint .lohii and \icinity sho\ild w ith one acclaim voice their congratulations on this t.ie Jubilee Day of your priesthood. Therefore it is that we, the Catholic Societies of St. .lolin, Portland, Carleton, and Fairville have gathered here to do you honor. Ours is no merely conventional and academical tribute, but the heartfelt expression of our atVectiou and respect. We are not unmindful of your great services to religion in this Province. .Vlmost coeval with those of our beloved Bishop they are almost diocesan also in their extent. Not in the immediate functions of the sanctuary alone have they been exercised with siich eminent success, but in ways more secular where the temporal and .siicial advancement of our |>eoitle conjoined with their spiritual life. Your crvices in founding and sustaining the settlement of .lolmville amid tin- discoin'agcments and hardships of its early years, thus insuring happy lives and c(m)fortable homes to so many of our people, proclaim voti one of the benefactors of the Ii'ish in New Brunswick. When the distressing agitation of the School (juestson arose to fiisturli men's minds votir intervention in favor of an honorable rei.'onciliation of op|M>sing \ iews was invaluable, and gives us to-day such a settlement of the vexed <|uestion of education as is practicable and acceptable. The fact that I . APPENDIX — FIFTY YEARS A PKIKST. XV. Vdii ueie ill i;lo.«e toucli witli the pul.lic meii of your native city fncili- tated this statesmanlike act. Your ceiweless advocacy of tein|")eiancc, your leudcrshi)) both in tlic piili)it and on the phitfonn in every matter that made for hctter citizenship and hicrher Christian ideals, show how discerning is your conception of modern social problems. Wliile thus recogni/.injr in you the type of a high ecclesiastic who can unite an unswerving devotion to religion with a proper interest in the material and so<;ial welfare of tlie state, we are i)roud to claim, as societies, a more intimate relationship with yourself. To some of us you have been founder or reorgani/.er ; to others President or Spiritual Adviser ; to others you have been a friend influential in securing fitting status and recognition. We thank you, therefore, publicly and solemnly in the name of the Catholics of St. John, Portland, Carleton, and Fair- ville ; we unite with your friends everywhere in congratuhiting you on the length of your priestly days; and we pray that you may long l)e spared to enjoy that unbounded measure of love andrespect to w^iich your enu-nent public services and exalted private worth so justly entitle you. Signed on lielialf of tiie societies : I'ATiiECK Ol.KKSON, President St. Makichrs Total Ahst inence and lielief Hociety. Stkimikn H. Fkv, President Father Matheir Association. J. H. McLAnaiMN, President St. Joseph's Senior Society. Titos. M. Walsh, President Young Men's Society of St. Joseph. -MlCMAKL McDaIJK, President Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division Ao. ;. FkaNCIS CoKllKTT, I'resident Ancient Order of Hibernian*. Division A'o. ■.'. I'aTRICK (il.KKSON, President Irish Literary atid Benevolent Society. Thomas.!. Fitzcikkald, l^esident Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Branch X'o ;,!4, Thomas Kickiiam, President Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Branch jVo. J,«. KliMIMi R. O'CoNNOK, President Catholic Mutual Benefit As.iociation, Branch No. IS',. John .MoKiiis, Prefect Holy Family Society. Il'i XVI. A1M'EM>IX -FIFTY YKARS A HRIEST. iNFonsignor Connolly, in i-eply, felt very grateful for all the good and kind tilings said about liiui. He felt just as able and just as willing as ever in his life to face a day's work. He fully appreciated the congratulations coming to him from all ((uarters on his golden jubilee. The congratulations he had received were not all local, but came from various quarters in Canada and the United States— in fact, from wherever lie was known. He came to St. John about thirty years ago, and as soon after as possible set about to re-organize St. Malachi's Society, and it is happy and prosperous to-day. A couple of years later the Father Mathew Association was put in motion, and it also is alive to-day. Both are doing good work. He urged his hearers to avoid drinking liquor ; it is no good to any one, and only l)rings ruin to those who indulge in it. Above all things, love God and your neighbor, remembering that your neighbor means all mankind, of svhatever creed, color or nationality. Pay proper and due respect to the Sabbath, and keep it holy. It is not sanctifying the day by merely saying a hurried prayer or going to mass, and then clearing off to the lakes, woods, etc., to spend the day in a worldly way. In con- cluding, Monsignor Connolly again thanked all for the honor paid to him. After the service and presentation of addresses, the procession re-formed on Broad street and proceeded down to Sydney, Sydney to Brittain, Brittain to Charlotte, Charlotte to St. James, St. James to Prince William, Prince William to Dock, Dock to Mill, Mill to Paradise Bow, up Main street to St. Peter's Church grounds, back Main street to Paradise How, and along City Boad to Waterloo, Waterloo to Sydney, Sydney to St. Malachi's Hall, where the procession dispersed. THK EVENIN*;. At 7.. '50 o'clock about one hundred ladies and gentlemen gathered at the Monsignor's residence on invitation of the Toadies Auxiliary Society, to attend at the presentation to the Monsig- nor of a portrait of himself, painted for the ladies of the congre- APPKNDIX - FIFTY YKARS A HUIKST. XVU. giition by Mr. F. H. C. jNlile.s. The Receptiun Committee was cDinposed of Mrs. Fvatie Ritchie, Pre.sident, the Misses Katie Lowe, Florence Pyne, Buins, Coady and iMoPartland. Refresh- ments were served liy Mrs. Katie Ritchie and Mrs. Sarah O'Connor, assisted by Misses Doody, M. Ritchie, Lowe, Spears, Baxter, Mooney, Al)})ott and Coady. The principal feature of the evening was the reading of the address by Miss Nellie Ritchie and unveiling of the portrait. The address was : To /hi' Vi ,1/ R<r<r<ii<l Mi>iixl<iiii>r Thnmiis Coiniolh/, VirKr-diiiirttl of tin- l)iorisi' (if Sdiiil Jii/iii : V'kkv Kkvkkkm) Monsicnok, — \\\\ tlu' ineiiil)fi> of the Liulies' Auxiliary Society, approaeli yon on this tiuMpic'ious occasion with the tender of onr wannest congratnlations. The event wliieli you eelelnate to-day is, it is needless to say, unicpie in your life ; and the |)iivilege of eeleljiatin<i;- it with you will ceitainly be siliguhir in ours. Duiing the decade you iiave spent among us no other opportunity ottered so fitting and a])pro[)riate to the expression of the sentiments of love and reverence that we entertain foi- you as this of the (Jolden .Jubilee of your priesthood. The apostolic precept, indeed, pro. hibits women from raising their voices in the ehuich, but we know of no prohil)ition against our addressing you within the privacy of our home. To-day you stand at the ai)ex of a half-century of work for (iod and society. As you look back over that lonj;- term of years and I'eview its labors, its eares, its sacrifices, and its triumphs ; as you lecall your ex[)eriences among the ditt'erent congregations over whom in the succes- sion of years you have so etticiently presided, we may l)e |)ardoned if we express the iiope that we who are hist in point of time to come under your ministrations are not the last or the least in your esteem to-day. Indeed we would have the Scriptiual adtige, "The last shall be first," fultilled ; and while we freely admit that the memories of early days in other parishes and among other conditions are apt to crowd out the less l)ictures(|ue thoughts of latei' times, we would claim, as the spiritual childien of your old age, that precedence in your att'ections which a happy fortune enables us to hold in this (hiy's celebration. Our Parish and ourselves have been blessed throuj.di your' niiin'stni. tions. As beloni>ing to the sex whose special kingdom is the home, we thank you for youi' untiriuij,- advocacy of temi)erance and sobriety of life ; we acknow ledge with yiatefid hearts the debt we owe you for the many woids of wisdom and good advice you have addressed to us from XV'IU. APVmmX^nFTY VKAH.S A V,UKST. ■ : h!' K. your l.o.ne where your eve oai, offe.. . ' '"' ^^'^^ l""^^' y..u, ."■ompted this presentation ^ "•nicrhte.l^ affeetiuns which «..i.^!pr,;:;jt;:;,;;:;,-° '-'■»■ -^-"^-.v ««<>■ .. .,»a„„.e„ „, Nkllik Ritcuii,-, -MKS. KaTIK RlTl'UIK ui -Mks. R. m.lls ' - '^""''^■' of prayer, and said he would ..enie.nber the ladies i. ''^' and hoped they would p.ay fo. hi," "^ ^"^""' V] GOLDEN JUBILEE. 'This is tlie day the Lord hath made ; let us be ghid and rejoice therein. By word, by deeil, by lofty tliouirlit, Hatli tlif i;reatiiess of tliisdiiy \>vvn wiouolit. Till now the years, like ir„l,JeM uiiiin That ^r,„\v(, ill (sti'eiijrth by sun and rain, Made perfect by (Jod's jrracions <,'anife, Have reached to-day their "olden a^e. But iiot to these we would oni' tribute pay. They're i)nt the mile-stones of the windinVwav That from youth's threshiioid hath been ijnively trod By Inm this favored Priest of <iod, \\ ho knew no nijiht, nor day, nor hour That was not part of Heaveirs dower. To few 'tis ifiven ere .«et of .sun To see their morninjr's work thus nobly done — To hear from lips with love allame That "life hath not been all in vain''— To see within the kindlinj;- eyes That (;od iiath lilest the sacrifice. The way niayha]) was lonu- from base to peak, Ofti'iies tof merged for poor weary feet, But He who saw the need liatli also jriveii Stren<;tli to the toiler in his work foi^Heaven, Till thanks to " love that casteth out all fear," And Hope and Faith that maketli dark ways clea The heiohts are reached, while yet the eveiitide Lingers to bless our friend and jruide. And we wlio walk beside the way, (ilad in fhe<,dadness of the day-^ We, children of iiis tender care, His earnest thouirht. his ceaseless prayer, What siiall we say, what do to |)r()ve," We're not unmindful of this love? We ask till" Lord, Whose will su|)renie Hath throu<.di all time his watchword Ijeen, To shield with love this Reverend Priest, And make his ways all paths of jcaee. Till the soft sunliylit at the eveniiijr's close Woos the brave soldier to his sweet repose. MiKiAM N. B. Fkr,\n.