The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-11
THE MONTHS MIND.
An Imposing Memorial Mass.

Yesterday morning the solemn and impress
sive memorial mass known in the liturgy OF
the Catholic Church as the Months Mind, was
celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception with fitting pomp and ceremony.
The clergy of the diocese assembled to offer up
their prayers with those of the bereaved flock
for the repose of the soul of their late beloved
Bishop, the Right Reverend David Bacon.
The interior of the great cathedral was APP
propratey draped. The high altar was
shrouded in purple, the emblematic color OF
woe, while all about it the walls were hung in
black. Around the catafalque with the epis-
copal mitre at its head, were seven branded
candelabra and huge tapers. The Episcopal
throne was wholly draped in black.
The memorial service began at ten o'clock. A
long line of priests swept in from the vestry,
preceded by the acolytes, while five bishops,
clothed in tho rich robes of their sacred office,
entered the chancel. At the same time the
strains of the memorial march pealed forth
from the organ.
The most eminent in station of the clergy
men present was Archbishop Connolly of Hall
fax. With him were Bishops McNierney OF
Albany, Laughlin of Brooklyn, ORielly OF
Springfield, and Williams of Boston. Bishop
McNierney acted as celebrant Father Barry of
Concord, as assistant priest, Father Keegan OF
Brooklyn as deacon, Father Mutseers of Bath
as sub deacon, and Father Wallace of Port
land as master of ceremonies. The sacrfical
offering of the mass, during which the rich
toned organ poured forth the solemn strains OF
Schmidts requiem, was very impressive. The
responses of the many priests, who held
lighted tapers in their hands during the recital
of the offices for the dead, the assemblage OF
black-robed sisters in front of the altar, the
acolytes with their bands of Grape, the candle
encompassed catafalque, and the solemn music,
all united to lend an unusual solemnity to the
mass.
The address, which was delivered by Bishop
Laughlin of Brooklyn, was short, occupying
not more than fifteen minutes in the delivery.
His text was taken from the fourth chapter of
the Epistle Of st. Paul to the Thessalonians,
"For you know what preceptS we gave you by
the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God,
YOUR sanctiicaton." The discourse was in the
nature of an explanation of the duties OF a
Christian priest, and of eulogy of the faithful
manner in which the late Bishop discharged
these duties. OF the many virtues of the de-
ceased he said he should not speak stlength. A
tongue more eloquent than his had already re-
cited them, and left but little to say. Certain
persons are chosen by Almighty God to be his
special instruments in the gradual sanctifica-
ton of the world. God Himself appeared to
and dwelt with men and taught them the
truth. Certain men, His Apostles, He chose
for the work Of sancti6cation, and promised
them that He would be with them always in
their labors for the dissemination Of the true
doctrine. He was with them, and has con-
tinued with their successors, those who form
the episcopacy of the Catholic1Church We
who haye been called to the holy ministry
should bear in mind that our sanctifcation and
the sanctifcaton of those to whom we minister
is the will of God The lamented Bishop even
bore this in mind. He was familiar with the
| doctrine of Christ and the duties of His minis
| try The diocese increased rapidly in teachers,
| aud in communicates under his rule. His cares
| increased apace; but with the multiplication oil
his cares there came an increase in his capacity
for work. He had high sense of the solemn
responsibility of his Office, and imposed hands
| on no man lightly, as these assembled here to
do him honor testify. Bishop Laughlin closed
with high tribute to the late Bishop and to
| the clergy of the diocese
The following clergy were in attendance
Archbishop Connolly of Nova Scotia, Bishop;
Williams of Boston, O'Reily of Springfield
Mass, Laughlin of Brooklyn. McNierney OF
Albany. Revs. 7. S. O'Neil of Lewiston, John
Bradley, S. f. Ponsardine; James Peterson,
| Rockland; Fitzpatrick of Stoneham, Mass.
McShane of Lawrence; Walsh of Portsmouth
Lefebvre of Montreal, Healey of Chicopee, Lud-
den of Albany, O'Hare of Ogdensburg, Doran
of Albany, Sinesealki of Bangor, Halde of Wa