Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-16
he is At RESI-.
Continued from page ID

spirit, that they may resi- it'lh '''''
labors for their works follow tach''
Apocalypse. xiv. {. ~ v
Right Reverend. Very Reverend ana
Reverend Fathers Dear Brethren:
sad. indeed is the event Whl'h 'allS
us together here, today. Wen may
tears bedim our eyes, well may sorrow
ill our hearts. we'll may our breasts
heave with emotion. when We thlhk OF
our great loss. For he, Wh" tor one
and twenty years lived and labore0
amongst you. as your spiritual suiue'
at whose feet you so often kneit whose
kindly words brought comfort |" your
souls. is dead is gone. lhe tate so
long familiar. you shall see no more:
the voice 50 often raised in praise 81
our Heavenly Father. in asking par
don for sinners is silent forever; the
smile which lighted with happiness the
dwellings of the poor. has faded away
she ever that ever heamed with COM
passion on scenes Of suffering, has lost
its brightness: the heart. the great,
large heart whose sympathy Went out
TO all. lies pulseless: the frame. The
noble frame. fitting tabernacle for
such soul lies ifelesS. cut down,
like. the oak Of the forest. by the rude
blast of death: the man. the Christian.
th. priest Of God. is with us no longer.
Father O'Rrien is no more,
o. brethren. little did YOU think when
YOU saw him f0r the last time, that
you would be here, today. around his
cold remains. offering Your prayers.
Your sighs. your tears, for the repose
Of his noble soul. For he was 50 long
amongst YOU his face and person We're
so constant and familiar in this sacred
place on the streets of your city, IN
YOUR homes that You cannot under
stand how all this is now over: that
he places which had known him shall
know him no lOnger-for God hath
called him home.
When a few days ago. the wires
flashed the sad intelligence that your
beloved pastor was no more. it came
rs Il shock and surprise to US all: for
il seemed that death could we'll have
spared one seerAngly in the prime of
manhood. with SO many years OF ac-
tive life before him: and. that a greer
old age passed in the midst of You.
his dear people who knew him but 20
love him. would crown his successful
and laborious life in the priesthood.
Alas, II was not to be God hath Willed
il otherwise: and So, We are come.
bishop ana priests If this diocese Of
Portland and bishop and prelates ana
priests from other and distant parts,
ID share in Your sorrow. u join in Your
prayers. to offer the Holy Sacrifice,
that through the merits Of rur Divine
Rcdeemer hi4 faults may b. forgotten
and his Writes only remembered.
His was no ordinary life in the
prizes; hood. for seven years h. was the
chief adviser of your late. ltm"ntrd
hish.p. and. after his death. the adj
ministrator of the diocese, tI the ap-
puintment of his distinguish success
Sor the present bishop Of Portland
And for six and thirty years he has
labored in the priesthood. bearing un-
complaininely the heat and burden of
the day: and. with what success. let
this hourishng parish Of st. Mary
alone. tell the story to one and all.
Moreover let the grief pervading all
classes, today. irrespective of creed,
testify to his worth as man and 2
citizen.
Born nine and fifty years ago of
pirus parents. in that distant island
Of Ireland which has given so many
saints and doctors and Jealous mis-
cionaries to the church. Influenced by
the. teachings and examples around
him. your pastor from MS earliest
years conceived an earnest desire OF
devOting himself to the service of God.
After having partly prepared himself
by prayer and study for the sacred
office OF the priesthood. led. no doubt.
by God 5 will. leaving home and coun-
try, he came to this new land. To labor
:or its sanctification. After having
completed his seminary course. in Bal
timore, where his piety and scholar
ship won that appreciation of his supe-
riors. he was ordained a priest. by the
venerable Bishop Bacon. founder OF
this diocese Of Portland.
In the wear of his ordination. 1865.
met him for the first time. when a
friendship sprang up between US which
lasted till his death. SO sudden and un-
looked for. few days ago.
As;one who knew him SO long and so
Intimately, | have been asked to say
the fitting words on this sad occasion.
The task is difficult. if not impossible.
Pear with me. however. while | en-
deavOr to shape in speech the memo
ries Of the past croWding upon me,
while. as | look upon his face. cold in
death. sorrow endeaVors to stifie their
.ltterance.
He was no common man. His no
common soul, Large of frame, his
heart was larger still; hospitable by
nature in his home. he made welcome
the humble student no less than the
distinguished pastor: charitable in the
extreme the poor and needy found III
him 4 friend and constant helper;
charitable in thought and word, one
only heard kindly expressions fall from
his lips: amidst the veXations and dis
appointments of life. he was always
cal I'm and self composed and if he Sllf-
fered. he suffered in silence.
Blessed with talents of a superior
order, he did not neglect cultivatine
them, and was ever distinguished as 4
constant and successful student. HAY
ing for years to attend distant mis-
siOns from where he lived. Vet was he
ever a lover of books. not to pass away
the time, but to add to his stock OF
knowledge. especially in all pertaining
to his sacred calling. His mind. wei
disciplined and acute. readily solved
the most difficult problems. and his
wonderful memory. with his SOUND
judgment. made him a remarka BILE anC
many-Siied scholar