The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-16
And Keen Sor-
row Felt.
THE LAST SAD RITES
Performed Over Body Of
Uxbridge's Beloved Priest.

rvs Church were performed the last sad
/ rites over the remains of the beloved
priest of the parish, Rev. Thomas j.
Sullivan. Long before the appointed
hour had arrived, every available seat
and every inch of standing room was
taken and a large crowd We're unable to
gain admittance. A portion of the
church was reserved for Protestants,
and a large number, including some Of
the most prominent people in town,
were present.
The sudden death of the pastor had
come as great shock to the people
and it was doubly sad on account of
the fact that on next Tuesday he was
to celebrate the 10Th anniversary Of his
ordination to the priesthood and ex-
tensive preparations had been made 10
make his silver jubilee as pleasant and
as enjoyable as possible
Today the general business of the
town was suspended, schools were
closed and the townspeople turned out
TO do the late priest honor. The inside
Of the church was draped in black, and
the casket of the dead pastor rested on
a catafalque in front of the altar. The
remains were clad in purple priestly
robes. Many beautiful floral tributes
surrounded the casket.
Promptly at 10 a. m. the services
opened with the singing of mathis and
lands, the Office of the dead. The
chanters We're Rev. Levi J. Achi1n,
master of chanters. Revs. J. B. Dren-
nan of Southbridge, P. B. Phelan of
Holyoke, e. F. Martin of HoIyoke. C.
A. Sullivan of Worcester. Ri Rev.
Mgr. Griffin of Worcester presided
After the office of the dead was
chanted, solemn pOntifical requiem
Was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. T. d.
Beaver, bishop of Springfield. Bishop
Beaver was assisted by Rev. Denis
Scannell of ST. Anne's Church of Wor-
cester as high priest; Rev. Daniel Gro
min Of Hinsdale and Rev. NJ. H. Kit
tredge of Millville, as deacons of hon
or; Rev. Thomas Smyth of Springfield.
deacon of the mass; Rev r. f. Walsh
OF Easthampton, sub-deacon: Rev NJ.
l. OBrien of Worcester and Rev. P.
. y Reilly of Whitinsville, masters of
ceremonies; Rev. Joseph DAILY Of Whit
lnsYllIe, thurifer; Rev. j. A Hurley of
worcester and Ambrose ]. Barry Of
Portland Me, as acolytes
The music was under the direction of
Miss Mary McKennedy, organst. The
requiem mass was the "Gregorian
chant" The church choir was assist
ed by Miss Mary \. Gormley of Woon-
socket, who rendered the "PIe Jesu.
The quartet, consisting of Miss Nora
NJ Dunleavy, Miss Katie Brady, Mr.
John Shaughnessy, all of UXbridge
and A. Charles Fontain of Woonsocket
rendered de profundis" The choir was
further assisted by Miss c. n. Dolan
OF Millville and Miss Katie Maloney
OF the same town.
A large number CT priests were seat
ed around in sanctuary. Bishop Bea-
ven pronounced the last absolution. The
eulogy was delivered by the Rt. Rev.
Mgr. Thomas Griffin of Worcester.
Mgr. Griffin said in part as follows:
In behalf of the bishop of this do
eese / am here to say a few words of
comfort and sympathy to mitigate the
sorrow and assuage the grief of the
friends and flock of this noble shep
nerd, whom We are now to Law in his
final resting place It is not nv in
tention to speak to you today of the
noble traits and achievements Of this
good man, for the ears and sobs and
gloom Of this vast assembiage give tes-
timony of his worth and esteem. But
10 you whose grief Is so intense and
whose sorrow is as the deep. deep sea.
II should be a source of great conso-
iatlon TO remember the great love and
friendship that ever obtained between
you, and that his great affection was
soon to be manifested. 1t was from the
great high priest that fell the words
rather, thy will not mine be done -
and though the ways of providence are
lnscrutable to our finite vision Won
must bow in submission to the higher
wisdom.
About a century ago one of the no.
n nd
meekest and humplest of the great
bishops of the isle of saints laid his
bones TO rest in the city Of Turin. af
ter lifetime of labor, and was not
permitted to see the victory of his
achievements; so also is your beloved
pastor, after his quarter of a century
OF faithful service, was not permitted
10 witness the contamination of his
labors, and while we do not PASS iudo-
ment, may we hope that this most eT-
cellent priest be on the eve of his tri-
umph celebrating before the throne
Of the most high.
Well may you nave come with con-
gratulations and gifts on the approach
Of his jubilee for his life was for Won
to teach, to lead, to counsel. to feed
and how well he has done this it is
not for me to say He has already been
weighed in the balance, judgment has
been pronounced.
II were to move among this vast
throng, the saddened faces of ali
young and old Of all creeds would an,
swer how we'll he has done the worl, as- |
signed by the Creator His works live
after MN and the place he holds in the
hearts IS his sufficient monument. The
bond which existed between Won and
your beloved priest is proof nositiva
Of noble work. More keenly then 81
this time do you feel your loss. but in
response to that call, in obedience 70 /
which Saul the prosecutor became PAM
the apostle, he has laid down his Iifa
work and delivered up his spirit. Re
IoNeu RI rom, you, whose acts of love
covered all the defects of life TO-DAY
while we mourn, shall vour sii,lsS
jubilee be celebrated in heaven No
that sunshine Of thy treasured low
may the golden radiance of tbv teach
ihgs remain with us and the sincerestl
loVe OF our hearts with one acclaim crv
eternal rest unto thy faithful priest
LORD ana the perpetual light shine
After the eulogy the remains wore
borne to the church yard by the fol-
lowing bearers: James Daley. Denis
Caley' Ihomas Kennedy, Andrew Nc
Namafa, Michael Powers, John KELLEY,
augustus Casavant and Tbonoss
Snaushnessy. Palm branches were
an q ONeI tHe cashet and the solemn
rites or the church chanted over tha
grave by the assembled priests Bisbnn
BeaXen pronounced the benediction
The following clergymen We're nras-
ent: 1T. Rev. Bishop Beaven of
Springfield, Rt Rev. Mgr. Thomas
Griffin, d. D.. of Worcester. Rev, Jnbn
E; Lehy, rector of Holy Cross College
worcester Rev. r. f. Walsh. Fast
hampton; Rev. P. s. O'Reilly Wbitins
vile; Rev. NJ. r. O'Brien, Woroas stts
Rev James A. Hurley, Worcester
Rev, Joseph Daley, Whitinsville. Rev