Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-15
THE LAST SOLEMN RITES.

Impressive Funeral Ceremony Over
the Remains of Cardinal McCI0skey
This MOrning-A Vast ThrOng i'm the
Great Observation-Disclosures Gibbons
Sermon.
NEW YORK, October 15.-The long-night
watch Of the members Of the Society of st. Vim
cent de Paul, who guarded the body OF Cardinal
McCloskey In the great cathedral last evening,
at length came to an end. The first beams of
the morning sun had hardly gilded the steeples
Of the churches when procession ion Of priests
and knelt before the altar. The prayers
for the opening of the new day, the day
was to be committed to the earth, were said,
and then the priests walked slowly down the
center aisle. on either side OF the catafalque,
and returned TO the sacristy. Two hundred
policemen kept the great crowd that had as
sembled shortly after 9 O'clock In order. The
the waiting throng invited to enter. AS the
hour for beginning the services was reached the
crush without the cathedral became greater.
The streets for several squares In every direc-
ton were blocked with carriages and masses
OF people. There were many disappointed
persons turned away from the doors because
they had either neglected TO or were unable to
secure tickets. In the vicinity Of the Hotel
Buckingham few tickets were offered for sale
at five dollars each. These were quickly pur-
grand ana impressive. The dead body of the
cardinal had during the night been placed in a
velvet bordered with bullion fringe hung about
the coffin Rods Of gold extending the length
OF the coffin Ornamented the sides: The golden
crozier, the symbol Of the bishops authority,
rested by the side Of the cardinal. The body
had been so placed that the head OF the dead
pre!ate was raised above the level Of the coffin
and was easily seen from below. Thirty wax
candles threw u soft mellow light over the bier.
The pews and aisles were now crowded with
people. Five thousand persons were gathered
within the walls OF the cathedral before 10.
While the throng was waiting the opening of the
solemn requiem services, the Papal zouaves, In
the center aisle and took up positions about the
catafalque. A moment later the doors OF the
sacristy were flung open, and long procession
of white robed priests and acOlytes filed down
the steps to the seats directly in front OF the
high altar. The four candles burning In the
golden candlesticks placed on the a altar ia shone
sunshine that stole into the cathedral through
the stained windows.
splendor. There was a moment of hushed ex-
pectancy as Father Lammel waved his hand,
and then the stiffness was broken by the priests
as they chanted the office OF the dead The
200 voices of the priests and boys, mellowed
| by the distance, sounded sweetly to the ear OF
the waiting congregation. The boys shan t,a
I psalm 81 n'n It CAM" was 'ns not, however
full richness and beauty OF the well trained
voices OF the chancel choir were brought out. ln
all probability nothing like the singing Of tnese
priests and boys has ever been hearo In the
| city. First came the singing Of the Latin lines
by the boy tenors, TO which responded the mar .nr
| monized voices OF the priests. The notes OF the
| chanters foated upward among the great archie.
OF the cathedral, and being reflected by tn nt
| pillars were thrown backward and forward
until they died away In the distance. Severn
more psalms Were then sung by the choirs II
| unison, AFTER which came the chanting OF tnt
| 8ened1cfus While the office for the dead was
being chanted, Father Anacleus, q Franciscan
/ friar, assisted by the Rev. Father Kelly, passed
around the cataiaique. swinging u censor IRON
which perfumed incense arose. Later OF
Father Liily,a Dominican priest, perf0rmes
the same Office. When the chanting came 70 81
end the priests resumed their seats ana
short period OF waiting followed. The grea
organ peaied forth the solemn, stately v0iul
tary preceding the mass, and now two acolyte
bearing lighted candles followed by apothe
procession Of priests came slowly out from "a
| sacf1sty ana bowed before the high altar.
The sermon was preached by Archbishop Gil
, Dons. OF 6aitim0re. The text OF the sermon wa
, Eccies DO. "These words spoken originally {
Aaron" said the speaker, "inay be httingly q
. piled 70 the great high priest whose mortal z
!. mains now lie before you. He also was choae
out OF eli men living 70 dll Tie hl9haet ecclesia