DIOCESE   OF  HARTFORD.  339
Rev.  Thomas  Griffin,  Springfield.
"  J.  F.  Campbell,  D.D.,  North  Manchester.
"  T.  Synnott,  Bridgeport.
"  Patrick  J.  O'Dwyer,  Ansonia.
"  Peter  Smith,  Norwalk.
"  Dr.  McGlynn,  St.  Stephen's  church.  New  York.
"  James  Lynch,  Waterbury.
"  Charles  McCallian,  Ansonia.
"  H.  Brady,  Naugatuck.
"  E.  Gaffney,  Thomaston.
The  .sermon  was  preached  by  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Lynch,  Charleston,  S.  C.
Taking  his  text  from  Hebrews  xiii.  lo,  tiie  preacher  began  by  compliment-
ing the  people  of  the  parish  on  the  beauty  of  their  church  and  the  generosity
and  faith  they  had  manifested  in  btiilding  it.  All  had  done  their  part — their
late  pastor  who  had  the  courage  to  begin  the  work,  and  the  younger  man,  his
successor,  to  whom  he  had  transferred  the  task  of  completing  it.  All  had  con-
tributed of  their  means.  The  widow  had  given  her  mite,  and  the  little  chil-
dren what  they  could  bring.  The  day_was  a  joyful  one  for  them  now  that
they  took  possession  of  a  church  which  was  more  beautiful  than  any  other  in
the  diocese.  The  preacher  then  said  that  sacrifice  was  the  crowning  act  of
all  true  religion,  and  had  been  so  from  the  earliest  times.  Prayers  could  be
and  were  shared  by  others  than  God,  but  to  Him  alone  could  sacrifice  be
offered.  Sacrifice  was  the  distinctive  mark  of  the  Church,  and  therefore  from
the  earliest  ages,  in  the  Catacombs,  in  the  far  East,  every  church  had  its
altar.  Though  nothing  could  add  to  the  dignity  of  that  sacrifice,  which  was
the  same  under  the  dome  of  St.  Peter's  as  in  the  rude  chapel  of  the  poor  mis-
sionary, it  was  nevertheless  fitting  that  beautiful  churches  should  be  built.
In  an  eloquent  passage,  the  preacher  spoke  of  the  myriad  stars  that  adorned
the  heavens,  and  were  to  us  as  we  gazed  upon  them  lamps  of  lights;  so  to
the  saints  and  angels  in  paradise  looking  upon  the  world,  foul  and  dark  with
sin  and  evil,  the  churches  appeared  like  stars  amid  the  blackness.
In  the  evening,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Lynch  was  celebrant  at  the  vesper
service.  The  Rev.  Dr.  McGlynn,  of  New  York,  was  the  preacher.  His
text  was  the  following:  "Truly  this  is  the  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of
heaven. ' '
After  the  erection  of  the  church,  the  work  of  completing  St.  Francis'
Orphan  Asylum  devolved  upon  Father  Murphy.  He  had  charge  also  of  St.
Bernard's  cemetery.  "  But  while  his  youthful  energ)-  was  laughing  at  the
heat  of  the  fray,  and  while  great  and  delicately  manipulated  real  estate  trans-
actions were  on  his  hands,  there  came  the  great  financial  panic.  The  sources
of  the  chvfrch's  income  almost  dried  up.  His  ability  was  of  no  avail.  His
eyes  lost  their  lustre  and  his  cheeks  paled.  Night  and  day  for  some  }-ears
longer  he  struggled  with  the  frightful  incumbrance  of  debt,  then  about
^165,000."
Father  Murphy  died  on  May  19,  1S79.  The  impressive  funeral  services
were  held  in  St.  Mary's  church  on  the  21st.  The  officiating  clergymen  were :
Rev.  Father  Lynch,  of  Thorndike,  Mass.,  celebrant;  Rev.  Fathers  O'Keefe,