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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
In spite of his half century as a priest he would
never accept the position of pastor, preferring and
requesting, as The Atlanta Journal says, the humbler
position of assistant.
Father Quinlan was the guest of honor at
a gathering in Savannah Wednesday, January 12th.
Members of the clergy from practically every parish
in the Diocese were present, in addition to a great
number of the laity.
The following Tuesday Father Quinlan was given
another reception at St. Patrick’s Church in Augusta,
where he was ordained in 1871. A d:r.:_er in his
honor was given at Sacred Heart Rectory by Rev.
P. A. Ryan, S.J., at which Bishop Turner, of Buffalo,
.N. Y., and Fathers O Reilly, Donohoe and McEnroe,
Brooklyn pastors, and the clergy of Augusta were
present.
No Catholic in Georgia needs to be told of Father
Quinlan s tenderness, his devotion to duty, his genial
manner, of his possession of all those traits which
are found in the truly great. We shall not attempt
it. A letter which came to The Bulletin office re
cently tells of an incident which is characteristic of
the man, and we shall let that speak our tribute:
Savannah, Ga.
Editor The Bulletin:
The 50th anniversary of Father Quinlan’s ordination to the
Holy Priesthood is an event that ought to appeal to every
Catholic heart in Georgia. It is the first time that a priest
ordained in the state ever celebrated his Golden Jubilee.
There are few parishes in the Dioceses where Father
Quinlan has not at some time exercised his holy office, min-'
i tering to the spiritual and temporal needs of the people.
Savannah, Augusta and Atlanta have enjoyed his genial resi
dence in their midst. It is my impression from the knowledge
I have of his generous nature, that he has no great amount
of this world’s goods The writer lived in four parishes where
Father Quinlan’s best labors were so well performed, his ten
der sympathetic heart would not permit him to allow, suffer
ing and want, if it lay in his power to relieve it, even though
it required his last cent. That his statement is fact would
be borne out by many who have been helped by him.
My early recollection of this good priest goes back to the
time, when he was about to receive Holy Orders, about the
year 1870. It was at the time a Mr. Samuels was connected
with the schools in St. Patrick’s Parish in Augusta, Ga. A
little boy had a chill in school and went out to try and get
warm in the sunshine. About that time a good Samaritan
came along, taking the shivering boy in his arms, carried
him .to his study, placed him in a rocking chair by a com
fortable fire, when he went to sleep and the chill passed off.
The kind benefactor of the occasion was afterwards ordained
“Father Quinlan.’’ It is in service like this that my very
dear friend has few equals. It is doubtful if the incident
here related was ever thought of by Father Quinlan again^he
probably does not know the boy’s name.
Trusting the occasion which does not come often may be
made a happy and joyful event in the life of Father Quinlan,
and may God bless him,
From the boy who was so kindly treated,
(Signed) JOHN M; McBRIDE.
The restoration of the Papal Chateau of Avignon,
which was the seat of the Papacy during the period
of the Fourteenth Century known as “The Baby
lonian Captivity, ’ has been completed. The Holy
Father, it is said, has consented to furnish the prin
cipal historical rooms with antique furnishings from
the Papal wardrobes.
On Superior Avenue, Cleveland, from the Public
Square to 105th Street, some three miles, are seven
Catholic Churches, and another will be erected in the
Spring.
CARD FROM MRS. FARRELL.
To the Friends of Janies J. Farrell.
To you who proved your loyalty so admirably to
Mr. Farrell in the touching and splendid way in
which your sympathy was extended to me and my
dear ones, when God saw fit to claim him and to bow
our heads to unutterable grief; to each one of you
individually I wish I could express even in some small
measure my feeling of gratitude. At such a time sym
pathy is appreciated and friends seem dearer. What
Mr. Farrell had given out in friendship was restored
to us a hundred-fold, especially by those who came
to our humble home and shared those last sad hours
with us; who went with us to St. Patrick’s Church
where were showered on him such princely honors by
Priests and Laymen alike; thence, to place him un
derneath such a profusion of flowers which he so
fondly loved.
Who can but say his earthly reward was propor
tioned to all he did to obtain it? How can I ever
thank such dear friends? I have been too indisposed
both in mind and body since, to feel I could, until the
courtesy of The Bulletin suggested itself to me. The
following was sent to me by a cousin of Mr. Farrell’s
which I find most expressive:
GOD BLESS YOU.
God bless you! Words are empty things—
We speak and think not of our saying
But in this phrase forever rings
The higher tenderness of praying.
It means so much—it means that I
Would have no fears or frets distress you,
Nor have your heart timed to a sigh,
God bless you!
This trinity of blessed words
Holds all my wishes, oldest, newest,
The fairest deeds that can be wrought;
The holiest greetings, and the truest,
It s more than wishing joy and wealth,
That kindly fortune may caress you,
That you may have success and health,
God bless you!
God bless you! Why, it means so much,
I almost whisper as I say it;
I dream that unseen fingers touch
My hand in answer as I pray it.
May all it means to all mankind
In all its wondrousness possess you
Through sun and cloud and calm and wind.
God bless you!
Sincerely,
MRS. JAMES J. FARRELL.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago last year 124,287
children were attending Catholic schools. The Dio
cese of Brooklyn has under its care 4,000 orphans.
The Rev. A. T. Bell, formerly an Anglican clergy
man of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Brechin,
has been received into the Church by the Benedic
tine Fathers at Fort Augustus, Scotland.