Daily Republican., 1885-08-05
Eloquent Sermon.
THE DlsCOURsE OF THE nEv.
JAMES ncCALLEN AT FATHER
REILLY'1 FUNERAL.

THE DlsCOURsE OF THE NEW
JAMES AcCALLEN AT FATHER
REILLY'S FUNERAL.
A MASTERLY DISCOURSE
As mentioned in Tuesdays issue, tn,
funeral grafton over the remains OF tn,
Rev. Father Reilly was delivered by
the Rev. james McCallen of Baltimore
Nd, former pupil of the deceased
In consequence of the services coptipu
ing until nearly O'Clock, it was i'm
possible to publish the sermon yester
day. but at the request OF many of tn,
friends Of the dead prelate 1t Is given
In full to-day. 1t was mastery ora
tion, and as q tribute from q pupil {,
his beloved teacher could not be sur
passed
If you have ton thousand Instructor
in Christ. yet not many fathers; for IL
Christ Jesus i have beRotten vo1
through the gospel. Wherefore I be
seech you be ye followers. of me. 8,
am Of Christ. T., Con 10 16."
If the icy chill Of death could be re-
moved from the now silent lips Of our
venerable and deceased father, l fear
that his humility would forbid hin
suffering the words which have ius,
quoted. And yet how truly and Justly
may he not through my lips, unworthy '
OF the honor which ia this day giver
them, remind you that you, his spirit.
ua! children, owe to him your father
and no less justly ask You to walh
as he walked, In the blessed footsteps
of Jesus Christ.
To have such father is q privilege
of which You may we'll feel proud. Il
your hearts are sad to day. il tears un.
hidden course down your cheeks, they
are but new proof that you realize the
loss you have sustained In losing 90 re-
vered = pastor.
And the death of this vcnera bic
priest 10 q loss, q great loss. Fol
though in the last years of his life the
hands that had been SO often stretched
forth to bless, to absOlve, and to do all
manner of good, bad grown feeble,
through age though the feet of the
which had never wearied in
their search after the lost sheep of the
house OF Israel refused to longer obey
the will that gave command though
the mind ever active to the last found no
response In the worn out frame which
had served it 30 faithfully and 80 we'll ;
though the voice 80 often heard within
these walls should be forever hushed !;
yet his departure from amongst you Is a
loss, a great loss.
For bad he lived still some years, his
life. his inner daily life would have
continued to be a sermon more eloquent
than words, teaching both clergy and
laity the lesson OF every christian and
virtue, and his prayer the
prayer of an humble, pure heart, would
have pleaded for you, his people, and
would have been heard. For the pray
er of the just man avails much before
God, and we know that ten just men
v on Id have suffered to save even such
sinful cities AZ Sodom and Gomorrah.
But the fruit was ripe for heaven and
the harvest ready to be gathered into
eternal granaries, and God has called
his faithful servant to his reward. Be-
fore we bear his remains to their last
resting place let us listen 10 the parting
words which he addressed us. They
will bring us consolation and hope in
the grief which afflicts our hearts. II
you have ton thousand Instructors yet
not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus
have begotten you through the gospel.
Wherefore be ye followers of me as 1
Am of Christ"
This venerable priest was your father.
not only because he gave you true
spiritual life In holy baptism, but be.
cause he did for you all that father
,an do for children. He clothed, lie
he educated you, and this
threefold duty he accomplished In the
most admirable and Jealous manner.
Father Reilly may be justly called
the Father of Catholicity in this State,
par ticularly so of Cathol olicity in this
city of Wilmington. For 81 years he
has ministered to the spiritual wants
Of you his flock.
When in 1924 he was first sent az
aa sistant pastor to St. Peters church
(then the only Catho lie church In the
city,, he found relig ion as yet In it's
In fancy, and from that year to this
present one he has ever been the father
Of his people.
Why should ] go over in detail
events with which those here present
are go familiar, ard which but lately,
ut the time of his golden Jubilee, were
brought so infinitely to your attention
through the daily press Of this city ?
This pAstorate at st. Peters church,
the humble beginnings of what after
wards became the great St. Mary's
College, his arduous labors for the in.
of youth 10 that college, the
building of st. Mary's church and its
not simple dedication, to
The service of Almighty God on the
very day of its first opening. And the
hundred words of charity and religion
which ever received his direction and
generous support.
No; am speaking to you-his people
who know and appreciate these noble
works of his zeal, and who therefore
will prefer to dwell few moments on
The spiritual relations which he held to
you as pastor of your souls.
He begot YOU into Christ in holy hap.
ism. He threw over your young souls
;he beautiful robe of divine grace which
made you children OF God, heirs of
heaven, objects of complacency. And
when that robe was stained and soiled
,y sin, how often did he not wash away
hose stains in the precious blood OF
Christ in the Sacrament of Penance.
will give you pastors according to
ny heart and they shall feed you with
and doctrine" Jeremiah
,-l5).
He was by excellence an instructor
and teacher, He was not o learned
man, il you please not man OF extra.
talents, but of a ripe, sound
laborious student, who
atQered during his long life treasures of
knowledge which he made his own and
dispensed to others, If his college
ceased to exist, it was not because he
was unable to keep up it's standard, but
because of the civil war, bring ing with
10 suoh poverty and trials.
How justly can he address you this
Like bis Blessed Master
be began first to do, then to teach. And
our Divine Lord tells us that he who
Iirst practices what he teaches shall
he caIlad preat in the kindOm of God -