Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-01-30
AScathins PhilippIc at a Funeral.

KANSAS CTTY, Mo., Jan. l3 Death has
 done much for Father JRrdine. There is
 salk of perss cutiOn and islander where
 nis worst enemies were to be found a
 few weeks since. Dozens of men rever-
 ently attended the funeral-mass held
 jver the dead priests remains this
 morning who would never have attend
 ,d his services. Ihls tendency of death
 Co exalt the memory ol its victim was
 powerfully seconded Ibis morning Dy the
 funeral Oration Of the Rev. Father c. C.
 Betts of St, Louis who, ID most eloquent and sensational language, detied his .IvGu i.Ieul', C-eC.ies. His address was
 powerful and pointed, and created marked sensation. There were occasions
 if eff irts at spplause. Among the many friends and enemies of the dead man present were three Kansas City mem- Ue-s of the ecclesiastical court and yes try. The majority Of the throng were women. There was an impressive si- ience throughout the church as the i'm posing figure of Father Betts appeared at the head of the coffin. The tall priest after gazing Intently at the auditors for d few moments said:
 ''I suppose you imagine I am here to- day with a carefully prepared statement to deliver m the house of my beloved brother. 1 have DO such utterance pre- pared. ULtil thIs moment my thoughts have been in chaos. l am bewildered, shocked, disgusted. The words 1 wish to utter should not be spoken in this nOly place, before tie altar of my God, the God in whose faith my brother died. He did not suicide; God forbid. He was assassinatej. Applause.
 Stopi Let no such sound dssecrste these holy walls. l am Lere as his An tony, to take the place of his Brutus who has so foully done hIm to death. Our God said that proof of mans priest hood Is that be Is accnsed, that all men turn from him. It was so with Jesus. He went down accused and reviled. Is 1t a wonder that they slew him! Oh, you of Kansas City! You slew him! We judge a man not by one act, but by his life.
 Look me in the face. Is there a man here who can say, On my soul there Is 10 sin? Let him that Is without sin cast the first stone. l do not say he was sinless, that he was never guilty of an error in judgment, but l will say that as one of his dearest friends, l can say be- fore my God that believe hun innO- cent and pure as believe ID the Son of God Himself. Jealousy provoked his and a desire for triumph urged them on. A vaccilating policy, an attempt to stand well with both the world and God, crushed him.
 "I will how rehearse for you some fl the reasons why Father Jardine WAS in- famously persecuted and crushed. Two thirds of the Diocese of Missouri wanted Father Jardine to have faIr trial. The reputation of priest Is like wo- mans. \ islander may be small, but 5nly utter 1t and the dogs Of scandal lick up blood. 4 cowardiy slanderer will overlook physician and lawyer to get at a priest, because he is detenseleSs. Who but a dastardly newspaper or s coward wcGld attack defeaseless priest? 4 priest IS fgvoEIte prey Tor such vultures. You who are strong re- sent the impntatiOn that you would strike a man who IS weaker than your self. You strike one weaker than your self when you strike priest. One cow ard Is no more desplcable than the other.
 "Xho is more cowRrdly than the man who lifts his poisonous tongue against priest. will forget that l am R priest
 
 stepping forward with the ar of chal- lenger); I am about to challenge the motives of the Court and clergymen, sll of whom are present. l understand one of them is indebted to Father Jardlne for his parish; the other two are rivals. Human nature has Its weak points m priests as well as other men. Father Jardine has always had an enemy m one of his judges, and still the man was per mitted % act, even after .he protest of the accused. The verdict of the three judges was written and signed Septem- Der 25th, before the testimony was m. Could an, thing be more outrageous inhuman, The signatures of the other two judges were added when they were not present at court.
 "One of them says now be believes Jsrdine was innocent. l hope this man will receive some consideration when he comes before the highest court
 The sermon was followed by the re- ouiem mass, which closed one of the mot sensational funeral services ever held in lthis city.-Specisl to Chicago Tribune.