The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-19
Le,sor from Petersburg.
IlOrITSpOIUCIfCN VIC ftbNI6''RSt'NS
rETEsssUgG, December Is, 1877.


,.cmcncv OF the weather. The following
cIerry were present: Right Rev. James GID
h,os. Sfath, O'keele, Norfolk; }. W. Nc
TaIrara Raleigh, n. c.; Henry Guitar, Nor
f,IE ,rohn Hagan, Norfolk Thomas Brady,
portsmou.h: J. j. Kahn, Harper's Ferry
1ohn McYerry, Staunton; James McGurk,
I,vnchburc Thomas Murray, Lynchourg
Hugh McKee!ry, Fredericksburg bennett
Heicle. Thomas Kelly, William b. Hanlev,
+. Janssens, Richmond; Thomas ). wilson,
Petersburg.
Requirements was chanted ny fathef
Matthew. O'keefe, Of Norfolk; Deacon,
Father J. J. Kahn, Harper'S Ferry; sup
Deacon. Father Thomas Brady, Portsmouth;
Master If Ceremonies. Father Thomas Kelly,
Richmond Orsanisi, /. Janssels, klch.
mond. .,
Bishop Gibbons preached the funeral ser
mon from the following text:
~ T;rno,hv, ash chapter. 9th and sth rerses.
II am even how ready 10 be sacrificed and tic
time OF my dissolution - a. manu- bovo finished my
course have kept the faith AS trthc resi-, tere
Laid 10 for me crcwn Of Justice, which the Lord
:Ec t;ls ,,ndcc will render 10 me: ana not ON! 10
IN" ii,.,t "a .hc,u also that love His coming
These are the words of a dying priest,
diving apostle. They were addressed by -.
Paul. q prisoner and in chains, to his be-
loved co-laborer and disciple, Timothy.
How different the scene which the palace
Of Zero presented that night from that OF
paul's prison. In the Emrcror's palace all
l. tas;ivity and brilliant lights and revealing.
Bit the conscience Of the tyrant is dark ana
c}ouded ly gloomy iorcbodings. The chains
OF pari rattle about him, darkness is around
him, death Starcs him in the face, but within
is 10Y, peace. light, bright prospects OF iu-
ture bliss. He remembers what he has done
for God, who Is a good paymaster. lie re-
calls to mind his trials. rs recorded III. Co.
rinthians, 18th chapter, 25th verSe)s Thence
he can say with confidence, g There Is iaid
up for me crown Of glory" &c.
These are the sentiments which also fill
the heart Of every good priest in the hour of
death. oh, precious in the sight of God
is the death of His saints" anu especially oil
sanity ministers Of His altar.
His death is precious and conSoiing, be-
cause he leaves the goods of this world be-
hind him without regret. His heart IS de-
tached from earthly treasures. There is no
violence to nature in breaking from them.
There is no golden chain binding him down
to earth. His heart is i'll heaven, where bis
treasure is also. lie longs "lo be dissolved
and 10 lie with Christ, and to possess those
treasures which the moth cannot consume
which thieves cannot break through and
seal"
Che honors and disnitics Of life he sur
reudcys without struggle, because he had
always before his eyes tie example OF that
divine model Of whom it is written that,
"Deing in the form OF God, lie thought ii
not robbery to be equal with God. But He
dabasud Himself, taking the form OF ser
want. He humbled Himself, becoming oDc-
deut 10 death. even the death Of the eros"
The good priest can say from his heart, with
tire aEOstlc, God forbid that | should glory
save in the cross Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world is crucitied to ne, and ]
10 the world" With the apostle he goricS
III being thought worthy to suIirr hun!il!a-
ton for The sake OF Christ.
Even from his friends he pnris Without
fc ling that bitterness which those endure
whose affection was purely hunaH'. Ut Is
true it is not without some pain that good
Priest like Father MulVry can say Good
bye 20 his beloved children Ill Christ. But,
then, bis sorrow is tempered with sweet
lone. The whole effort OF his life was TO
make his people worthy OF becoming clii-
gems Of Heaven. He goes TO prepare Il place
Tor therl, that where be is they also may be.
Trough absent from them in body he is pre-
Sent with them il spirit, and continues i'll
heaven the Office OF intcrcession which he
occupied on earth.
Above all, "Prccious in the sight of the
Lord is the death OF His sanity priest, be-
cause his hope is full of immortality" 1t is
true he is ready to say, with the generosity OF
the illustrio,ls st. Martin, Bishop Of Tours,
y! l Gm still necessary to thy Church, o
God. refuse not the labor; Thy will be
d3ur" But still he was glad to think that
the weary pilgrimage was wcllngh over,
and TINT lie WAS going into the place OF ms
80. l,nf lf.a
tered carly into the Lords vineyard and
bore the burden and heat Of the day, and
that now lie is going to receive bis wages;
therefore he courts death as others shrink
f.omit. Gle longs to be dissolved, and to lie
with Christ "for he knows" with st. Paul,
THAT il his earthly house Of this labitation
be dissolved he has building Of God, a house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens"
He has already Il toretaSte Of that JOY which
the eye hath not seen, nor the ear hath
heard, nor the heart of man bath con-
c,ivcd And if God promises so much
b,csscdness to the sheep, what will He not
give to the faithful! shepherd! He longs to
he there, where God will wipe away all tears
T.um his eyes-where there is no crying or
mourning, but everlasting JOY, peace, and
rest. Death is to him the termination of bis
llhors, the beginning of repose, the dawn of
new life, the door of happy eternity.
We may well conceive that such were the
sentiments with which our departed friend
met death.
so retiring was the life of Father Mulvcy,
so quietly aud unobtrusivcly did he move
through the world, that we have little to re-
cord OF him except the usual everyday du-
ties OF Il Woodworking priest. His life was
truly hidden with Christ i'll God. The few
incidents OF his life That am going to allude
TO heard only since his death, and some of
them even this morning:
About twenty-three years ago Rev. Dir.
MIlvey was ordained priest by the venera-
Die Bishop of Wheeling, whose diocese then
comprised Virginia and West Virginia.
Shortly after his ordination he was sent TO
Lynchturg, Where he labored with untir!ng
zeal, and endearcu himself to the faithful Of
that mission. While making visitation a
few weeks ago in Lynchburg, some of the
Older Catholics spoke in the most attectonate
manner of their old pastor.
in 1856 Father Mulyey was placed over
this congregation, where he remained to the
hour OF his death; and so great was the cou.
1iiencc which the late veneratcd Bishop
placed in his wisdom, discretion, and pru-
Gence that nc appointed him Nicar-Genel1l
OF the diocese. Of bis labors while among
you need net speak. Your presence here
to-day. your tears OF sympathy, speak loader
than MY words. The greatest blessing that
God can confer on a people is to p!ace over
them pastor who will rule them in wisdom
AID plvty. Such was Father Mulycy to YOU
Lis death is indeed great loss to YOU
Oh, how close. how intimate, how sublime
arc the relations OF pastor with his flock.