The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-22
THE DEAD PRIEST.
The Body Of Rev. Fir.
Scannell Lies in State
at the Altar.
ATTENDED BY GUARD OF HONOR.
Practitioners Held a Sor-
rowtul Meet
ing.
ATTENDED BY GUARD OF HONOR.


tolled its monotone of death at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the body of Rev
Denis Scannell, the dead pastor, was
carried in solemn procession from the
house to the church, where it will be in
state at the altar until Wednesday
morning, when the funeral takes place
with a pontifical high mass.
The church was open all night long
and the key will not be turned in the
lock until the beloved pastor is laid al
rest. 1t was an awe-creating and
weird spectacle to enter the church al
| midnight, and amid the dim lights
make out the casket and the guard OF
honor on either side, holding vigil with
the dead.
| At meeting of the parishioners in the
| basement of the church last night, ar
| rangements were made for floral trib-
| utes, ushers were appointed for the day
| of the funeral, and many of those who
had known the dead priest all their
lives made expression of their sorrow at
his death.
All day yesterday the people came in
a constant stream to the house. and
| later to the church, to take a last view
| of the features of one whom they had
grown to love. There was the same ia
miliar smile on the face. He looked as
if asleep
In the procession from the house to
the church yesterday afternoon Rev.
Father Daley was crossbearer, and
Fathers Cavanagh and Hartigan AGO.
lytes. Fathers Redican, Sullivan, Hur-
ley and Lee of Holden chanted the
prayers for the dead. The bearers of
the casket were old friends and parish
toner's of Father Scannell, Timothy C.
Mccarthy, Edward Ryan, Edward Fitz-
patrick, BARLEY Keany, Bartholomew
Moran, John Bresnihan and Martin
Traverse.
In the wake of priests and bearers
came the public. Such an unusual
spectacle, for not in many years has
Worcester witnessed the death of a
priest, could not but be impressive.
Last night, and until relieved this even
ing, the guard of honor will be made up
Of members of the various divisions Of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the
city. The men on duty were relieved
at regular intervals. When the BODY
was brought into the church, Father
McGrath of Buffalo said the litany.
Tonight the guard of honor will be
made up of members of the ST Anne's
Temperance Society, and apart from
furnishing a guard the society, as a
whole, will meet to take action on the
death of one under whose ministra-
lions they had grown from youth to
manhood
Throughout the day today, members
of the Rosary society, the League of
the Sacred Heart, the Married Woman's
Sodality, the Sunday school, both pupils
and teachers, and members of the
choir, will be in constant attendance at
the church. All day yesterday, and
until the funeral, the litany for the
dead will be repeated by priest every
two hours.
The meeting of the practitioners last
night in the basement of the church
was presided over by Father Brosni-
han, who stated the object of the gath
ertng. John F. O'Connor was the
unanimous choice for secretary. 1t was
voted to raise 800 for the purchase of
floral tributes, and large part of this
sum was raised on the spot
Today committees will be out solicit
ing for the balance. 1t is the intention
to have the floral offerings at the
church this evening. 1t was an occa-
sion too solemn for speeches, and save
that many of those present gave ex-
preston to their heartfelt sorrow, but
little was said
The Following were appointed ushers
for the funeral services tomorrow: w
]. Fallon, Maurice Maroney. John
Crowley, Richard Hoey, j. f. Guerin.
DR.. F. A. Underwood, j. F. O'Connor,
Thomas Malone, ]. T. Lacey. Patrick
McKeon, Michael English Frank Hes
lin, j. j. Gleason, Thomas Carmody. DR.,
Eugene Sullivan, Frank McMurray,
Frank Foley, John ]. Rogers, Thomas
Kenney.
There have been 500 invitations sent
out Father Hartigan told The Spy re-
porter last night that it was expected
that there would be at least 800 priests
at the funeral. There will be, too. fulI
representations of prominent citizens of
the city, and without doubt it will he
one of the largest funeral corteges that
ever passed through the streets of Wor-
cester.
The pontifical high mass for the re-
pose of the soul of Father ScannelI VIII
be celebrated at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning.
The list of officers of the mass as pub
lished in other papers contained a num-
Der of inaccuracies. As given out to
The Spy last night the officers will be.
Rt Rev. T. D. Beaver, bishop of the
diocese, celebrant; Rev. Thomas Shee-
han of the Catholic university at Wash
ington, deacon; Rev. D. H. O'Neil sub
deacon; Rev. M. A. O'Brien, V. G.. Of
Bangor, Me-, deacon of honor; Rev
John F. Leahy, president of Holy Cross
college, high priest; Rev. j. T. Mad
den, P. R., of Webster, sub-deacon of
honor.
Rev. Thomas ]. Fitzgerald of Milford
will be censer-bearer, and the acolytes
Rev. Joseph T. J. McKeon Of Canton
and Rev. jeremiah A. Riordan of Ban
gorj Me.
1t was expected that the eulogy would
be delivered by Very Rev. John j. Pow
er, D. D., Of st. Pauls church. but the
condition of his health precludes the
possibility of this. Choice has there
fore been made of Rev. James CoyIe
of Taunton. Mass, a clergyman proni-
nent in the Catholic summer school at
Plattsburg. n. Y. and a lifelong friend
of Father Scannell. There We're masses
yesterday for the repose Of the soul of
the dead priest, and today others will
be celebrated at $50. and o'clock.
The honorary bearers will be young
priests who grew up In st. Anne's
parish, and were ordained during his
pastorate. They are: Rev Daniel f.
Cronin Of Hinsdale, Rev. John r. Redi-
can Of Leicester, Rev. George r. .Fitz-
gerald Of Haydenville, Rev. William T.
Finneran of Cordaville, Rev. Thomas
c. Cunningham of Westbrook Me-.
and Rev. Peter Higgins of Peoria. III.
The active bearers will be. John
O'Mara, David Shortall, John J. Bros
nihan, Michael r. Fitzgerald, Michael
Higgins, M. G. Daily Peter Agnew,
John Moran.
The burial will be in st. Johns Gene
terry.
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