The Irish standard., 1898-02-05
0Bsl0UiEs OF ]. M, FINNEGAN
The Funeral Sermon Preached Inv
R"v. Father Mnlloy.

| On January goth. 1898, at $3.50 a. m,.
John M. Filnesan. of Division No. /,
a. o. H., Norwood, Carver Co., breathea
his last and pas sed to his reward beyond
inc grave. Dcsased was about forty
years old, having Deen born in Prairie
Creek township. Dubuque Co., Iowa. in
iS1d. He came to Minnesota and settled
at Norwood. Carver Co., irr 1880. In
lsS2 he married Miss Annie BARLEY. and
n'e children. three girls and two boys,
ranging in age from I to IA years, are left
10 share their mothers grief. and with
her liGht the battles CT life in this world
or care without the assistance arc, 3D.
vice CT tendnrhe;trted father
BIO. l'lnnesan was an excellent busi-
ness man, Il good citizen, devout Catholic.
true friend and ne!ehbGr, and one who
never feared TO assert his position in
either business, rolitics or otherwise
when he felt that he was right in doing
So He held many minor positions,
among Them mayor Of his village, mem
Der OF the county, state and congressional
committees; was the Democratic nom.-
nee for sheriff in 1896 and while not Sue
cessful in the election he left the field
with more friends and fewer enemies.
perhaps. than any candidate on the de-
Icltcl ticket.
The iuucral speaks more for the non
"EtfltJ CT the man than any one can
write. Hundreds of people from all
over III" state and representatives OF cv-
cry walk in life viewed the remains as
lb'y lay in state ut the family residence
h>!oi'' tlir i.iucesscn left for the com
tory. he liiEcrnan societies from Glen
Coo and Green Isle turned out in n body
ana led III" procession. Tho pall-hearers
were l;Tc:'. Rodgers; and Shortall, of
Cienrc$, ErGs. MrMaIlDn, Donlin and
Man,,au, &! Green Isle, and Bro. VIM.
Eurklty. Div. No. L, Minneapolis Rev.
j. j. Muiu,. of Glencoe, preached rhr
sermon Of which the subjoinrl is a syn-
opss.
Taking for his text the words of llolJ
Writ: ut is appointed unto man once to
die. the eloquent priest delivered a mag
niiicnnt discourse Of thirty minutes dur.
alton. Referring to the deceased he
said:
MIR Fnncgan died young, only 10
years old. in the full flower of his man
hood. He died young. but he died in
Gods cwn coed time when he was ripe
for heaven. Yes, he died when he had,
as one might say. just taken up arms in
the battle CT life; and. perhaps, it is bet
ter 50; for | know and YOU know, tlra.
brethren, that in that battle, in that
great struggle for existence or power or
place. the result of which is 50 doubtful,
many Il man has gone down and been
trDddtn under the heels OF his fellow
men. and lived long enough to Wisl,
no had not lived 80 long. Then why
should the circumstances of his early
death east you down" He died after
much suffering and pain but you were
edited. and so was 7. by the courage
and rCsgnatiGn with which his suffer-
ing and pain were borne. The loving
ones who tended him never heard
Il murmur Of complaint pass his lips. 1t
Is what ! should expect. He died as lis
mnrtyrcd ancestors died long ago He
was OF IL race that knew no fear-eX-
ccpt the fear Of offending Cod He had
Il noble pedigree, a noble ancestry. the
blood CT kings and martyrs was in his
veins, and courage and faith came TO
him by nature and by inheritance.
''Of that grand old race | am glad tc
see so many representatives here today
in the members Of the Ancient Order Of
llibcrninns, men of the same stamp and
OF the same spirit and Of the same
Catholic faith as oar deceased brother,
who have come from afar to do roy
'renco to his remains. And if were
his worth should find il in the, fact that
so many are here today who differ from
him in creed. in race, bound to him only
by the cords of Adam. by the common
brotherhood CT humanity and by that
Charm which an upright life always has
for all upright men. You have come,
many of you, at great Inconvenience. to
mourn tho loss of Il man of principle,
y good citizen, an honest man, natures
policeman. He died as all good men
wish to die surrounded, strengthened,
consolcd by every aid the religion Of
Christ has at her command 0! my
friends, when the supreme moment of
death comes; when the powers of dark
ness are ranged in battle array against
us. and the soul is trembling with fear
OF the judgment that awaits us, 1 t.il
you, my friends, in that awful moment
there is no power but religion that can
restore peace to the soul. tell you
again it. takes a man OF faith and reIig-
ion to meet death with composure; and
Mr.. Finnegan was such a man, With
past to be proud of, and therefore he
could face the future without fear.
eyes. religion with her sweet song and
gentle voice rocked him to sleep in
the cradle of death. And what more
can the best OF us look for or hope for
or pray for than when our turn comes
to have the priest, to receive the sacra-