Recollections of My Life and Reflections on Times and Events During It: A Memoir by Father W. J. Howlett

Page 56

deCourmont, later Bishops in France, and perhaps others whom I have lost sight of. Of lesser light there were many. Abbe Odelin became Vicar General of Paris, Abbe Blanvac a Vanon of the Cathedral in Paris, and others who rose to dignities in their respective diocese. From America we had George Corrigan, a brother of the Archbishop of New York, Father McNamara, who died of the Yellow Fever at Memphis, Father Flodd who built the Sacred Heart Church in San Francisco; also, Canon Murnane and Philip Newman of London, Canon MacCluskey of Glasgow and Patrick Agnew who came to Chicago later and died pastor of St. Sylvester’s.

          One I well remember was Paddy Morris of Edinboro. We were of the same class and ordained together. I rehearsed him in the manner of saying mass and he, like many others, used to come to the sacristy to practice before their ordination. Fifty years after the date of reception of the subdiaconate I was thinking of him, as I often did on account of the peculiar names of the Biblical persons mentioned in the first lesson of our office for trinity Sunday afternoon. They struck Paddy as very funny. Paddy was a most congenial and good-natured companion, with good talent and a level head, always smiling when he was not laughing.

          My thoughts led me to condult [consult] the Catholic Directory in its report of the Church in Scotland, and in the report for the Archdiocese of St. Andrew’s and Edinboro I found the following:

Vicar General -- Right Rev. Msgr. Patrick Provost Morris, Cathedral Chapter Provost: 
Right Rev. Patrick Morris, V.G. St. Patrick!s [Patrick’s], South Grey’s Close, 40 High 
Street, Right Rev. Msgr. Patrick Morris, Mr. V.G.

          With due respect for all these titles and the bearer thereof, I addressed him a letter that was written for Paddy Morris, and waited with some apprehension to learn whether I was writing an impertinent letter to a stranger, or recalling old times to an old friend. Here is the result. I also enclosed a kodak snap of myself.

                                                                                                                            St. Patrick’s Rectory
                                                                                                                                      40 High Street
                                                                                                                                               Edinboro
                                                                                                                                       19 June, 1925

My dear Father Howlett:

          Your charming letter has just been handed in by the afternoon postman and I cannot delay a minute before sending a reply. How good of you to remember your old companions of fifty years ago. Wherever I have been, and I have been to many Missions in this diocese, I have always carefully preserved the class photograph of 1876, and have it hung there beside me to this day. There you are and very little change there is, although the change might appear greater had you removed your biretta for the snapshot.

          It is a great pleasure to know that some of the class will celebrate our fiftieth year in God’s holy service. There are few on this side of the pond.

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