The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-16
FUNERAL OF JOHN T. ROMAN.
SHERIFF. OF CHATHAM BURIED
WITH MILITARY HONoRs.


which He Had Been Member.
Large ConcOUrse of People
Thronged the Sidewalks and Fol-
lowed the Body TO the Grave-Fu-
neral Grafton of Father Hennes-
sey-The Grave IA Mass of Flowers.
The funeral Of the late John T. Roman
took place yesterday afternoon. 1t was
more largely attended than any that has
taken place In Savannah for several years.
From every rank and condition in life,
from every business and profession and
from every political party and faction,
there were numbers Of persons to pay the
last tribute of respect 10 one in whom they
had all found a true and tried friend.
The funeral procession moved from the
late residence of Sheriff Roman, No. 239
Habersham street. at $3.50 o'clock Head
ing the line was Middletons band, fol-
lowed by the Oglethorpe Light Infantry
and the Irish Jasper Greens, forming a
provisional battalion under the command
of Capt p. f. Gleason of the Greens.
Lieut. j. H. Butner OF the Oglethorpes
acted as adjutant of the battalion. Next
in the lire of march were the three local
divisions of the Ancient order of Hiber-
mans, under the command of County Pres
ldent John ]. Dillon. A delegation from
the Hibernian Society were in the car
riages, while the Bar Association of Chat
ham county met the funeral procession at
the church.
The military escort consisted of about 40
men, the Oglethorpes having siXty-one in
line and the Greens possibly two or three
less than thfs number. The three dvi-
sions of the Ancient Order OF Hibernians
had out about 100 men. Besides the mem
bers of the Bar Association, the officers
of the First Regiment fourteen in number.
under command of Lieut.. Col J. f. Brooks,
met the funeral cortege at the church. The
line Of carriages and private traps of one
kind and another extended almost across
the city. from the point of starting, on LID
erty and Habersham- streets, to West
Broad.
ST Patricks Church was packed from
the altar to the doors. The members of
the Bar Association occupied seats on one
side Of the center aisle and the delegations
from the various other bodies with which
Sheriff Roman had been connected or Of
which he had been a member were seated
en- the opposite side of the church. The
military and the divisions of the Ancient
Order OF HibeTnians did not come within
the church, but remained at ease
outside while the services were in
progress. These were beautiful and impress
sive. The honorary pall-bearers, Judge
Robert Falligant Mr.. f. q. duBignon,
Col j. H. Estll, Mr.. S. b. Adams Capt
John r. Dillon Capt. j. J. MCGOWAN
Mr. Daniel Hogan and Mr.. John Lyons
preceded the funeral car in its solemn pas
sage up the center aisle of the church. AS
the body entered the church, the choir
sang the ''Veni Jesu," of Cherubini.
The car was met at the altar by Rev
Father Hennessey of the Cathedral parish
by whom the services were conducted, and
the funeral Grafton was delivered. Father
Hennessey's tribute TO the virtues of his
departed friend and parishioner was
eouched in appropriate words and franz
ed in wel-chosen sentences, There was
a pleasing absence of the fulsome adula-
ton that is sometimes INDUCED in on such
occasions 1t was such a speech as the
simple and kindly soul Of Sheriff Roman
would have liked said over his body. II
fitted the occasion, as it did the man.
Father Hennessey said:
After the beautiful tribute paid by the
Morning News of yesterday, there remains
but little to be said of the merits of him
TO whom our holy church offers her trib-
ute of love and respect to-day. His M
faltering kindness to the erring, his tender
charity to the poor, his loyalty to his
friends, and invariable patience with
Others-these lOvab.e qualities, and many
more Cdu loi an the nOnof we can pay 10
one of natures noblemen, after the
manner born"
He had a heart finer than silk and a
soul whittier than milk, and herein lay the
secret of his influence for good throughout
his whole life. His word was his bond his
lips were always sealed, and never used
save TO say a kind word when he could.
And when there was good to be done,
he did ii without ostcniaion or price
knowing that His Father, who beheld
what was secret. would repay him. He
lived for, and now reigns with Cod"
I'VE can judge of the man by the re-
ward reserved for such as he. The very
heaven of heavens, dear friends, is God
Himself, seen and enjoyed face TO face.
As a fish in the sea is surrounded on all
sides by the waters, 50 the blessed soul,
immersed in The happiness of God finds
in all his powers ineXpressible enjoyment.
His intellect viii be in enjoyment be-
cause he win see God-the infinite beauty
unveiled. In the sight Of God consists
beeutude, the vision being an infinite
good, Its object being infinite in perfec-
ton. If the eye is pleased at seeing
palace, splendidly adorned. or a king ar
rayed in majesty and glory what will it
be to see God Himself in His infinite ma
jesty who has immutablity for His throne,
eternity for His crown, omnipotence for
His scepter, and glory for His mantle?
Nhat VIII II be to see oil good in God2
What Will il be to see the most August
Trinity and in that Trinity an essence
which though participated in by several,
Is still undivided? Add TO this that to see
God is not like considering any created
good, for those who see a king do not
consequently become kings-he who sees a
banquet does not become satiated, but he
who sees unveiled the greatness of God
becomes great; he who sees his riches, be-
comes rich; he who sees his felicity be-
comes happy; he who sees his divinity, be-
comes divine We shall be like unto Him
because we shall see Him such as he is
''As the sun pouring its rays through a
dewey cloud transies its own beauty and
splendor, so God unveiled. and enjoyed by
the blessed soul. communicates 10 it the di-
vine perfections. and causes II to appear
IN heaven almost as God. Oh, what happi-
Tess! what bliss. what gloryl And thus the
win Of The blessed having AL il desires.
will abound in God, who is a sea OF per-
fec lions