Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-15
Spsnal T.Is7rau 10 t5s Snaay R1aiTr.

No services were he'd in the Senate
Chamber yynere the BODY had been lying
In state, but the remains were removed 20
ST. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cuprcu,
the modest building which the late senator
designed some tweuty years ago, ana Whlc1
was approved by Bishop K. v. w Wueian' OF
Wheeling.
The modest frame structure has a seat
ing capacity of 2o0. When the ulSun-
flushed members Of the different commit
tees were assigned 10 their seats accorolns
70 the diagram which had been prepared
the building was crowded, and many We're
compelled % stand outside toe doors on lne
sidewalk. The solemn high mass OF tne
Catholic Church was celebrated by. the
pastor Rev Father Steoger. assisted oy
Father Marlborough, OF TINS diocese.
Father Stenger preached "a eloquent
funeral oratiOn. He said;
'My dear friends; ] regret exceedingly
that the small dimensions OF the chapel
make 40 impossible for all the surrounding
friends OF Mir. Kerna 70 gather around TINS
bier and fully satisfy their hearts with DO
Ing him honor during these last moments
q his presence amongst us. When, twer-
ty-ive years ago, Mr.. Keuna with his own
hand, now so cold and mOtionless, sKeJcued
the plan Of this small building for the con-
vepience Of the handful OF Catholics who
then resided here, neither be nor
I dreamed that he would be
struck down iu the prime Of his
manhood that his mortal remains would
be brought before this altar from the caP'-,
tai Of the nation, escorted by q cOrteCe OF
honor from the Congress Of the United
states, and met by hundreds Of representa-
tive citizens from all parts Of the state;
and that on me would devOlve the melan-
choly duty of performing the last sad rites
Of the church over him.
= BEFORE THE ALTAR or eOp,
in the presence Of the dead, while we are
pleading in the prayers Of the liturgy for
mercy and rest for his soul, 10 Is hardly the
time and place 70 sound the praise Of
mortal man however distinguished may
have Oeen his achievements, yet, my dear
friends, you have loved JOon r. heuna
and so have l, 'snd we feel that the recital
Of some Of bis good qualities would not oe
yraVelV out Of harmony Win the
solemn spirit OF this occasion 20 our
1 hearts. He was a favCrite perhaps
~ no other man has been with the people
of rhe Kanawha Valley in particular, and
with the citizens of the entire State OF
West Virginia. There are many here WHO
can recall with me thar scene which oc-
Cured I'm the Hall Of the Delegates at the
k}apitol three years ago, when the dead
lock
ma was again chosen to represent his StSte
in the United states Senate; they remem-
her how strong men fell on each
others necks and wept for sheer
fOv that the man who held
their affections had again come victorious
out of the prOtracted contest. a few
weeks ago, when the news OF his serious
illness was sent over the lahd, all spoke
words Of pity and regrets; and the columns
80 Ell han HarIr re rHE f "a rN
POLITICAL difference were filed with touch
ing tributes 20 his worth. To-day you are
Yourselves witnesses of the universal grief
over his untimely end. West Virginia is
mourning her gifted Kcnna as Georgia
mourned her eloquent Grady.
These. my dear friedS, are the evidence
Of a popularity which must be traced 10
deeper cause than mere success. Inoy tell
rs that by some magic peculiar 20 him, Mr.
Kenns insinueted himself deep INTO tae al
fectiOns Of the people OF this STATE. what
was this magicl / have had good oppor-
tunity Of studying him.
WHEN HE ENTERED THE COLLEGE
At Wheeling in 1867 was a teacher in the
institution and saw him daily. When be
came back from college 70 begin
the study Of the law, be found me here be-
y fore him engaged in laying the foundation
OF the Catholic mission OF the hanawha
lodped In the same House and gave him
the benefit OF my knowledge Of the Latin
language bv rendering into English for
him. the foot notes Of Bi2Ckst0ne's com
mentaries on English law. We were COM
panlous and friends in higher than the
ordinary sense; for / was ais pastor and 10
some degree his mentor. We never BE-
came seriously estranged. though our lUdg-
ments did Dot coincide regarding the career
which already at that time be was map
ming out for himself Being of a more
phegmatic temperament than his, addicted
TO the slow, ploddinC method sud knowing
little OF the stimulus of ambition, was
most likely incapable Of Suspec-ing its
force in q youth as strong in health, as ar
dent 10 temperament and as keen
In \. intellect as he was / was not
In 4vOr Of his entering into politics. /
coAd not know what a tranSccoealt
faculty for leading and sWaTing men WAS
struggling within him FOR development
during our interviews I could never fan
to see in him, even ia recent years, when
gray hairs had begun 20 show on his tenn
pies, and lines OF care in his face, the same
familiar boy. His g0.ety was infectious,
and 10 was no doubt strong element or the
charm that won for him the hearts Of men.
IL continued with him amid the cares Of
public life. 10 was with hiu Ia the domes-
! tic circle. fear almost 70 speak OF il in
ebe heari1g OF bis fearful children, for 70
hem he was no less the Jolly p.aylellOW
shan the
RULER or TEE HOUSEHOLD.
"But behind this uuqUencha0.5 gaicty
there was a manhood OF the strongest tvpe.
He loved what is manly. He loved what
challenges the courage and energy OF a man.
The sports which be preferred were Of tbis
nature, so also were the serious tasks Of
bis life. TIP vault from the Ofice Of Prose
cutting Attd ney Of a West Virginia county
into the pla, OF United States Congress
man was a feat that tempted his courage.
He accomplished IT, He maintained him
self there for three terms, then won his
way still higher And when he found him.
self in the emQnence, he WIS not content 20
be an incom pstent hgurehead, out soon
mastered meRsUres and methods and
made himself eminently useful %
the people tWhOse commission he
bore He was also manly under re-
verses and SORROWS. lt was during bis
frst effort to get,to Congress that the SICK
ness and death Of his 6rst wife called him
70 her bedside and then 70 her grave. He
bore up under tnsl blow with uncOmpiain-
ing fortitude that won the sympathy and
admiration Of all the people OF this city.
I shall say nOthinf further about him as a
n8blic mar. IL wduld be cruel 70 detan
ven longer in this tcold church, still as his
nsstor during moro than twenty-six years,
4 am entitled 70 thel privilege OF saying only
4 few words about bis religious faith.
> unRe hlm9slt, vol lald protest against my