The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-16
DEATH OF BISHOP McGIIL
THE CATHEDRAL I'm MOURNING.
THE BODY. N STATE.
SCENES. AT ST. PETERS,
The Life and Character Of the Bishop

SCENES, AT ST. PETERS,,
The Life and Character Of the Bsahols.
THE FUNERAL AND PLACE OF BURIAL.
On Sunday morning last the bell Of st. Pc
tel's cathedral announced III solemn tones
that one of Richmond's most honored citizens
had gone from amonglls, and that the Catho-
lies Of this diocese had lost their good and
much-belovcd bishop His death had been
daily looked for, but the realization oil the
fact that the Right Reverend Bishop John
McGill was dead caused as much gT1el rs
though it had not been anticipated. Inc
Bishop returned last year from the Ecumenl-
cll Council at Rome on account OF failing
health, and when be reached, baltimore ne
had O. severe attack, .in1wiici. there were
plain symptoms Of paralysis. IRON Inns at
tack he lost the Use Of his left eye. and SEEM
| ed afterwards to grow daily more foeole:
The strong constitution wllich had enabled
him so long to prosecute his loly labors so
increasingly was evidently giving away, ana
eight weeks ago lie WNS compelled 10 take
his bed, from which he was destined never TO
arise.
LIS Death.
From day to tlly lis condition. became more
and more critical, and fatal disease OF the
| stomach began t. develop Itself. The most
skiful physicians were called Ill, and 1t was
| not long before they arrived at Tie conclu-
sion that he could not survive the attack,
and that his demise would simply be matter
Of time. lie himself fseemed conscious Of TIL:
fact, and In his conversations spoke IN the
most aifectionate terms Of his children of the
church whom he was about to leave. dc
had settled NIL his worldly matters and made
his will, leaving all the church property which
was held in his name to bis successor. Ills
sufierings were severe, but he bore them with
great fOrtitude and patience. During the
first part Of last month be became subject tc
spells of such m alarming nature that fre
quently it was thought that lie was about tc
die. On the Sth day Of December last (the
| feast of the Immaculate Conception) he re-
ceived the last sacraments of his Church, anC
was duly annointed. From that time he sank
gradually, and on Sunday morning last n few
minutes after 0 o'clock he asked to be
turned over in his bed. He had hardly made
the request when he sTooncd and Went qui
etly to his eternal rest. The fact was inme
diately announced to the Congregation then
attending the . o'clock mass, aud soon after
wards the afiliction was made known to The
community by the tolling OF the Eeils. -.
TILE ANNOUNCEMENT ). s.s
was received with great sorrCw, and there
was no mistuking the indications Of the gIe.;
love In which tue deceased WAS held hy hi:
congregation aud the community Mt large
All the bishops Of this proyine", and ell the
priests Of this diocese, were 1t once telc.
gaphed to; and we learn, further, that. q
telegram WIS scnt by the Archbishop Of Bal
timore to His Holiness tie Pope. Arrange.
ments were at once commenced for his tune.
raj, and every Ole seemed dc=irous to pay
proper tribute 10 the deceased. ILL.,
TIE CATHEDRAL II MOURNING.
The ladies and gentlemen of tic Catholic
faith went speedily 10 work in decorating
the cathedral, and by 10 O'Clock on yesterday
morning the interior of the edifice presented
a most impressive appearance. The altar.
pictures, and stltuary, were draped III mourn
ing; the galleries and pillars were covered
with black, relieved by white INTERVIEWING
and rosettes. The pontifical chair was most
with white imn,orte!!es. \ cross Of the same
ICltSFCu StutiS thIisa ~ - 'te'pShNtSN
from the throne. <@.~s. @--F
THE PROCESSION TO TIE CHURCH.
The decorations being completed, and the
body having been prepared, ut about II
O'Clock the procession fer the conveyance OF
the body from the Bishops house to the
church started. A large congregation was
assembled. The procession entered from the
eastern door. It was headed by the follow
ing clergymen from this diocese: Rev. Fsl.
theirs Leonard Meyer, (st. Mary's, GERMANY
Thomas Kelly, (st. Patrici's) J. Dougherty,
(St. Joscph's, Warrenton) aid +. Jansscns,
W. B. Hanley, Aug. Vandevyrel, of the ca
thedlal. In addition, there were acolytes
bearing candies. The psalms for the dead
We're sung by the clergymeM, the office used
being that usual as q body iS' being carried
into the church. The remains, in 4 hand.
some metallic case, were borne by the follow
ing pall-bearers: Mcssrs. 4. ii. Kelley, John
Purcell, James II. Dooley, JOHN Ahern, John
NJ. Higgins, John S. Devlin, John Maloney,
Joseph Augustine, William English. -
The colin-p!ate was Of silver, and bore the
following inscription, elegantly engraved:
I. Fl. S. . -.
! RIGHT Rev. JoHT McGILL,
Bishop of Richmond, Virginia.
Born November 1, 1909,
Consecrated November 10, 1850,
Died January 14th, 1872.
As the procession entered tie church, the
priests chanting the funeral psalm, the evi-
dences Of grief wero OF the most touching
description. There WAS scarcely dry eye
In the edifce as this holy father of his family
Of the Church was brought into the scene OF
SO much Of his earthly labor.
LYING u STATE. q >s-
The coffin was Laid upon large catafaique
Just In front Of the altar, and the lid was
taken from it in order to expose the body to
the view of the faithful and the friends Of
the deceased. The catafllque was surrounded
BY large number Of candles, making in all
about q hundred lights. At the head Of the
coffin was handsome silver crucilix. The
corpse was attired in full pontilical robes,
/ with the bishops mitre upon his head and
his crozier lying by his side. Els cross and
ring were laid upon his bosom. AS he lay,
| surrounded by the trappings of mourning,
relieved by the food Of light which poured
upon him, he looked as:one who was sleep
ing. His features, though somewhat ema-
clated, were as natural as though in Life, and
the death-smile which sufiused them was as
placid and calm as though the good soul
which had left that body was still there. -
-,-.., VIEWING THE RE.fAISs. rig
n,l, aJ,,,,oI, op conp oc fha hn1yy yyoe laid