The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-01-30
FATHER GLEEsON
CALLED TO REST
Venerable Pastor Of st.
Anthony's Succumbs
to Paralysis.
Death Ends a Half Century's
Labor in the Interest of
the Church.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

111S Broadway, Jan. %.
The Rev. Father William Gleason. for
thirty years the pastor of St. Anthony >
Roman Catholic Church, passed away
at noon to-day at the parochial residence,
on Sixteenth avenue, where he has made
his home for three decades His death
was the result of the paralytic stroke that
came upon him last Sunday morning
while he was putting on the vestments
in PREPARATION for morning mass He sank
TO the ground when stricken and was
borne by tender hands to his bed. Inc
physicians said there was no hope.
The venerable pastor lowered between
life and death until death conquered to-
day. Only a portion of the time was he
conscious and during the last twenty
four hours was unable to recognize even
mis- friends of the priesthood who stood
beside his bed. Just before noon
change came and the priest sank into
deep sleep from which he did not awake.
Father Gleeson fell one day about
month ago and disIocated his right shout
der, an injury that was accompanied by
a partial paralysis. 1t was this injury
that the physicians believe brought on
the paralysis that ended in death.
The Rev. Father GIeeson was 80 years
a priest and would soon have celebrated
his golden jubilee with his friend and
cIassmate the Rev. Father King. pastor
of the Church of the Immaculate Con
ception. Fifty years ago he graduated
from All Hallow's College. Dublin, and
was then 26 years old. His life has been
devoted to the service of the church. and
in the discharge of his duty he has been
in many lands and amid many stirring
scenes.
His first service was as chaplain of an
English regiment fighting against the
Sepoys in India. He was afterward given
a professorship in a college planted at
the foot of the Himalaya Mountains.
far inland. At the end of two years his
eyes failed him and he was transferred
to a college at Smyrna, remaining there
two years under his brother, who was the
superior.
The rigors of the climate of the Far
East were too much for the priest and he
came to America. His fret year in this
country was spent in Carson City, New.
Then he taught a year in the old St
Mary's College in San Francisco. and in
1871 he came to take charge of st. An
thony's Church, with which he has been
ever since.
Father Gleason was a man of strong
intellect with literary ability of an I'M
common kind. He wrote two books that
are looked upon as authoritative by the
Catholic church-one The History or the
Catholic Church in California and the
other Trials Of the Church. in two vol
umes. These were written after the
father had been in California but short
time In addition to his high intellectual
endowments the father had wonderful
facility for learning the languages, and
he is said to have spoken no less than
twelve tongues fiuently.
The funeral will be held Saturday morn
ing at 10 o'clock from st. Anthony 5
Church. when a high mass will be said.
Archbishop Riordan will be the celebrant,
though his consent to act has not yet been
obtained. The interment will be in St.
Mary's Cemetery