The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-17
LOCAL MATTERS.
cBsE0EEEs oF BISHOP McGILL.
SOLEMN AND IMPOSING SERVICES
AT THE CATHEDRAL.
THE REMAINS DEPOSITED BENEATH TIE
ALTAR OF HIS CHAPEL.

AIlAk of fiiS SitAi
Eleven o'clock yesterday was the hour ap-
pointed for the obsequies of Bishop McGlll.
But the doors Of the cathedral were thrown
open at ) O'Clock, and even that early there
was large crowd in the street. Many, how
ever, came only to view the remains Of the
distinguished dead, and for several hours
there was solemn procession Of derout
Catholics aud other friends and admirers Of
the Bishop entering the gates, thronging the
aislcs, and rererently passing to look for the
last time upon the face of the deceased.
At 0 o'clock people began to come to the
funeral; and fortunate were those who came
thus early, for few others were able to obtain
seats. at 10 the various Catholic charitable
associations, having formed at the Old Mar
ket Hail. and marched up Main street pre-
ceded by full brass band, arrived at the
cathedral and were assigned reserved seats.
Their banners were placed on either side Of
the sanctuary, Immediately in front of the
altarS of the Blessed Virgin and of st. Joseph
There were about go men in this process
sion. ....
At the hour appointed for the services to
commence the cathedral was denSely packed
in every part, and quite as many came and
went away or remained in the street Us were
able to gain admittance. The scene pre-
Scnted was one Of unusual impreSsivencss
and solcmnitv. Within the sanctuary were
seated four bishops, all clothed i'll costly and
imposing pontiiical robes,a score of priests in
canonicalS, and numerous acolytes. The
body of the bishop lay in an elegant metallic
case upon a tastefully draped catafalqile, and
was surrounded by more than hundred
burning candles, varying i'll height from TIVE
to five feet. On the head OF the deceased
bishop was the mitre, as his beloved people
had often seen it before on his bleist re-
posed the cross and Episcopal ring, and by
the coffin lay his crozier. The pontitica]
throne was beautifully decorated with I'M
mortclles, and crown Of the same material
was suspended above it. Above the main
altar appeared this inscription, i'll white let
ters on black ground, "EJo Sum Resm'-
reciio 2: Vita"
!Atera mourniul voluntary, wellperformed
upon the organ, the solemn mass or requiem
was celebrated hy Right Rev. james +.
Wood, ID. d., Bishop Of Philadelphia, as
sisted by the very Rev. Thomas Muyey, Vi
cart General of this province, as Arch priest;
Rev. NJ. O'keefe, of Norfolk, rs Deacon;
| Rev. J. j. kaimes. of Harper's Ferry, as sub
Deacon; and Rev. A. j. McConomy, rector
Of the Philadelphia cathedral, As Master of
Ceremonies. Bishops Lynch and L. {. Glib
bons, of North Carolina, and Becker of Della
ware, also assisted in the services. The mu-
sic Nv the regular choir of st. Peters was eX-
cellent, and the same may he said of the i'm
Dressire antiphoning of the priests.
The memorial discourse was delivered by
Bishop Lynch, a prelate of fine physique,
commanding appearance, good voice, and
pleasant delivery. He took no text, but after
an eloquent eXortlium on the mystery OF
death, its primal cause, and the terror which
it creates among the sons Of men, proceeded
without further preface to sketch in glowing
words the life of his deceased brother i'll the
Episcopacy. Faith came TO John McGlll, he
said, bv tradition, for his ancestors came from
| the land which received the religion of Christ
without the sacrifice of martyr, but held 1t
at the cost of millions. He then pictured the
home of the bishops early years, and spoke
of it rs preparing his mind in some degree
for his future battles for the Church. The
speaker followed his father in his journey
| from Philadelphia by the tedious route of the
old line of western emigrants across
the Alleghanies, down the Ohio, and to
the new home which the family found
ed among the purc-minded people of
Bardstown, in Kentucky, where were
gathered some of the choicest spirits of earth
and whose pious teachings and bright ex-
ample contributed their share towards mould
ing the character of the future bishop of
Richmond. He then spoke of his youthful
aspirations for fame, of his brilliant entrance
upon Il secular career in the promising pro-
fession Of law. and followed him to Cosmo-
politan New Orleans. whittier he went i'll
search Of finer field for the exercise and
development of his rare talents. Here 1t was
that he was confronted with forms of wick
edness of which his pure mind had hitherto
never dreamed; and instead of giving way TO
sinful influences he threw himself into the
breach, and sacrificing ambition to faith, re-
solved from that time forth to light the Dat
ties of God and the Church.
Bishop Lynch then sketched the events Of
Bishop McIiPs student life, and told of his
tour through Europe, in which he was not
merely an idle traveller or curiosity hunter,
but a close observer Of events and reflect
ing student of the antiquities OF the Old
World. The result OF his observations was
given in a series of letters which constituted,
perhaps, the most attractive of the several
compositions which proceeded from the
graceful and fluent pen of the deceased. Ills
k.bors in the Church of the Faithful at Lou
isville were then briefly touched upon, and
finally his conservation to the sacred office IN
which twenty-one years of his lilewere passed
was noticed. Upon the manner in which he
discharged the duties of the bishopric the
speaker said he need not dwell, for his daily
life and conversation was known to all with
in the hearing of his voice. he proceeded,
however, to pay high tribute to his great
intellectual attainments, his devoted plcty,
his unfaltering faith. and finally spoke OF the
grace exhibited on his dying bed and OF the
peaceful termination Of n life spent in doing
good. He died, said the speaker, in the llar-
ness Of bishop. His life was worn out IN
the service of his beloved people.
This discourse was heard with profound
attention by the large congregation which
filled the cathedral, the only interruptions
being those caused by the audible sobs of
persons IN various parts of the house. A
great many We're in tears, and all seemed
deeply affected by the memory of the de-
ceased and by the solemn services of the
Church.
After the sermon the service for the dead
was performed, in the course of which there
were some interesting and touching ,ceremo-
mics, ard the chanting by the priests was
very impressive. The family of the deceased
then took last fond look ut the beloved
form. now living so cold and Still in its stately