Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-23
ODLUM'S FUNERAL.
FATHER AHERNs REMARKS AS TO HIS MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY.

Several hundred people filed the parlors and
thronged around the house No. 5O4 18th street
yesterday afternoon during the funeral services
OF Robert T.. Odlum. the athlete who killed him.
self In leaping from the Brooklyn bridge. The
casket was placed in the front parlor Upon it
were placed a number of beautiful floral en-
biems, the most noticeable being miniature
OF the Brooklyn bridge, made of roses aud i'm
mortelles, the Offering of Odiums comrades in
the Washington Light Infantry Corps
Rev. Father Ahern, of St. Matthew's church.
peffFmed the Catholic burial service and made
a very touching and eloquent address. After
speaking of the brevity OF life and the certainty
OF death and the knowledge men possessed OF
Fastening TO this critical period as last as the
wings OF time could carry them, and the i'm
possibility OF any one ever retracing his steps
after having entered the bounds of eternity, he
Grew lesson of the necessity of being
ever prepared To meet death. In refer
ence to Odlum's moral responsibility for his
INK of the responsibility of the man who ex-
peC.rd To leap from the balustrade of the Brook
Tyr bridge, and by some act of sagacity to elude
the effect of the accclerating power Of gravity
ought certainly to be no more cOndemnatory
than its Judgment of a person who believing
that God has established an order of sequence
i'm morals. yet expects to violate with IMMUNITY
the moral law of his Creator The moral laws
OF God can no more be varied than physical
law The results which God has connected
with actions Will inevitably occur. And vet
we see men enjoying the esteem of cOmmuni-
titSr anu WHO violating the moral
law, yet expecting to escape the consequences
which God has established. The only differ
ence Is IN the order of sequence that the viola
ton OF physical law is attended with immediate
results, while in morals it is often long delayed.
And therefore the scripture tells us that because
sentence is not executed speedily against an
evil act the hearts of the sons of men
are fully set to do evil. The conse-
quenceS which society has connected with
the act of this man ought to have determined
him not to undertake il. To us it seems q rash
act-a reckless act. a 1oolhardy act, hazard-
oGs attempt, endangering human life. It's re-
suit, indeed, proved fatal; but let the result of
an action be what il may. we hold the man re-
sponsible solely on the ground OF intention, and
Robert Odlum was Il voluntary, intelligent man,
capable of foreseeing the result of an exertion
OF his power. with that exertion subject to his
own free will. We do not know what the mo-
tive OF the man was, but deem it TO have
been better one than that of merely securing
In his own mind lie was justified, not merely in
hoping that ne would perform this feat sue
ccSSiully, but in the firm conviction that he
would accomplish il easily. \ professional
athlete, he had often performed similar feats of
daring, and his conscience rendered satisfilc-
tory testimony of his ability 10 repeat
aud accountable individual. to whom
God had given wonderful physical strength us
means Of happiness, he recognized the right
to exert the powers OF his body az ne wilIat;
Unconscious Cf danger himself, he did not thfuz
he was committing an overt act against society,
and the Proof OF forfeiture 10 the claims of
Guide him, while they would. perhaps most
loudly have applauded and praised him had
he accomplished his daring feat successfully"
Father AheTn referred 10 Odlum's generous
character and his manly conduct in haS ing
several times rsi>ed his life tic lives OF
others vino were periShinS in the water.
The remains Were followed by u Ion" line of
Carriages 10 Mt Olivet cemetery, where they
we're placed i'll the vault. The pa!i-bearcrs were
MesSrs. William Dickson. +: +. Ward. K. D.
Wright. X. VI. Nanneman, Washington Nailor,
and j. A. Rudd