The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-29
SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS.
Celebrated at st. Marys Church. Pitts S.
ton fer RepOsc Of Souls Of the Vic.
inns of Twin Shaft Disaster.

4 solemn high mass Of requiem was
celebrated in st. Mary's church, Up
per Pittston, yesterday morning for
the repose of the souls of the men en-
tOmhcd in the Twin shaft. Just
month ago yesterday the dreadful ac-
cidcnt happened. 1t is conceded beyond
the possibility of a doubt that the men
are dead, and that there. is little hope
of ever recovering the bodies.
OF the iifty-eight men. nearly all We're
Catholics, and many belonged to St.
Mary's parish, OF which Rev. }. J. Greve
is pastor. and which was recently
formed out of St Johns parish. over
which Rev. John Finnen presides. The
church is located on a hill not far from
the Twin shaft.
Heavy black folds enshrouded the
main altar and in the center aisle q
catafalque was placed with three large
candlesticks on either side. Every seat
in the church was occupied and the
aisles and vestibues We're filed. Many
were kneeling on the steps at the en-
trance. The wives, mothers. fathers,
orphans, brothers. sisters and rela-
tives of the entombed men had places
reserved in front.
PRIESTS PRESENT.
At 1920 Right Reverend Bishop
O'Hara, Right Reverend Bishop Hoban
and the following priests entered the
sanctuary: Rev. Father Greve, pastor
of the church and celebrant of the
mass: Rev. f. S. Phillips, of Plains,
deacon; Rev. j. j. Coroner, of Forest
City, sub-deacon; Rev. Joseph j. Nc
hn n ncfa ,f f.e-.
Rev. ]. A. O'Reilly. Rev. J. j. B. Feeley,
Rev William O'Donnell, Scranton; Rev.
r. a. McAndrew, Rev. John ]. Curran.
Wilkes Barre; Rev. Nj. +. Crane,
Avoca: Rev. r. F. Kiernan, Parsons;
Rev. John p. O'Maley. Kingston; Rev.
Felix McGucken. Nanticoke: Rev. Fa-
ther Dustin, of Ashley, and Rev. Father
Craig. of Corey. Erie diocese, a former
resident of Fittston.
The choir of st. Dominic's church,
Parsons. sang the Gregoran requiem
mass. Miss Margaret Kearney. of
Pittston, was soprano soloist, and Pro-
fessor William Kelley was baritone So
loist. The music was inspiring. The
grief of the bereaved ones was intense
during the mass and their lamentations
filled the church.
Right Reverend Bishop O'Hara pro-
nounced the final benediction. The SER
mon was preached by Right Reverend
Bishop HOban. He was sent to Pitts
ton after ordination, but he would pre-
fer to have Father Finnen. who is so
well qualified to speak, having known
the entOmbcd men. having joined many
of them in wedlock, and baptized their
children. preach the sermon, but he
was i'll at home and could not come.
IN the course of his touching sermon
Bishop Hoban said:
THE BISHOPS REMARKS.
1--WE are Catholics, and we mourn not
as those without hope. We believe that
Jesus Christ died and that he arose
again and that we inherit the fruits
of the Redemption. The death of these
men came suddenly. but in the mercy
Of God they may have had time 10
say one prayer for mercy: they may
have been able to say God forgive me-
and all merciful God heard and for
gave. You will meet them no more
in this world, but in the brighter and
better world, there you shall meet. hus-
band and wife, child and father.
You owe much to them. You owe to
ttt'ib Nbu! prayers ibE tNclf SOULS. I Ou
owe 1t to them to teach their children
to lead lives of honor. Their fathers
were heroes. Men go into battle fear
less Of death knowing that victory will
bring glory, but these men went down
into the mine in the presence of death
for the sake Of their wives and chill
drCn. They are heroes because they
did their duty, and such men are al
ways heroes. We ar. all in the hands
Of an all merciful God and when sud-
den de3th cones, either to the indi-
vidual or to the mass. it behooves us
to lead lives that will make us pleasing
in the sight of God.
This disaster brings its lesson and II
brings its good. 1t has opened the
heart of charity. and people are gladly
giving that your distress may he light
ened. 1t has aroused the sympathy of
the entire state. and has reached even
beyond it's confines. You wives and
widows pray for those who are in the
tomb, and not only pray for them.
but lead lives tEat will honor them. and
when the final day of resurrection shall
come. Cod grant that you may meet
them and be forever happy in heaven