The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-29

solemn rights paid TO the deceased mis-
sionary and philanthropist, Father De
Smet, S. j. All things in and about the
church had been duly prepared. The au-
ditorium was tastefully draped with black
cloth. The altar was brightly illuminated,
and the quivering, dazzling light of the
numerous wax candles fell upon the sol
emn faces around, revealing the deep
gloom pervading the assemblage, But
few had come out of idle curiosity. lt was
an assemblage Of mourners;; Inc CONN
containing the remains rested IN the man
aisle, directly in front Of the altar upon
the top Of the lid there was Deauu-
full wreath of white, flowers artlsccally
arranged while at the head and foot
were numerous other flowers and shrubs,
emblems of purity beautifully typifying
the life of him whose memory would ever
be fragrant.
The Office Of the dead was begun a few
minutes after nine o'clock In the sanctu-
airy were present Revs. Archer and Nc
Caffrey Of St Patrick's church; Rev;
Meagher Of Nashville; Rev. Fenelon OF
\ St Bridget's Rev. Haussorn OF st. John
Nepomucene Rev. Smulders and Rey.
Meurer of St Alphonsius Rev. OReilly
of the Immaculate Conception Rev. Hen
ry of st. Lawrence O'Toole; Rev. Brady
Of the Administration Rev Graziana of the
Italian church Rev. Welby of the Chris
tan Brothers academy; Rev. Tschiedel
and Rev. Filling of st. Joseph's church
two Franciscan fathers, St. Antho
ny's church of Stringtown; the Very
Rev. Thomas O'Neil provincial Of the Je
suits of Missouri, Rev. Joseph Zealand
President of st. Louis university Rev. +
Coosemane, President of st. Ignatius' col
lege of Chicago Rev. Bushart, Presiden
OF St Xavier's college Of Cincinnati; Rev
j. VanAssche, pastor at Florrissant, anC
one of the first companions of Father De
Smet who arrived with him in this Stat,
forty years ago
This part Of the service lasted an hour
! The celebration Of high mass for the dea,
began at 10 O'Clock, the archbishop anC
aud Bishop Ryan being present in tn,
sanctuary. Rev NanAssche was cele
brant, assisted by Rev. Smulders rs dea
con and Rev McCaffrey as subdeacon
Rev. Van beent acting as master Of cere
monies.
After mass Bishop Ryan pronounced
the dissolution, and then proceeded Il
preach the sermon He selected his tex
from the book of Maccabeus, wherein the
inspired writer portrays the modest gen
b gentle character Of Onias the high priest
After reading the text IN a slow impress
sive manner, the bishop SAID Ihes'
, words, though uttered hundreds OF YEAR
! ago, apply to that priest of God, whose re
mains lie here before Us. Justly do W.
! assemble To pay tribute to the honoreC
dead Wherever the name of the deceas
ed is known, and il is known far and near
/, the event of to-day will be whispered witt
deep IgCret Not only among the fashion
able and civilized was he famous, bu
among the lowly and barbaIuuS tribes
children of the desert, simple in tradition
humble in spirit, poor in the world good.
but rich in faith when once brought within
the influence of the Cristiau religion
Father DeSmet spent halt century of hi.
active life in serving God and saving souls
lie loved to lead men out Of pagan dark
ness into the light of Christian truth. Fl,
was peculiar in his love for the down-trod
den Of mankind The poor despised In
dian had a strong claim upon his sympa
thy la his missionary labOrs he becanr
strongly attached to the children of tn,
desert He was ever modest and gentl
/ as a child. Owing to the purity of his lif
he preserved the freshness of early spring
+ time in his older days IL is this simplici
+ ity that inspires confidence. What a lif
of devotion was his What an example L
emulate The Indian was the apple 0
his eye He did not care for fame Hi
life was, for the most part, secluded
) When he visited Europe he did it for tn
purpose of sending out missionaries. Tn
/, great man was once asked how he cOul
, devote 50 much time to the savages.
: ''Sayages p said he, Why | hav
found more savages in our crowded cite
than among the rocks and deserts Of tn
West l'
The bishop alluded in the tenderes
terms to the character Of the dead philan
, thropist He remarked that the churc
: alone all over the earth, had succeeded i
civiliZing the sayages. He paid a passn
tribute to the Indians, whom, he declared
/ to be judged fairly, should be judged fror
their own standpoint. This father d.
! Smet and the Catholic missionaries hay
, ever done If we would feel for them, h
said, we must put ourselves in their plac,
0 Our departed friend, continued the speal
/ er, felt toward them as a father. He e.
r cused their excuses. He lived with thel
r and wished to die among them. Whe
? death approached one of his greatest col
! solutions was that he would have the pray
5 ers of those to whom God had sent hin
In spite Of all his services, Father DeSmt
: ike all virtuous men, felt conscious of hi
{ own shortcomings, and relied most loving
2 ly on God mercy and the prayers Of tn
poor Indians for whom he had labored :
S much-especially Of the thousands Of chi
e dren for whom he had opened the gates
= heaven through the waters Of baptism
, The more we do the more conscious we b
, come Of our own defects From the e.
t ample Of this good man we learn the le
n son Of humility. In life he was honoret
p in death he will be glorifed,
Concluded on third page