The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-04-29
THE LATE FATHER DAMIEN.
REQUIEM MASS AT THE ROMAN CATH
oLIC CATHEDRAL.

was p0ntlllCal requiem mass at The
Roman Catholic Cathedral for the
repose Of the soul of the late Father
Damien. The affairs, pulpit and
pillars were all draped in mourning.
In the body of the church, just be-
low the altar rail, stood q catafalque
with lighted candles on either side.
On the catafalque was priests
stole and the decoration of Knight
Commander of the Royal Order of
kalakaua, which had been bestowed
on the late Father. Among those
occupying seats in the church were:
Hon. John o. Dominis, Hon. A. s.
Cleghorn, Major j. II. Wodehouse,
II. 3. MS Commissioner Mons.
d'Anglade, French Commissioner
Senior Canavarrro, Portuguese
Commissioner Mr.. j. w. Robert
son, Nice-Chamberlain Mrs. Judge
McCully, Mr.. w. J. Harding, Chief
Engineer Ii. b. NJ. S. Cormorant,
and Mr.. M. McInerny.
The mass was sung by the Lord
Bishop of Olba, assisted by Father
Clement as assistant priest, Father
Sylvester, deacon, Father Raymond,
sub-deacon. The st. Louis College
band, under direction of Brother
Francis, played the following music
in excellent style: Funeral March,
Beethoven; Dirge, Fallen heroes,
by G. A. White; Domini Jesu
Christi. Schmidt, and two dirges.
During the mass the Bishop of
Olba advanced to the altar rail and
| spoke as follows:
We are assembled for the purpose
of honoring the memory of man
whose fame has been extended over
the whole globe. There is perhaps
not city small or large in the civil
lied world where the name of Fa-
Their Damien is not heard and bless
ed by every feeling heart. Every
honest man is entitled to our res
pect but there are many degrees in
the merits of good men. A good
Christian is justly honored by his
fellow Christians; generous bene-
factor is entitled to the gratitude of
those who have received his benefits !;
a jealous propagation of the Gospel
of Christ who works honestly for
the salvation of souls, and who prac-
tees himself the works of charity he
breaches to others, will always earn
the admiration of fair minded peo-
pie. Father Damien unites all these
titles in an eminent degree in COM
mon with many others. But he has
two more glorious titles which raise
him above the rest of good men, he
is a hero and martyr of Christian
charity. History offers many he
roes in different directions. The
most celebrated are perhaps those
brave men who risked their lives on
the battle field for the defense of
their country with the determined
resolution to conquer or to die.
Father Damien seems to me to be a
more glorious hero than he who falls
on the battlefield sword in hand.
About 81 years old, in the fulness
of health and strength, he offered
himself to share the fate of those I'M
fortunate human beings, whom Pro-
violence has separated from the in
tercourse with their relatives and
friends. He asked as favor the
permission to live in an anticipated
tomb for the consolation and for the
corporal and spiritual comfort of
those sufferers who were there by
necessity. His hierarchical superlors
had only the pleasure of giving their
consent to this selfsacrificing offer
with their admiration of his superior
merit. He not only exposed himself
to the loathsome disease, but he
faced the danger with supernatural
Christian Indifference, perhaps with
more hope than fear to fall victim
of his charity. Without doing harm
to anybody he conquered like Christ
by his death. After having felt
during many years the symptoms Of
the coming disease, these last two
years it had become evident that the
disgusting sickness had taken hold
of his body. He continued still his
arduous work as long as the least
ability remained, until God called
him to his reward, real martyr OF
his devotion to the work of Christian
charity during 16 years when he had
entered only into his fiftieth year
In the name of the corporation OF
which Father Damien was distin,
guished member | thank you for the
kind proof of sympathy you give us
by your presence on this occasion
AT the same time allow me to con.
graduate you, because your public
tribute of honor paid to the memory
of priest whose faith may more oil
less differ from yours, proves that
yon highly appreciate Christian yir'
tue wherever you find it.
The Bishop also spoke in Ha,
waiian, being considerably affected
The Very Rev. Father LeonorC
acted as usher, and saw that the
large congregation present was com
fortably seated.