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 I'IfJ 
 
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(!H i 
 
 FIFTY VIL\RS A I'RIFST. 
 
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Kiitrrcd luci.icliiii.' (d Ai'l of tli.' I'.iiliiiiiii'iit of CuMdii. in iIk "\ cir ISflS, 
 
 liy III.' \{i:\. W. ('. (i vvMiii, 
 
 at llif |)t"|(arliii,.|it of .\j:ni'iilt iiit\ Ottawa. 
 
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^.- 4- 
 
 THE VERY REVEREND MONSIGNOR THOMAS CONNOLLY^ 
 Vicar General of the Diocese of St. John. 
 
Fifty Years a Priest : 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKPnXJH 
 
 OF 
 
 ^lic ITfra ilcDcrfnti Kloustgnor iFlioiniis (t oiinollir, 
 Oicar General. 
 
 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.