The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-21

Joseph Sullivan of Alton, ILL.,; Rev.
James O'Connor of Ogdensburg, n. Y;
Rev. William 7. Finneran of Corda-
vile, Rev jeremiah A. Riordan of Ban
gor, Me; Rev. Joseph T. McKeon of
Canton, Rev. Thomas Cunningham Of
Portland, Rev. Peter Higgins of Peoria,
ILL.,; the late Rev. James Doyle, who
died few years ago in Denver.
Father Scannell was for six years
member of the Worcester school COM
mittee. Outside that office he took no
prominent part in public affairs. He
was a member of the board of trustees
of st. Vineents hospital He made a
gift some years ago to Holy Cross col
lege of a sum sufficient to provide a
gold cross of honor, which is among
the prizes competed for each year by
the students.
The body will lie in state at st. Anne S
church this Afternoon, and after 3
o'clock friends and members of the
parish will be given an opportunity 70
look upon the face of FIR. ScanneH for
the last time on earth
There will be meeting of st. Anne's
parish and societies in the basement Of
the church this evening at $50 o'clock,
when appropriate action will be taken
and guard of honor selected to ac-
company the remains to them last rest
ing place.
The death of Father Scannell was a
shock to the Catholic priests of the city
but more especially to Monsignor Thos
Gr1ftln Of st. Johns church, who had a
lifetime Of association with the dead
pastor of st. Anne's church.
To The Spy reporter last night, Mon
signor Griffin spoke in feeling terms of
Father ScannelL He was. he said, in
tensely loyal to faith and fatherland
While he loved the stars and stripes. he
never could forget the land of his BIRTH
and all movements that had for their
object the lettering of the conditions
OF the Irish people, always secured his
hearty support. When the Land league
was started and American branches
We're formed, it was in the basement of
the old st. Anne's church, now the mat
tress factory of John J. Griffin, that the
meetings were held and the impetus
given the movement here was produc-
tive of much good. Large sums of
money were raised for the Irish cause
as a result.
As priest. however, Monsignor
Griffin said, Father Scannell particu-
larly shone. He was assiduous in adj
vancing the cause Of faith and a more
faithful pastor never had charge of a
parish.
His generosity was as broad as the
world. When Sweet Charity held her
apron. he never inquired into the faith
of the recipient. He gave with a free
hand, and to use the words of Ban
croft, the historian, in describing the
character of Washington, seemed toI
fear nothing but being caught doing
good.
He was great friend of Wendell
Phillips, and the famous orator always
visited him when in Worcester.
To the Very Reverend John Power.
pastor of st. Pauls church, the death of
Father Scannell brought poignant
grief, for in the early years of Catholi-
city in Worcester when Father Power
was pastor of old ST. Anne's, Father
Scannell was his curate. Between these
two men there existed 8 lifelong friend
ship. No one, it was said yesterday, was
better fitted to preach the eulogy of the
dead clergyman.
The death of Father Scannell Is nota-
BILE because of the fact that he is the
| first permanent pastor of a Worcester
church to die in SO years. The last priest
| before him to die, while at the head of
parish, was Reverend Father Boyce,
who is remembered today more as a
| novelist than as a clergyman, although
| he did great service to Catholicism
| while presiding over ST. Johns church.
| Seldom has there been a greater ex-
| preston of sorrow than that of the peo-
pie of st. Anne's when it was learned
! that Father Scannell was dead For
days there have been occasional rumors
that the end had come, but these stories
were as often contradicted. Yesterday
when the news was confirmed, and the
i people knew that never again would
/ they hear his kindly voice, or see the
/ familiar, friendly form, there were
many outbursts of passionate grief.
Little children were seen crying on the
streets.