Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-29
FU NERAL SER MON
Eloquent Discourse by Rev. Father
j. P. Tinan Friday.
He EULOClzES FATHER FLOOD
They Were Students Together Several
Years Ago and 1t Was Then That
Father Tinan's Admiration for the
Lamented Priest Originated.

[From Saturdays Daily.l
The Courier publishes below the fu-
neral sermon delivered at the services
over the remains of the late Father
Bernard Flood yesterday morning, by
Rev. Father J. p. Tinan, of Chicago.
Fathers Tinan and Flood were friends
in school, and Rev. Tinans esteem for
his old companion is evidenced by his
eloquent words in the sermon, which
follows:
In Peace, in the self same, | will
sleep and l will rest, for thou o Lord,
singularly hast settled me in Hope.
Psalms 40.
How true, my brethren, are the
words Of the devout author of the in
struction in his meditation on death,
and how salutatory his eXhortation,
Keep thy Heart Raised Upward to
God, Because Thou Hast Here No
Lasting City" Yes, we have here no
lasting city. 1t is written upon every
thing around us. The revolution of
time, the ever changing panorama of
life, the continual shifting of the
scenes about us. The birth of the new
and the death of the old are constant
monitors that we are but pilgrims
here on passage. When we visit the
city of the dead with its vast throng of
silent inhabitants, when we look for
the near and dear ones who are no
more Of earth, the companions of 9TH
er days, we see in their absence addi-
tional proof of the transitory motive
of human life here below.
The Proof of His Wisdom.
Never did wise man give greater
proof of his wisdom than he pro-
claimed the ieetingness of things
earthly; the futility of aught save what
is wrought for good, which serves to
keep our hearts free and raised up
ward to God, which help us here below
to live life in God, which though it
has it's beginning here will go on and
endure forever hereafter. And at the
moment of death when we look back
and see our lives merged into the past
and when we reach out to part the
veil which hides the fast approaching
future, how profoundly must this con-
viction impress itself upon us. We
realize, then that the affairs of earth
to which we paid unceasing tribute do
not in the least belong to us. We
must here part company with them
and forever.
Ever our bodies with all their beau
ties and PROJECTIONS and which we may
have regarded with undue solicitude,
will refuse to follow us. They will lin
ger behind, return to mother earth to
pay the penalty of their mortality.
Our Honors.
The honors which we ambitioned are
honors no longer; the possessions we
may have coveted dwindled down to a
mound grave and narrower coffin
and stripped of all but the life we have
lived, we meet the judge at the jour
ney's end waiting to pass sentence on
the manner of its making. No one re-
allies this truth more than the good
priest.
For, taken from amongst men and
set apart for their saving, he builds
his own life upon this thought as a
foundation; the vanity of things earth
lily and the stability of things eternal
/ He shapes his own course Alright that
he may with safety beckon others tc
! follow. He lives a life of faith, hope
and love, all for God The mortal re
/ mains of such priest, my brethren
lie here before us. Father Flood was
a good priest in every sense of the
word. knew him as student and as
as priest-and | have watched his ca
reer with profit and have drawn edit
cation from his holy life.
Sleep and Rest for You.
Well may l place on his silent lip!
in the self same, | will sleep and
will rest, for Thou. o Lord, singularl,
hast settled me in hope"
4 His Life.
His history is a simple one and cas-
lily told. He was born in Ireland, ant
though he loved the land of his adop
ton there was always ten
der spot in his heart TO
his mother country. He sue
ceeded in having the place of his frs
lpastorate named after the far-famet
Armagh The call of God to follow
Him and become fisher of men tool
hold of him early in life, and though
the way over which he was to trave
in following his masters invitation
was tortuous and strewn with aImos
insurmountable difficulties, his indom
liable will and perseverance never dc
serted him, and he at last succeeded.
His career since then you all know
Providence designed that this city, til
scene of his first labors III the priest
hood, should also witness his last
Where he began, he died His work
live after him. In Armagh he removal
ed the church and wrought with yea
for the spiritual welfare of his flock
He built and paid for the beautiful
church which is the pride of the pee
pie of Millersburg, and monument t
his energy and their generosity. Her
i'll this city, where as an assistant h
faithfully served the sainted founde
of the church in this part of the state
he returned as pastor to take up tn
, good work. The evidences of hi
work speak words more eloquent tina
any of mine can be.
His Life's Work.
This beautiful temple, the result q
his life's work, is monument slor
Gus enough for any man. by thei
.. fruits you shall know them If we onl
look at the material side of thing
Father Floods work in the upbuildin
of Gods church is marvellous. His a,
complishments fill us with admiratio,
VN... -