The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-20

R6xAl BAKING POWDER co., NEW Work. n
him. He had an attack Of acute in
| digestion bu. it had passed. He seemed
as strong in body as he had ever been.
But the old trouble came on again in
Rome. Intestinal paralysis followed
and he could not rally. The first init
mation received in Chicago that ne was
even i'll came in cablegram to Father
Edward Kelly Of ST. Cecilia's church late
Friday night announcing his death.
Rev. Thaddeus ]. Butler, D. D., held
a placssunique and peculiar to himself
n. the hearts Of the Roman Catholics Of
Chicago. both clergy and laity. 1t is
| doubtful whether one-third Of the thous-
| ands who read these lines ever heard
| his full name before. He had been
called Father" and doctor" so long
that his Christian name was forgotten.
! He was renowned on two continents
| for scholarship. Half Of the priests in
Chicago have studied theology under his
| tutelage. He was master not only of
Latin and Greek, but Of every language
| spoken in continental Europe.
| But he was not entirely a bookworm.
As soldier he had seen hard service.
and as a prisoner Of war he had seen
his own heath warrant signed. Musi-
| clans whose names are written among
| immortal in that field Of art had been
charmed by his voice when lifted in song
and had given the highest form Of the
musicians praise-a dedication OF their
work. Yet these talents and accomplish
ments, during great part OF his life,
we're erployed-and employed without
regret-to embellish the routine Of par
| ish priests life.
! DR.. Butler was born Limerick, Ire
land, in 1888. From his early youth he
| displayed prediction for the priest
| hood, and as soon as he had attained
| the requisite age he entered All Hollows
| College. Thence he went to the college
Of the propaganda IN Rome and left
| it doctor of divinity. Then he turned
| toward America. For short time after
| his arrival he was the guest of most
Rev. Patrick Kenrick, of Baltimore, pri-
| mate Of America, whom he had met in
| Rome during the council Of 1854
But ne soon journeyed on to Chicago.
which had been his destination from the
| first. The west was great field for
work IN the church, he had been taught
in Rome, and 1T was for work he wanted
to enlist. -a
Bishop O'Reagan was at the head of
the Chicago diocese He seized upon
the young ecclesiastic as a treasure,
and forthwith DR.. Butler became pro-
fessor Of theology in the Seminary Of ST.
Mary of the Lake. On the succession
Of Bishop Duggan to the Episcopal see,
DIR. Butler was made secretary to the
bishop and chancellor Of the diocese
Roman Catholics who lived in Chicago
at the time are never tired Of telling
about the sensa lion created by the voice
OF this young priest. Most of them
were Irish born and they seemed to hea,
in the notes issuing from his throat the
music Of the mountain streams ''at
home" His singing lent new interest
TO the mass and to the celebration of
the vesper service.c
just then the war broke out. The
worshipful regard Of cathedral parish
toner's and the promise Of new donors
in the church were all forgotten at the
thought of men Of his race and religion
taking the hazard Of battle with no priest
near to offer spiritual consiiation. When
the gallant Mulligan went to the front
DR.. Butler went with him as chaplain
OF the regiment. He served under two
enlistments and until the regiment was
mustered out, and there is a tradition
among the survivors Of that time tina
the CHEEKY voiced, patient admonitory
young priest who used to hearken UP his
"boys" around the camp fire with songs
redolent OF ''the ould dart" learned on
one or two occasions. when there was
fighting at close quarters. how to handle
a musket with the ease OF a veteran.
1t was at Lexington, Mo-, that Dr.
Butler nearly paid with his life for darig
military service. Through mistake in
the heat of an engagement rebel field
hospital had been fired on and couple
OF wounded men had been killed. Shortly
after Dr. Butler and William H Winer,
surgeon OF the regiment, were captured.
They were tried by drum-head court
martial and were sentenced, in retalia-
ton for the hospital affair, TO death.
They were so certain that their last
hours haI come that they distributed
their watches and what other trinketS
they mad among the negroes Just as
they were about 20 be led out and shot
an officer on General Prices staff recog- |
rized Dr. Winer as an old echoolmate. |
HIS personal plea with The rebel COM |
mander secured respite and event |
ually the priest and surgeon were pa
rolled.
On mis- return from the war DR.. But |
Ter was made pastor OF the Immaculate !
Conception church, North Park avenue /
and Schiller street. He worked there /
until 1863. Then his eyesight COM
menced 70 fail and he. went 20 Europe |
for treatment HIS brother. Rev. Pat
rick J. Butler. was installed as mis- sue
eessor in me Immaculate Conception /
church. where he still is. Dr.. Butler
returned from Europe with his eyes
improved. but his heal;h was such that
he sele unequal Immediately to the du-
lies ot a passorate. For a couple %
years he remained in the parish resi-
dence attached TO the Holy Name Cache
drai, Superior and Cas- streets. as the
CUES. o. Rev. P. VI. Flanagan. then as
s:s,an. pastor at the cathedral and one
OF D.. Buffers earliest friends in Chi
cage.
Il shsu never forge. how Dr.. Butler
used 70 sing In these days" said Father
Flanagan. who IS cow pastor o. s.
Anns's caurca- F.sty-itth street an;
wsr-Ear-l ar2rua aye was zr4z- |