Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-09
PRAISE AND TEARS
Were the Tributes Laid on Father
Walters Bier.
BISHOP KELNE'S MOVING ADDRESS
Last Kites to the Dead Priest at
St. Patrick's.
AN IMMENSE CoNCoURsE

community this morning dropped the
tribute or Its tears upon the bier of a
nuinple ana holy man whose life had been
benson to those among whom il had been
spent From far and near; from the man.
slons or the Itch and the modest abodes of
the poor; from cloister and from cottage
came the thousands to throng the vast
edlnce OF st. Patrick's Church with a grief
stricken gathering. In the crowd were
none OF the curious, attracted by the solemn
pomp and splendid ceremony of the Roman
Catholic Church. Prelates, priests and peo-
pie were inspired alike by their hearts i'm
pulses to pay final homage on earth to clay
that had been the tenement of all that was
good and benevolent and whence had fed
soul whose every inspiration had been
noble and whose only sorrow had been
caused by the sufferings of others. To
those who wept at Father Walters funeral
II needed none Of the eloQuence and emo
ton of even so great orator as Bishop
keane TO teach the lesson of the dead
priests life. 1t was as familiar to them
the daily round of their own existence, and
there were few who bent their heads in
rcverent sorrow who could not have told
secret chapter of its sweet influence upon
themselves. So they came to bid farewell
itor, steadfast guide, a strong and earnest
helper, an unfailing and beloved friend.
whose epitaph was indelibly written
among their heart beats.
Long before O'Clock the streets leading
to ST. Patrick's were given up TO little pro-
cessions of people bent on the errand Of
sadness and the entrance to the church
was packed with those who had arrived still
earlier to secure accommodations within.
When the doors were opened to the ticket
holders the editice rapidly filled. The sun
light falling through the stained glass win
dows lighted up the interior with a soft and
holy light, making even more solemn the
somber black draperies that covered the
columns and adding to the gentle radiance
Of the tapers that shed their mellowness
upon altar and coffin.
Floral Tributes.
The latter, covered with black cloth, rest
ed in the center aisle in front OF the altar
rail At its head and foot was a candelabra
resting among banks of Easter and Gala
Lilies. and a great mass Of the former flow
ers rose from a stand at the head of the
coffin. Along the altar rail were a row of
magnificent floral offerings, one Of the
most striking of which was huge cross
formed Of ivy and covered with Gala lilies,
from amor which Splang countless sprays
Of lilies of the valley.
At $50 o'clock the deacons and acolytes
entered the church from the sacristy, and
were seated within the altar railing. Al
for the dead was begun, conducted by
all of the clergy uniting in the responses.
solemn Mass.
Solemn pontifcal mass for the dead was
then sung by his eminence, the cardinal.
the officers of mass being Archbishop Kahn
of St. Louis, celebrant; Rev. FIR. Joseph NJ.
Walter, deacon; Rev. FIR. James VI. Con-
molly, subdeacon Rev. Fathers CT. Thomas
and J. T: Whelan, deacons Of honor: Rev.
Fathers ]. F. Donohue and NJ. F. Sullivan,
ma sterS of ceremonies. Just previous to
the commencement of the services the hon
orary and active pall-bearers filed in and
took their seats near the coffin.
The honorary pallbearerS were Rev. Fa-
theirs w r. Jordan, o. B. Corrigan. c. F.
Thomas 7. ]. kervick, W. z. Starr, p. J.
Garrigan, John Delaney. Eugene A. Han
nan, c. Gillespie, E. r. Dyer, Caspar Ell
bert and p. J. O'Connell, Mr.. J. Huntington,
Mr.. G. l. Ennis. Mr.. George Bogus, Mr..
William Gait, Mr.. r. o. Hoffman and Mr.
James Keleher. The active pallbeare-s were
Mr.. Thomas E. Waggaman, Mr.. Edward ].
Hannah, Mr.. James F. Barbour, Mr.. F. H.
Jones, Mr.. E f. Buckley, Mr.. Lawrence
Gardner, Mr.. Edward o. Forney and Mr.. H
w. Sohon.
Before the beginning OF the mass the
Gregorian chant was rendered by the fun
choir and the orphan boys from St. Joseph's
Asylum, and during the services the choir
which was under the direction of Mr.
Bernard A Ryan, rendered the following
special music: Offertory, Pie Jesu Mau
Geure,' Miss Blanche Mattingly; 20 Salu-
taris," by MendelssOhn, duet, Mr.. Ryan and
Miss Davies; "kyrie," Mrs Cain and Misses
Dyer and Hickey: Wiegand's Pie Jesu,"
Mrs Cain and Miss Hickey, with the "De
Profundis' chorus by the orphan children.
A Moving Tribute.
The Right Rev. John J. Keane titular
bishop OF Jasso, and rector OF the Catholic
University, preached the funeral sermon.
This most eloquent divine was never more
touching in pathos or more tender in trib-
ute to one who had gone. For years he
had been co-worker with the dead priest
in the parish where he now pronounced bis
eulogy. He knew all the beauties of Father
W ALTERS character that had been yeile,l
from those who did not have the fortune
to enjoy intimate acquaintance with him.
and his sermon was in the nature of a "a re-
well from one affectionate brother 70
another He was profoundly affected dur
ing ms discourse.and there were few among
has listeners who were not moved to tears.
Bishop heane read number of verse;
from st. Matthew. relating to the hanni1
ness of those servants of the Lord who ara
ready TO open the door and answer o,,icl-I,.
anu cohndentiy when the Master knocks
ana proceeded to compare the dead MN
with just such a servant as Matthew ~;
depicted. Aao
He drew a feeling picture OF the las,
hours OF Lather Walter. Two hours before
ne died those who were watching him -
lovingly missed him, and on SEARCHING for
him foul d him in the confessional hasrinf-
the confession of one whose business rra
vented his coming at the regular hour IL
wrote letter after that to the chanreIiar
OF the diocese on business and endal -
WIN one CT his hearty and honafrl sar
fences, saying" I'm not very well h,t I,i1
soon De all right again. Pm not going =,
shuIne on this mortal coil vet awhile "
The Last Moments.
His last moments were described ,,;..
pathetic distinctness
AS he approached the end" said p,shor,
heane' clad in his priestly yestment he
SAT- IN his chair. His eyes were closed
put MS head was erect, just like Father
waiter, ana he received extreme unctian
A moment afterward, without a sob or a
sibl' ne stepped out to meet his Master a,5
make ms confession. All, brethren tba+
SolleSslon was easy to make Their bo5
been no dark places in his life. no rrooi,ai
angles. his HE was straight without twist
ing or turning or bending Then II Nc.
always ready for the eyes OF God a1u-aT.S
ready for the eyes of man. all straipbt. s1
IN the light: all pure; all clear; ali triaI
and honest" al HieN
Describing how the dead priest and b,s
comrades met together in carly life 10 do
clde upon the path they shoul6 n,1rS,So
through life, Bishop Keane said none w.
surprised when Jacob Walter ANNOUNCED
that ne would choose the best SAVING
with the helm Cod I IS