The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-11
De NOR TUIs.
~
Obsequies Of the Late Vicar
General STAIRS.
Imposing and Interesting Cere-
monies at the Cathedral.
SERMON BY BISHOP LOUGHLIN
The Musical Ssrvices-.-MozartS Grand Mass
and the Cregorian Chant.
The Procession to the
Tomb.
SERMON BY BISHOP LOUGHLIN
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
With all the beautiful rites and ceremonies with
which the Roman Catholic Church attends It's de-
parted chosen ones to the tomb; amid all the en-
blems OF lively faith, accompanied by the solemn
strains and plaintive chants Of choristers and
clergy and the tears and signs Of serrowing thou
sandss surrounded by clouds from holy incense and
followed by mourning throng, all that was mortal
OF the late Vicar General STAIRS yesterday laid
away to rest In the vault beneath st. Patrck's Ca
thedraL From an early hour in the morning the
Cathedral was surrounded by hundreds OF those
who had known the worthy Vicar in his lifetime;
who had experienced his kindly care, had listened
to his admOniti0ns, had prohted by his teachings
and examples and had learned rom many causes
to admire and love and honor the man and the
priest in him, and by many others who had only
known Of him and of his goodness nom some Of the
thousands who knew him wen and blessed
HIM from their hearts, When at length the church
doors were opened all present fled in, and, al
though each was anxious to obtain position from
which full view OF the ceremonies could be OBJ
tanned, there was no confusion, as all seemed to
feel and appreciate that they not only in the
house Of God hut also in the presence Of the dead.
THE DECORATIONS
and drapings In the interior. although not profuse
were very appropriate. The massive columns
which support the roof were covered with alter
nate strips Of black and white Grape, which hung
from the capitals to the moor; the front OF the organ
LOFT and pulpit were covered with heavy black
cloth, caught up In festoons by handsome rosettes
and ringed with white bullion; from final to final
Of the miniature spires behind the altar were fes-
toons OF rich, black Grape, and the candelabra on
the altar and also the gas fixtures in and near the
sanctuary were covered with the same material.
The body Of
THE cArAFALoUE,
which stood In the main isle near the sanctuary
steps, was covered with pail Of heavy black
velvet which fell to the floor and frnged at top
and bottom with silver bullion. From each of the
four corners rose an upright, covered with pleat-
tngs Of alternate black and white cloth, and from
these uprghts sprung double curved arms, con-
verging under small circular canopy, supporting
An egg-shaped globe and q final cross. The con.
verging arms were covered with pufnngs of black
Grape, the puns held in position by silver oak
leaves; the globe was Ornamcnted with silver
tongues pointed upwards, and the final cross,
covered with velvet, was adorned with q continuous
binding OF silver oak leaves and studded with
silver nails. The platform of the catafalque formed
an inclined plane which rested the caaket
holding the remains Of the honored dead, the head
toward the sanctuary and 80 elevated that from
all Parts Of the ednce fun view Of the face of the
deceased could be obtained. The body was robed
In full canonicals Of purple velvet. On the casKet
we're strewn punches and bouquets Of flowers,
while all around 1t were flowers, sweet and rare,
formed into crosses, anchors, harps. wreaths,
crowns and columns
The expression OH the face Of the deceased was
quite natural, and he seemed to be meditatively
contemplating the immense congregation, which
dLeJ every nook and corner of the sacred edifice.
THE CEREMONIES
commenced precisely at ten O'Clock, by which time
the pcws and aisles were crowded to repletiOn. A
procession was formed in the sacristy and entered
the sanctuary rom the south side. The mas
tors Of ceremonies came first, followed by
some twenty acolytes in black cassocks
and white surpnces; then followed the
clergy of this and the adjoining dioceses, to the
number OF one hundred or more they entered the
sanctuary in double file, and after genunecting
Of the sanctuary rails into the pews and seats re-
served tor them. Among those present were Rev.
R REV. Noc yas D Moa ess m seS N.Y.
IcCready, Doycs 3'kellIy,, acRenna, Farrell j.;
Aoriarty, Dealy. Daubrlese. Dlranquet, LarSin,
Everett, Brady, OF the Paulists; Very Rev. Dr. Cor
ssr Kee 81 q e wooSs Of e yss
James; Mcsahon and others; Bishops Bacon,
6 nsn 'ib y the 6dss of f nS
mlnicans, Franc,scans, Paduam and Carmeltes.
Mclean and Canary as se principal cnanters co
menced the ONCE for the Dead all the clergy join
ing in the chant; those on the right alternating
every other verse; At the conclusion Of this Office
for the dead the door at the right Of the sanctuary
number Of additional clergy, followed BY those wine
were to 0flciate in the mass-the Rev. Fathers
assstant; Rev. Fathers McNamee ana Kane, re-
spectivcly deacon and archdeacon OF the mass;
Kew. Fathers Quinn and Curran, deacons o. honor;
tile Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey, with mltre OF
pure white and wearing chasube OF black velvet
middle OF the altar, the Archbishop In the CENTRE
oil knelt and
was commenced. At the same moment the en- tire
chorus opened with the "Kyrie,n from Mozart 8
grand mass, double fugue in u minor-s majestic
Of this .'Kyrie" Rev. Father Kane recIted the
Epistle, after which from the choir came the thrill.
OF the spies lra' and the "Tuba Mirum'-the
latter by the solo quartet-candles were distrib-
e. their ps feet and remained standing until the
ing VI the Gospel, when the candles were extln.
guished and all again were seated. The Arch.
bishop, standing at the episcopal chair, read the
altar, the choir meanw nile singing Ii fun chorus
the "Lachrymosa." At the ofiertory q beautiful
Hr. Sohst. The candles we're reliGhted, and when
the sweet tender tones OF the Archbishop com.
nenced the preface, all rose to their feet and re-
NAMED standing until the "Sanctus" was reached,
All then knelt, and the choir In thunder tones
but as II In one voice, gave out the Sanctus" AND
ssHosanna In Excelsis,n closing as suddenly as
Il commenced, as II the onward march OF melody
were arrested by the solemnity OF
THE ELEVATION.
Al the venerable officiating prelate Bonded his
Knee the gong In the sanctuary was struck by ar
acDytc, and all within That sacred edlnce bowed
OF the Catholic faith seemed overcome by the i'm
pressiveness OF the moment
The scene at this time was peculiarly imposing
The sable drapings OF the church; the hundreds oil
brilliant lighted tapers; the rich vestments OF tht