Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-12
FUNERAL FRICTION.
THE STORY OF rHg INTERRUPTED WERSER
OBSEQUIES
Rev. Father Sullivan Clearly Points Out the Church
Lava Misunderstanding OF !hs Part
81 the Gol!sh Eagles,

Concerning the >omew hat unfortunate
attending the funeral Of
Werner. which occurred on
Tuesday afternoon, there have been
many rumors aud conflicting accounts
and opinions, and with a view to getting
at the facts in tho case a REoistER re-
porter Yesterday interviewed several oil
the parties concerned.
The REGISTER called upon Rev. Father
sullivan at the Cathedral, vino while not
directly connected with the affair, was
converSant with the circumstances.
He said. Father DidacuS was per-
fectly right 10 refusing TO allow the
body of Golden Eagles TO
enter Mt. Calvary cemetery. There IS
well defined statute of the Catholic
diocese which allows no secret order or
uniformed body Of men, unless they be
thoroughly Catholic in their personnel
and government TO take part In any
Catholic religious services, and funerals
directly come under this head. There is,
however, distinction between the so
called and full-fledged Catholic Organl-
cations. a secret order may be COM
posed Of all Catholics, aud yet II its
constitution and bylaws have not been
submitted TO the Bishop for approval,
while the organization, of course, IS not
cenSured, it IS deprived OF the privi-
lege OF taking part in any religious eX-
erciSeS. The members OF organizations
other than Catholic, Of course. can at
tend funeral ceremonies individually
or in a body, but they can take
no part i'm the exercises and their
presence at the house, church
or cemetery will not be permitted
IL attired ia the uniform or wearing the
Insignia OF the order to which they be-
long. In refusing 10 allow the Golden
Eagles to enter Mt. Calvary continued
Father Sullivan, Father DdacuS did
what any other secret or labor organiLa-
ton would do when il came to a ques-
tion Of overriding their sworn and
sacred rules"
The reporter next called upon James
4. Rankns, the head of the beneficiary
order Of Golden Eagles, under whose
auspices the funeral took place. Mr.
RanknS said: The unfortunate circum-
stances attending the funeral were cauS-
ed in part by misunderstanding on the
part OF our order. Mr.. Werner died on
sunday morning, and in the afternoon
Mr.. Werner's father called on Rev.
Father Morris, of St Alphonsus
Church 70 see about the funeral ar
rangementS. and from him | learned in
directly that Father Morris had granted
the Golden Eagles the privilege OF en-
terlng the cemetery, but understood
that no services were 20 be conducted
by Us within the sacred Enclosure, and
for this reason our Order OF
the Golden Eagles took charge OF the
services at tie house before going out
20 the cemetery. As was under the
impression that Father Morris had
granted Us the privilege of entering the
cemetery I supposed OF couse it was IN
uniform, and 81 informed all our
members. When we arrived at the mo-
tor station, where We had chartered a
train. we met Rev. Father DidacuS.
who was deputod by Father Morris 10
oficiate. lie appeared to be much dis
concerted at seeing us IN uniform, and
told US that unless we took of our uni
forms he would not 20 out. rs "" had
chartered the train ourselves. this
we refused To do, but Tor
some reason or other Father
DidicuS remained aboard. Arriving at
Mt. Calvary Father DidicuS jumped
of and immediately informed the sexton
not 10 allow us 10 enter, and a discussion
following. the sexton requested ne to
talk with Father DidacuS and have the
matter explained. But Is the Rev.
Father refused TO talk further ON the
matter. and failing To get satisfaction,
we decided TO bury him elsewhere.
which by the way was AZ the request OF
the widow, who is a protestant, and was
very DESTROYS that the Golden Eagles,
who had done 50 much for her late huS-
hand. should have the entire charge OF
the burial. Accordingly the body was
placed m car and carried back 10
Greenwood cemetery, where a permit
was secured, lot purchased and the
body Inferred with the services OF
the order. That is the whole story.
In attempting 20 march into Mt. Cal
vary il was not our intention 10 over
riie the rules Of the church. think
most of our members are cOnver>ant
with the rules ON this point, but the
whole affair arose out of 4 miSundcr-
standing as TO the privileges which |
was informed were accorded 10 me by
Rev. Father Morris.
The reporter next called upon Rev.
Father Morris, who said: Mr. Werner
called uuon me TO see about the ar
fragments Of the funeral. He asked
me il the members OF a secret or bcne-
iciarv order who were friends OK the
deceased. could attend the funeral.
.Of cOuse, not surprising that they
were going 20 appear in uniform,
granted the privilege, aS friends in
citizens attire. whether they be Catholic
or protestant, are always permitted to
attend funerals. But it seems that
Mr.. Werner miSiuterprctcG my answer.
and thought I had granted the privi-
lege To appear ia uniform. lonly learn
ed this morning that religious services
were held by the Golden Eagles at
the house before going To tine cemetery.
This was an impcrtinent piece OF bust
ness. and had known il at the time, ]
should have delegated no Catholic priest
A.. - n. ..f.,, ~ tho servfcps al The grave