The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-07-02
Death of the Very Rev. Johh spratt.

Inc death OF this great pnllantrOplst ana
pious and jealous priest took place on
Saturday, May 9th, in the chapel-house o:
the Carmelite Church, White friar street.
In the morning he breakfasted at ten
O'Clock, and shortly afterwards administer
ed the pledge to two women in the chapel
house. Immediately after preparing the
certificates in his room a sudden weak ness
overcame him, and he sank into the arms
| of gentleman who was with him at the
time on business connected with the Night
Refuge, Medical aid was at once called in,
but life was found to be extinct.
There is scarcely one amongst the clergy
of this country whose name was more
widely known. and not even one whose
name was linked up with nobler works for
God, for country, and for kind, than that of
the benevolent Carmelite whose death we
all deplore to-day. In this city, where lie
was born, and where he has been toiling
for nearly half a century, that name has
been "familiar as q household word," and
many poor family, away in some dingy
attic, will sadly miss his presence, and re-
gard his death as a domestic calamity. He
realized in it's entirity the glorious popular
IN sunshine or in shadow-in sorrow or in
joy-the all in all " to the devoted peo-
pie amongst whom his life was cast. Be-
fore the Apostle of Temperance had set
forth from his Capuchin Convent in Cork
upon that mission of his tnat wrought such
ready a toiler in the field, and might have
pointed to q considerable harvest of good,
rich in reality, as in promise, produced in
the city of his birth. For nearly forty
years he never rested from his labors of
love in the cause of temperance. For
selves but lately, "there was less of stiff
ness in his limbs There was scarcely
Sunday that he was not present, as it's life
and soul, at a meeting held in Dublin or
in some provincial town, in furtherance of
the holy object. Till within the last Sc ven-
teen or eighteen years his Sunday demon
strations on the Green of Harold's- cross
were the very centres of the "Teetotal "
agitation, and highly contributed to keep
the Thousands who had taken it, mindful Of
the respect they owed to the teetotal
pledge. The Night Refuge for the home
perpetnate the memory of the good priest
unto generations of his fellow citizens. For
such an institution he had long been wish
ing, and he nearly felt as if he he'd accom-
plished the purpose of his career when he
had provided, for the poor objects Of bis
soiicltude, shelter from the cold, the
storm, the temptation aud the iufamy of
our streets at night. He was also the
founder of st. Peters Orphanage.s But
1t was not alone for bis attributes as q
priest and as philanthropist, that Father
Spratt was held in such popular esteem.
lived, and never one that loved hrs coun-
try more. Whilst the great Tribune lived,
Father SpTatt was never absent from his
side. In the struggle for Emancipation in
the Trades Union, in the Precursor Socie-
ty, in the Repeal Association, O'Conneil
might always calculate on the patriotic
Carmellte aud be sure that he did not reck-
on without his host. In every movement
having for its object legitimate revival of
the struggle for national independence,
Father Spratt was al ways amongst the first
to encourage, and the last to desert it.
AT eleven O'Clock, Tuesday, the 3Oth of
May, the solemn Office for the dead, at
which his Eminence, Cardinal Cullen pre-
sided, commenced. TIE Church was
crowded to suffocatiOD, thousands being
obliged to remain outside.
The coffin cUntaiaing the remains was of
polished Irish oak with gilt mouutings, and
bore the following inscription engraved on
q FURNISHED Rhield:
The Very Rev John SpTatt DID,.
OC.C.,
Provincial
Died May 9Th, 1911,
Aged 70 years.
The funeral procession was one of the
| most imposing which has ever passed
| through the streets of Dublin.
Almost all the distinguished cburchmen
! of Ireland were present, as was also the
| Most Rev. DR.. Whelan, Lord Bishop of
| BOmbaV,-EFeemdn