The herald., 1898-02-16
LAST RITES
Funeral of the Late Father
Meyer
IMPOSING REQUIEM MASS
MANY PRIESTS PRESENT FROM
OUTSIDE TOWNS
Large Numbers of Elegant Floral
Pieces-Feeling Eulogies-A
Long Cortege

| The last sad rites over the remains of
the late Very Rev. A. J. Meyer were held
yesterday morning in ST. vincent's church,
the scene of Father Meyers labors. The
walls. organ loft and altar were draped
heavily in black, a symbol Of the general
and heartfelt sorrow that pervaded the
vast audience and found expression in
tears from old and young. mon and women,
throughout the service.
Tho casket stood at the end OF the central
aisle. in front of the altar rail. and was
completely enveloped In a pail made of
violets. These violets were brought in the
tiny hands Of the little children, tribute
of their love for the dead, and were made
into the lovely covering by the ladies of
the church. At the head and foot were the
four candelabra containing eleven candles
each. as is customary In the Catholic
funeral service.
Grouped. around the casket were massive
and elegant floral emblems from the various
societies and organizations of the church
and many smaller ones from private indi-
viduals. A broken column of ivy, large
broken wheel, huge shield from the
Catholic Knights of America, a floral Tyre
from the choir. some of whom are nom
Catholics, a large anchor and cross, a
heart, crown, a cross five feet high were
especially noticeable. Two express wagons
were heavily loaded to bear the offerings
to the cemetery.
To say the large auditorium was crowded
does not adequately convey the idea of the
numbers present. Every foot of space was
occupied in the aisles and vestibule and the
assembly extended out to the sidewalk and
street. Hundreds of people stood through
the long service
At o'clock the service opened with the
chanting Of the office of the dead, in sane
tuary by the priests. after which solemn,
pontihcal, requiem mass was conducted
by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Montgomery. The
assistant celebrants were Very Rev. Father
Adam, v. c.; deacons at the throne,
Fathers Victor and Liebana; deacon.
Father Hurley; sub-deacon. Father
O'Regan; master of ceremonies, Father
Maloney. The priests present were Mon
signor Neunich, Racine, Wis; Fathers
Stockman Lunny o. S. F. Killian. Superior
0. s. F.. all of Santa Barbara; Fathers
Groven. Santa Paula; Bot, San Gabriel;
Farrelly. Pasadena; Have Santa Monica;
Father Duffy. v. G., Albany, N Y:
Fathers Fisher and De Koenig. Pomona;
Ubach, San Diego; Curran. San Pedro;
Mccarthy and Killian. Riverside; Fathers
McAuliffe, Doyle. Cote. O'Reilly. Victor,
-. .. l. =, i1dftilctt, Autlil, CilllOFu anu NC
Cabe. Onesimus. Philibert. Los Angeles;
Hahn. s. p. p. S.. Banning. ,
The music was a requiem Gregorian
chant. by a choir of mems voices. Herr
Rubo sang Mozarts Domino Jesu Christi
Sanctus Agnus Del and In Paradisum, sup
ported by the choir. Dion Romandy played
Nearer My God to Thee "a violin solo
with organ accompaniment, in part Of the
service.
The front seats of the audience room
were occupied by the pall-bearers, the Sis
ters of ST. Joseph of Boyle Heights Or
phans home. and ministers Of other de-
nominations.
AT the conclusion, of the solmen and i'm
pressiye mass. Father Hartnett pronounced
a eulogy upon, Z. the departed priest. He
spoke of Father Meyer as man. a gentle
man and an-edueator. He compared the
deceased to another Christ. Hernever neg
lected the call of the sick or suffering, even
In the midst of pressing duties The hearers
were urged to follow the deceased In hu-
mility, patience and kindness. The last
sermon he delivered was feelingly refer
red to and his erudition as an educator was
cited. He was a true man. a man of
strength. determination and indomnitable
energy and a true priest. To his students
he was an able instructor and guide and
friend; to the children of the orphan asy-
lum a friend and father and to the Sis
tiers and people of the parish kind friend
and adviser. The people of the parish
were requested to pray for the repose of his
soul and when mass is offered for him. to
pray that the Most High God will accept
and that the pains Of purgatory may not
long be his. Pray that his soul and the
souls of all the faithful through the merits
of Jesus Christ may rest in peace"
Bishop Montgomery spoke briefly but
tenderly of the great loss the diocese has
sustained In the death of Father Meyer.
The brown habit of the Franciscan
fathers mingled with the black and white
vestments of the Jesuits in solemn service
for the dead.
The bishop pronounced the absolution,
afterward translating the words into Eng
lsh, and then to the slow tolling of the
bell and the deep tones of the organ the
casket Of the beloved priest was borne
down the aisle while tears flowed from
many eys and sobs came from many
hearts. the aged as well as the little chill
dren of the church.
The remains were followed to Calvary
cemetery. where the burial rites were con-
cluded by the Young Mems institutes, the |
Ancient Order of Hibernians delegation
from the fire department, Catholic Bene-
ficiary association, Solidarities of the
parish, st. Joseph's society. alumni of ST. |
Vincent's college, students and altar boys |
of St. Vincents church, Sisters of Charity,
Sisters of st. Joseph and hundreds of the
friends and parishioners of the dead father
1t was estimated that the procession was
three miles long. When 1t reached the
Boyle Heights orphanage the 400 children
formed a line on each side of the road to
view the cortege as 1t passed by. The vio-
let's dropped from the casket as 1t was put
in the hearse were eagerly picked up by
the children and preserved as a memento