The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-09
NO RELIGIOUS RITES.
Patro1man Reen'S Body
Denied Interment in
Consecrated
Ground.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS THE BAR
Bishop Wigger Decides to Enforce
the Rules of the Catholic Church
in Such Cases.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs THE BAR

Somewhat of a sensation was caused at
the funeral of Policeman Peter Reen this
morning, when 1t became known that
Bishop Wigger had forbidden the holding
of funeral services over Reen's body in
st. Peters Roman Catholic Church. It
had been currently reported that a
requiem high mass would be
celebrated at nine o'clock. Long
before that hour hundreds of rail-
road men and friends of the deceased
gathered in front of the church and
waited patiently for the doors to open.
Half-past nine rolled by and still there
were no signs of any service at the
church. Many of the anxious watchers
wended their way to the home of the de-
ceased at No. 1853 Sussex street, to ascer-
tain the cause or the delay, There every
thing was hustle and excite
ment, and soon it became whis,
be no funeral at the church. This caused
much speculation. Undertaken Moran was
scurrying here and there comforting with
members of the family us to what course
should De pursued. About fifty coaches.
blockaded the streets and hundreds OF
friends, men, women and children were
gathered in groups discussing the pre-
dicament in which the family suddenly
found itself.
At ten o'clock platoon of police under
command of Chief Murphy, and Captain
Farrier headed by the Fourth Regiment
drum and fife corps put in an appearance,
and took stand in front of the house.
CAUSE OF THE DELAY
1t was shortly after ten O'Clock when
Undertaken Moran disclosed the real
cause of the trouble. The pastor
of st. Peters Church had learned
that Policeman Reen belonged to
Krfobfo nf pu-
thias. There is an injunction
in!the Roman Catholic Church preventing
| the holding of funeral services in a
| church, the celebration OF high mass, and
| the interment in conSecrated ground OF a
| person belonging to secret order. 1t
was generally supposed that this injunct-
| ion applied only to the Free Masons. The
pastor notified Bishop Wigger of the con-
| dition of affairs and was directed by the
Bishop to inform the members of the be-
reaved family that under the rules of the
| church the funeral could not take place
| from the church.
The order was not received until this
morning. and as result the members of
| the family were seriously inconvenienced.
Undertaken Moran consulted the pastor
! of st. Peters, and it was decided that
Policeman Reen should be buried with
out any burial services; There was
large delegation of Knights of Pythias
present, but not one murmured. AT
half past ten Undertaken Moran an
nonnced that everything was In readiness
and that the funeral would proceed.
ALSO DENIED INTERMENT.
The remains of the popular policeman
| were placed In the hearse and the funeral
procession proceeded to the Catholic
Cemetery. Arriving there another scene
of excitement occurred. The grave had
been dug and large number of people
were gathered near 1t to hear the lastwords
4 pronounced over the body OF the de-
ceased. The order of Bishop WigGer pre-
vented the burial of the body In conse-
Grated ground, and as last resort It was
placed in vault
The affair caused much comment, and
much sympathy was expressed for the
members of the family of the deceased,
who are heartbroken over the occurrence.
The body will remain in the vault for a
day or two and then be removed and in
TERED by the lodge of which the deceased
was member.
NOT UNCOMMON.
Mr.. John G. Berrian, prominent
Pythian. when interviewed by JERSEY
CITY NEWS reporter in connection with
the occurrences at Reen's funeral, said =
''Cases similar to this happen ire.
quently. When a member of secret
order dies. if he Is member OF the
Catholic Church. he must re.
he belongs or be carried
be buried in unconsecrated ground. Mem
bers of Lodges cannot enter Catholic
church in uniform. If the member does
not renounce the order to which he be-
longs the wife usually asks the lodge te
take charge of the funeral. In this case
Mrs. Reen, suapose. did not know what
to do Even now Mr.. Reen would ot
buried with Pythian honors If she made