The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-16

THE BUILDING FILLED TO OVERFLOW
Z ING-IMPosING AND IMPRESSIVE CERE-
aIoNIEs-ELOQUENT AND ABLE DIS;
COURSE BIZ REV. DIR. o'CoNNELLr--GRAND
: FUNERAL .ALDEeoRATIoNs &C.. &C.
The solemn memorial services by the
Catholics Of Richmond in honor OF the
late Pope Plus TX. were concluded yester-
day at st. Peters Cathedral, the ceremonies
being attended and witnessed by congre-
cation OF the faithful and many OF other
denominations, which filled the building to
its utmost capacity. The services were I'M
pressive and Interesting in the extreme,
and the immense concourse OF people pres
ent remained to the end, deeply interested
In what was going on.
SOLEMN REoUrEM-AAss.
AT few minutes after o'clock the cor
tege Of acolytes bearing lighted taperS, SEM
inarians, and priests entered the sanctuary
from the sacristy door, and the ceremonies
were commenced by the celebration OF SOL
emn requiem-mass; Very Rev. E. Janssens,
administrator Of the diocese, officiating as
celebrant, with Rev. Benno Hegele, Of st.
Mary's church, as deacon, and Rev. Father
Habets,' of the Cathedral, rs sub-deacon.
Mr.. Frioli acted as master OF ceremonies.
DISCOURSE OF DIR. o'CoNNELL.
Rev. DR.. D. O'Connell, who has lately re-
turned from Rome, delivered most appro-
pirate funeral discourse. After calling the
attention OF his auditors to the grand and
awe-ipspiring funereal drapery with which
the church was clothed, he asked why was
this Cathedral and her sister-cathedr clad
in robes OF mourning? Why had sorrow
settled on the world? It all tells, said he,
that our beloved Pope is dead. Plus the
Ninth, who arose in the French revolution,
the sovereign Pontiff OF the Catholic world;
Pope CT amnesty, Pope OF Gaeta, Pope OF
the Immaculate Conception, Pope OF the
Vatican Council, and Pope Of thirty-two
years providential reign, has passed away;
and where his voice once rose in that Vati-
can, in the administration Of the laws Of
the. Church, his remains now repose.
The feeling awakened throughout the
world at the demise Of this wise and good
man was not that awe which is and has
been felt at the passing away Of great
political actor. The feeling which animated
their breasts, and, indeed, not unfrequently
finding a place in the hearts OF those OF
other creeds. was feeling OF religious
reverence for this great .pontiff and father.
Ills IllG WAS hDON IL " LuCLu LIZ "oo
prominently pontif, placed by power at
the head Of that Church which had caused
the death of Divinity to establish it. He
had guided this great society for thirty
two years, waging a perpetual warfare
against that spirit OF immortality and inf
deity which so boIdlyasserts itself amongst
Christian nations.
The Doctor then spoke OF the perfect
unity which pervaded that Church through
out the entire world-in her doctrines,
forms, and Christian charity alike; that a
clear definition Of its unity was contained
in the premulgation of the dogma Of infal-
libility by the lamented Pontiff. Christ
loved the Church, and died to sanctify it;
and Plus had continued this sahctiication
by condemning all principles Of immoral
ity. "Catholic matrons," said he, "f you
are queens OF your families you should be
thankful to this great Pontiff; and you,
Catholic maidens, il you are pure and free
from the corruptions Of vice, you owe 1T to
Plus TX, who, from the beginning OF his
Dontificate, labored increasingly at the cor.
rection OF immortality. and crowned the
sanctity of the Church by the declaration Of
the sanctity Of the Queen OF Heaven-the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception"
In expatiating upon the catholicity OF the
Church he said that under the sway OF Plus,
as in the days OF the apostles, missionaries
Had been sent planting the banner OF Chris
tianity in all quarters OF the globe. That
in America there was scarcely bishop
whose lnitre had not been placed upon his
head by Plus TX. He had ever been stern,
and even rigid, in his adherence to the teach
ings Of the Church as they had been trans
mitted to him. He. could not compromise
with materialism, for he recognized that he
was the vicar of Christ.
The speaker then referred to the private
life OF the Pope, and drew beautiful pic
ture of the reverend, gentle, and benign
old man. The greatest power on earth en-
trusted to that hand was united with the
tenderest Of hearts, welding power with
out arrogance and dignity without domi-
neering. That his dying words were his
testament" Guard the Church loved so
we'll and sacredly."
He called upon all lovers Of purity and
truth to come up and give their tribute to
Plus. He called upon Americans, who
were in an especial manner endeared to the
HOLY Father. Virgirians, he was sure.
must come with hearts filed with sorrow
at the loss OF him who in their days OF trou-
BILE was ever with them in spirit. he then
addressed few words to the Italians in
their native tongue.
In referring to the funereaI ceremonies
he said that. they as Catholics would stop
not there, but follow him with their pray
ers to his trismphal entry into Heaven; tina,
over two hundred millions Of his children
were lifting up their hands in suppication
before the throne Of God. Concluding, be
said: "The Pope is dead, but the papacy
iyeth. One sun is set, but it will rise In
the morning. One Pope is dead, but
conclave sits in Rome out OF which shall
be made another; and so on to the consum
nation Of the world. :.
| at the conclusion of DR.. O'ConnelPs dis
course the absolution ceremony ut the cata
| falque was performed by Father Janssens
assisted by the other clergymen.
| THE MOURNING DECORATIONS
of the exterior rs we'll as OF the interior OF
the Cathedral were of the most elaborate
and tasteful description, and their grandeur
and sombre character testified in the strong
est terms ,the intensity OF the sorrow o
the Catholics OF Richmond ut the passing
away OF that grand and good old man who
had for nearly thirty-two years administered
to the welfare OF the Church. The column:
of the main portico, which first caught the
eve OF the visitor, were covered from base
TO apex with black cloth, with stripe o
white down the front and centre. Th'
gable Of the portico was festooned witt
white and black, while heavy drapery hung
| Dendant from one side to the other, com
pleting a tout ensemble of emblematic sor
row which reflected the mournfulness
the soul when considering what had occa
stoned its presence.
Inside OF the Cathedral busy hands ant
1 willing. affectionate, and sorrowing hearts
had united to produce decorative effects tn
like Of which is rarely seen. The pillar
snnnort;no the galleries were wrapped II