Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-08-27


Brownson Library Association, Shields
Library Association, ST. Paul'a Bene
ficial Society, knights of ST. Lawrence,
Pioneer Literary Association, st. Mary's
Benevolent Pioneer Association, st. |
Vincent do Paul Society of st. Pat
rick's Church and Wilmington. and
Delaware Councils, G. b. L.
Between s and o'clock Tuesday
morning nine masses were said at st.
Joseph's Orphanage, each conducted
by the Revs l.. j. Welbers, Edward
Quatle, Dr. Drenfurd, o. p, lIabeau,
Wiesma, st. Leuvent, Thomas V.
Donovan, j. II. Slattery and O. II.
Uncles.
The remains were quietly removed
to st. Peters Pro- Cathedral shortly
after 7 O'clock and were placed at tho
sanctuary gate in front of the chancel.
At $50 O'Clock the recitation of the
Office Of tho dead was celebrated by
Bishop Curtis and the attendant
priests. Pontifical mass Of requiem
was said by Bishop Curtis, assisted by
the following: Arch Priest, the Rev.
Ii. j.. Welbers of the Josephite Com.
| munity, Richmond, Va; Deacons of
Honor, the Rev. George J. Kelly,
| pastor of ST. Mary's Church, and the
Rev. d. J. Flynn, pastor of ST.
| Patriclx's Church; Master of Cere-
monies, the Rev. G. II. Uncles of Bal
| timore; Assistant Master of Gere-
monies, the Rev. Oliver jackson of St
Joseph's Seminary, Baltimore; Deacon
| Jossph's Seminary, New York; Sub
deacon, the Rev. James Nolan, @. S.
| Sp., pastor OF st. Peter Claver Church,
/ Philadelphia; First Acolyte, Martin
Rice; Second Aculyte, Joseph Butch,
| q student OF st. Joseph's Seminary,
Baltimore.
1 Following the celebration OF the mass
the Rev. j. II. Sattery of Baltimore,
head of the Josephite Community, de-
livered tho sermon. 1t was a worthy
tribute to the deceased. Father Slat-
terry spoke as follows:
John Anthony De Ruyter, whom we
are burying to-day, was born, four and
forty years ago, in Lutphen, on the
Zuyder Zee. Holland.
| When a boy of 12 he was sent to
the Jesuit College at Kaylenberg.
While there the present Cardinal
Vaughan archbishop of Westminster.
at that time simple priest, visited
the place and preached to the students
on the English missionary college
which he had just founded.
In 1871, j, Q. a year OR two later, DIR.
Vaughan came to the United States
and took up the work among the
colored people of Baltimore. During
this American trip he preached in
various colleges, exhorting the young
men to devote themselves to tht
eyangelization OF the culored race.
| The upshot of both trips was tina
seven American boys among whom was
myself and seven Dutch boys, Father
, De Ruyter being one. went to the Eng
lish Mission College at London, there
/ to prepare for the apostolate. In Sep
tember, 1873 three and twenty year
! ago. Father De Ruyter CROSSED it
threahhold, youth just budding int
! manhood. 1t was then our friendship
: began.
Always delicate in health, having al
, internal organic trouble, he was obliged
i now and then to interrupt his studie
. and seek in the air of his native Hol
=, land that return of strength whicl
q always followed. In fact his poo
] health continued, until four year
! ago, when he was entirely cured, bu
i ut the cost of eight months of long AM
: continued suffering, since then hi
n health was exrellent and gave ever.
y sign Of a long life. Alas! for the fal
. lacy of mans reckoning.
- Ordained priest on st. Joseph
: feast, March 18th, 1878, Father d.
Ruyter was sent to baltimore, reach
:. ing it May 26th of the same year. Hi
q work in Baltimore were the schools
= which he supported by his own labors
\ without help from the rector of th
!, church. He was also in charge Of tn
~ choir for he was good musician ant
- an excellent singer, having deep ricl
n voice. His work in Baltimore also OK
=, tended to the men whom he organlzel
. into confraternity. 1t mot at 7
O'Clock on Monday nighte-a rath'l
j. unsual hour, but quite timely for thHe
N hard working colored men.
,f In January, 1854, he was senE tc
,f ST. Augustine's Church, Washington,
10 where he passed the next two yeirs,
1t following the same limo Of wfk.
During those two years quite chage
Q came over his mind.
t. From boyhood up Father DE RYtei
ID had longed to go East and labot fol
10 the salvation of the heather. Hdhao
70 read and reread the life of st. Fracis
Of Xavier, the apostle of tho lniies,
8, drinking in his spirit, till he was
g. fred with that enthusiasm 'hicb
as makes the church q martyrs. lhave
le COME" said our Lord, "to cist lire
IN upon earth, tnd what will bit thai
he it be enkindbd. p"
or Of the seven youths who tudied
he with HIM in Holland and entfed tht
6, English Mission College, he acme was
"A sent to the colored people. lhe rost
in went East. Correspondence, Of course,
no was kept u,, hence it was 70 surprise
that the lolgings Of Father De Ruyter't
cd boyhood slould again boom up. He
IN applied to his superior to be trans
ferred to he Eastern missions. His
,se wish was Iranted. He was sent to the
oil. Punjaub, Northern India. After twt
of years sta there, the growing needs o.
an the colord mission led bis superior t.
me recall hiL
ara Meanwhile Bishop Curtis was anxious
mt to aturt he colored MISSIONS in hi!
nleJ diocese Delaware aid the Eastern
nd shores d Maryland AMI Virginia, ami
,en in 1889 ather DE Ruyser was selectal
nat for the york. OF his labors in this
,ut diocese Iothing need be said for you
ved all are illnesses TO th,m.
ade Out tere on Delaware avenue rises
ned the ta' graceful shift erected ty a
Tho tbankfl people in memory of theii
at heroirIead. That monument is cold,
dead Eone. But ho monument Of
lies FatheIDe Ruyter 40 the children oi
OF ST J,eph's Home and the boys al
.ge Clayta; not pehshable brass OF
mrs bronz granite OF marble; but i'm
- La;noo re,eneratbl into the