ST. PATRICK'S CHAPEL IN WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL.

New Zealand Tablet, 9 September 1920, Page 33

ST. PATRICK'S CHAPEL IN WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL.

. A touching example of Scotch interest in St. Patrick and the Irish, and of Scotch criticism of certain neglect in honoring Ireland’s great Saint in England was related recently (says an exchange). ° „ A young Scotchman, who at that" time was a nonCatholic was taken by a friend into Westminster Cathedral. The friend was showing him some of the beauties of that temple. They appeared especially interested in the splendid chapel dedicated to St. Andrew and the Scottish Saints. of ql Vl pV h ? T '^t SS6 a the apparently unfinished chapel w .f' ™ nck - he Scotchman asked what chapel this was. When he was informed, he remarked what a shame it was that this chapel should not be finished. what th? 7, he said t> o English Catholics not know what they owe to St. Patrick and his devoted and gallant children in the faith? What a shame for that chapel, above all others, to be unfinished But that did not end his notice of the matter fnl , r-. ™i. re J, ates that the Scotchman had often told him that in France he had seen the devotion and heroism to Irishmen. He,had been interested 1 an peared, to see masses of Irish soldiers dead with mtminV,iSCaPUiar,u 0r UCifiXeS ’ wWch thev often lay behind tte * **'***** wh -h Later he was received into the Church Just be

tud© to St. Patrick by placing a few pounds, which comprised i all his savings, into the box for offeidngs with which to complete that chapel. His friend, who wrote to an English Catholic publication about this incident, took occasion to suggest that English Catholics take this as .an object lesson. He suggested that the failure to find funds for the completion of St. Patrick’s Chapel in this great Cathedral must cause pain to Irishmen who visit the Cathedral. “Do we English Catholics realise,” he asked, “what we owe to St. Patrick and his sons, whether priests or laity, in preserving and advancing the faith in England and in the Dominions overseas ? Let us show him some gratitude by making his chapel worthy of what he has done for us, and do after the manner of that Scotch lad.”