New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-08
MGR. PRESTON'S FUNERAL.
j A HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.
TIRE GRAFTON BY ARCHBISHOP, EYAN-soME OF
THOSE PRESENT. .t

THOSE PRESENT. >r
The funeral OF Monsenor Preston took place yes
terdey morning at 10 O'Clock in S. Ann's Church, In
East Tweifh-st Long lefore the hour OF tho ser
vice every seat in the large church. except those
reserved for the clergy paIbearers and the press was
occupied and large crowd gathered in the street III
front Admission TO the church was by ticket.
Promptly mt 10 O'Clock the pallbcarers. with wmtc
sashes their breasts filed out Of the rectory ana
marched into the church. The doors were then cioseu
and the service began.
The scene in the church was most impressive I'D
the centre aisle before the altar cstafadue drapcd
with purple velvet stood the coffin. with the ooaS Vi
the dead prelate exposed 10 view HIS head restca on
a raised pillow OF white silk and he was clad IN the
purple vestnents of his rank. The church was heavN
draped with black cloth. The body OF the chufch was
flied to its utmost capacity the seats In 'front.' pe'ng
occupied for the most part by priests In their white
cesents varied here and there with the austere ropes
OF Capuchin monks, or the somore ofess oi
nuns and Sisters Of Charity. From the iohs
galleries on either side OF the church oehse
masses Of men and women looked sorro"luiy uoWh
on the pale calm features of the departed priest The
yellow Light from the altar candles ard from TWO TALL
silver candelabrs which stood at either end OF the
bier mingled with the bright rays OF the sun sffanng
through the stained glass windows. The ohicaf'ns
priests and dgnaes OF the Church. In Their gorgeous
vestments fled slowly In, TO the solemn strains OF inc
organ and took their places about the altar. Inc
service was the solemn Pontifcal requiem mass IL
was celebrated by Archbishop Corrgan, assisted by
Monsignor Farley, arch priest: the Rev. John NJ Ed
wards and the Rev. Joseph r. Mooney, deacons Of
honor; the Rev. Thomas F. Lynch, deacon oil mass
Matthew A. Taylor sub-deacon, and DR.. Mcdonald,
master of ceremonies.
During the solemn and impressive ceremonies OF the
requiem mass The vast congregation was wonderfully
stall and the voice Of the Archbishop chanting the
fhn n. "A
its close Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia delivered
the funeral Grafton. His towering form and sonorouS
voice were most impressive. His delivery was pow
crfu and he frequently eloquent to degree thae
moved his hearers to tears. He SAID In part ~
seems almost pity 10 disturb by words the Patheuc
sermon. of the scene before u.s. Everything arounu Is
eloquent with meaning that appeals TO the intellect
DC we'll as To the feeling He who from this place
spoke to yoH now vet spcabeth from his bier III eio-
ouent silence. The widowed church which nc Duli'
mourns for him. The very air Is eloquent Inns
scene speaks OF his truth and loyalty and Of tie purity
of his life and motives. 1t speaks with speclal eo-
ouence TO his CATION and converts who are nero
10 mourn him. There many here who knew MN
moro Intimately than /. but have known him fof
thirty wears have followed his career closely ana
fully understand his lofty motives ana pure AND
tons We are here first to do honor TO the departco'
That honor he deserves 1t is not necessary for me 10
tell his history here. 1t is known TO you all ana ias
been given since his deatn in t1e PuDnO Piii'''
@He came Of that sturdy New-EnSla'a s'ooh
which ia the pride and strength Of this country lie
was loyal TO truth and prepared to make any
sacrifice for it. 1t was not the elaborate ceieio'
of tho Church. which said TO be so attractive W
the IMAGINATION which led him TO embrace the oatho
religion. He took counsel with a pries. anu
never entered Catholic church until he entered IL d
convert He was seeking the truth and he found IL
unalloyed in the Church convert is often more
valuable than one who has been brought up Oetoho
on account Of the sacrifices which must DC nlano any
on account OF the rmncss OF tho convlcuons WHICH ie"
n man 10 renounce faith which was once suhiciehV
for him. Monslgnor Preston was brave, generous ana
gentle His strong face led some 10 believe MIN hard
and austere Those who knew him bes:, knew him 10
he semitic not stern lie had the dignity which BELTS
a Christian priest. The man who has heid ue ca
allied position Of priest for fortyone years deserves
the tribute we pay him to-day. CnoeheVers DIS wen
nc Christians and Catholics should do honor to him
II was his mission TO eIcVatc hYnahi's' W '0''0 ~
afflicted, TO do good. ~
Ths urest Is The standard bearer of Christian CIVIL
zatiop A fair criterion Of his merit was the
fact that he was appointed by the great Archbishop
as his private secretary when he was but ie" years
Old in the Church. and honors continued TO come 10 nm
throughout his whole life. He was devoted heaft ana
soul to the Church The last word he pronounced was
the name Of the High Priest OF Jesus Christ, as II no
entered heaven with that on his lips as pass
mort He cared little for popularity, therefore more
substantial popularity will be his reward
ave arc here for second and more important pur-
pose than to honor his memory. We ae here 70 pray
for his SOUL Great position brings great responsibility
Consider the appallng sibity of the VcarGen-
ers of great diocese like this. We pray for the eposs
OF the soul of the Solemn Pontif himself when he
passes away. The most impressive thing ever "a"
was the present Pope praying for the soul Of his pre-
decessor. God alone is great God alone Is hoiy' lie
for whom you pray to-day will not forget his people Id
III. nd pa wi
You are here, finally, TO learn the lesson conccrnng
vour OWN salvation which he breaches from his coihn
You see death before YOU, solemn and awful. Many
say that there is nothing more terrible than deat IL
robs the strong of their strength and The beautiful OF
,her beauty But deaths parent smiles with con-
tempt at the boastfuIness of lis offspring by sin
death entered world, and sin smiles at the power
o, death Death ros the strong OF their strength and
the beautiful Of their beauty but sin has robbed "od
of His angels and Christ Himself OF peace for looking
at the work of lie repented that lie mad created
man. sin pcrpeIuates its dominion, unul man calls
upon death as friend. but II robs him OF that, 100,
and makes his sorrow eternal. If he who lies there
now could speak to you, he would speak, not Win Tile
eloquence OF The past but with the eloquence born Of
vision Listen to him, and death itself will he lib
Grafton and illumination
AT the close OF the funeral sermon, the celcbrsnts
headed by Archbishop Corrigan, left the altar and at
the foot OF the coffin performed the impressive cerc
rlony Of The final absOlution. This ended the service
and ceebrants and priests marched out by the entrance
at The sides of the altar 10 the mournful strains OF
Chopn's funeral march, Alter tine priests had left the
church, Father Lynch, of the Church of the Trans
6guration announced that those of the congregation
who desired 10 view the body could do so, and for hall
an hour a line OF men and women marched up the
centre AISLE past the bier and left the church by the
side aisles Many who had been unable to obtain
entrance to the church during the services avaled
themselves of This privilege.
The services were most impressive throughout
The musical part of The ceremony being par
tlcularly line. The mass was sung by the
hor according TO The following programme
Rsnnlem and KSrie, Cheribini; Dies lrae, GoudiosO
Trecorderc Verdi: Lacrynoso Deiico; OnertOry
= Domme Jesus Delico; Sanetus, Agnus Del. Cheru
bDi: funeral march. Mango, Organist and director oi