The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-16
THE M'CLOSKgY OBSEQUIES.
Solemn, Impressive and Beautiful Serv-
ices in st. Patrick's Cathedral.
The Great Ediice Packed by an Enormous
Audience-Abstract of the Sermon De-
liyered by Archbishop Gibbons.


DeParl who guarded the body of Cardinal Nc
Closkey in the great Cathedral has at length
come to an end. The first beams of the morning
sun had hardly gilded the steeples of the
churches when procession of priests, with IN
covered heads, entered the Cathedral and knelt
before the altar. The prayers for the opening
Of the new day, the day upon which the body
Of Americans first cardinal was to be
committed to the earth, were said, and then the
priests walked slowly down the central aisle on
either side of the catafalque and returned to the
sacristy. Two hundred policemen kept the
great crowd that had assembled shortly after
A. NJ in order The doors of the Cathedral were
opened at 8:45, and the waiting throng invited
to enter
AS the hour for beginning the service was
reached, the crush without the church became
greater. The streets, for several squares in
every direction. were blocked with carriages and
masses of people, The police had all they could
do to preserve order. The scene within the Ca
thedral was grand and impressive. The dead
body of the Cardinal had, during the night, been
placed in the mahogany coffin which
had been prepared for its recep-
ton. Heavy drapery of purple velvet, bordered
with fringe. hung about the coffin. Rods of
gold extending the entire length of the coffin Or
namented the sides. The body had been so
placed that the head of the dead preate was
raised above the level of the coffin, and was easily
crowded with people. 5000 persons were gath
cred within the walls of the Cathedral before
10 "A. NJ
While the throng was waiting the opening Of
the solemn requiem services, the Papal Zouaves,
in gold lace and bright uniforms. marched down
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 aeolytes filed
down the stops to the lseats d.
rectly in front of the high altar.
There was movement Of hushed expectancy. as
Father Sammel waved his hand and then the
stiffness broken by the priests as they
chanted the Office of the dead. The two hundred
voices OF the priests and boys, mellowed by the
distance, sounded sweetly to the ears of the
waiting congregation The boys chanted one
line Of the psalm, and the priests the second.
Then came the singing OF Psalm o. 1t was not.
however until the priests came to the Mserere
that the full richness and beauty of the we'll
trained voices of the chancel choir were brought
put In all probability nothing like the singing
Of these priests and boys has ever been heard in
this city First came the singing of the Latin
lines by the boy-tenors, to which responded the
harmonzed voices Of the priests The notes of the
chanters f1oated upward among the great arches
of the Cathedral, and, being DETECTED by the
pillars, were thrown backward and forward
until they died away in the distance. Several
more pasms were then snng by the choir in
unison, after which the chanting of the
benedictus. While the Office for the dead was
being cbanted, Father Anacletus. Franciscan
friar, assisted by the Rev. Father Kelly, passed
around the catafalque. swinging censor, from
which perfumed incense arose. Later on, Father
lilly Dominican priest, performed the same
priests resumed their seats and short period of
waiting followed. The great organ pealed forth
the solemn, stately voluntary preceding the mass,
and now two acolytes bearing lighted candles in
their hands, followed by another procession of
priests, came slowly out from the sacrsty and
formed before the high altar. Then came
the bishops in their somber-hued garments and
finally the monsignors and the archbishops.
Then all was ready, and the choir chanted the
requiem mass. The choir numbered over one
hundred voices. Archbishop Corrigan was the
celebrant of the pontifical mass. Monsignor
Foley was the assistant priest. Father Donnelly
deacon and Father Mclean sub -deacon. Fathers
Mcdonnell, Kelly, Laville, Slattery and Null
hearn, of the Cathedral household were the
masters of ceremonies. The Revs. Charles Col
ton and Thomas j. McCosky served the mass.
The Rev. Thomas j. McIlhanney and Fathers
.Aylward and McGrath acted as chaplains.
N.
The sermon which was preached by Archbishop
Gibbons was delivered after the mass. The text
was Ecclesastes, iv, S. ''These words. spoken
lorignaly of Aaron" said the speaker. 'may be
fttingly applied to the great high priest whose
mortal remains now lie before you He, also,
chosen out of all men living to fill the high
est ecclesiastical position in this Nation, that he
might teach Jacob his testimonies and give light
70 in laVU fhn -
a pontif, to which the sacred text referred had
q two-fold sgnfcation-they symbolized in the
eyes of the people his spiritual dignity and
authority; to the pontiff himself they represent
he shoaid be adorned. and without which
their lustre. These scarlet robes
OF the Cardinal remind you Of the exalted
dignity to which he was raised they reminded
himself of the garment of innocence worn bv
his Divine master and crimsoned with his precious
blood, and that he should be ready. if necessary,
to lay down his life for the faith. The Cardinals
death brought sorrow to the universal church,
as well as to the church of America and New
York. 1t has filled with grief the great heart of
the sovereign Pontiff and the College of Cardi-
nais. OF which he was an illustrous member and
distinguished ornament 1t had fallen heavily
upon you, venerable brethren of the clergy and
the sadness depicted on your countenances is the
expression of the grief which fills your hearts
Nor was this grief confined to those who
were of the household of the faith. 1t extended
to all classes and creeds of the community. The
great heart of New York had mourned him. as
well became this Empire city. lamentng the
death of one of its most illustrious and honored
citizens. Neither wealth, power. nor rank
could command such heartfelt and universal re-
spect as has been spontaneously paid to the re-
mains of your revered prelate. He had won the
hearts of the people. The Christian prelate was
always man of mark a center of observation
70 the eyes of the world. To the eye of faith
the bishop is exalted abcve angels. because he
exercises powers not given to angels The bishon
is the ambassador of God, appointed to vindcate
his honor and proclaim his name among the
nations of the earth. If it is esteemed a great
privilege for citizen to represent this great
greater q privilege is the prerogative to repre-
sent the court of heaven among the nations of
the world2