Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
CHURCH WAS CROWDED
FUNERAL SERVICE OVER RE-
MAINS OF FATHER o'BRIEN.
Simple Exercises and an Eloquent Ser
mon by Rev. Chas. Warren Currier
Many Floral Tributes.

The remains OF Rev. Joseph T. o'Brien.
pastor Of st. Anthony's Catholic Church OF
Brookland. were taken to Baltimore this
morning, where a solemn requiem mass was
celebrated at St. Peters. The funeral serv-
ices at st. Anthony's Church. Brookland,
which took place yesterday afternoon at
o'clock. were very impressive. The church was
crowded to its utmost capacity, while many
stood in the doorway and others listened to
the sermon on the steps leading to the
sacristy. 1t was demonstration OF love
and duty that brought SO large a concourse
of people to that suburban church to pay
last tribute to one who had been to them
priest, friend and comforter.
There were representatives from the Sol
diers' Home and St. Vincent's Orphanage,
as we'll as priests and students from the
neighboring Catholic colleges and num-
Der of clergy from the city. The relatives
occupied the front pews, while on the re-
manning seats and In the aisles were crowd
ed the congregation and friends. In the
center aisle near the altar rail stood the
casket in which lay the remains of Father
O'Brien. clothed in the purple vestments
Of his Office. handsome amethyst rosary,
mounted in gold was in his hand. On the
altar rail and on the steps leading thereto
were banked a large number of floral trib-
utes Wreathes, garlands and crosses told
of the esteem in which Father O'Brien was
held The church, still draped IN black for
Pope Leo XIII. looked more somber with
the mourning drapery on the altar. The
priests within the chancel rail were Very
Rev. DR.. Sollier Of the Marist College, Very
Rev. DR.. Burns Of the Holy Cross College.
Very Rev. Father Kent Of st. Dominic's,
Washington; Rev. Henry Chapius Of the
Catholic University, Rev. Father Gilbant of
st. Charles College, Maryland; Rev. E. A.
Hannah Of st. Martins, Rev. J. F. MCGEE
Of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Rev. P.
J. O'Connell Of st. Stephens Church, Rev.
Fathers Gallen and Bowling of st. Peters
Church and delegations of students from
the Holy Cross and Marist seminaries.
Father Curriers' Eloquent Sermon.
The funeral services were conducted by
Rev. A. N. Mark, acting pastor. The choir,
sang the DE Profundis," Liberia and
'Nedrer, My God. to Thee" An eloquent
sermon on Death was preached by Row.
Charles Warren Currier, pastor of st.
Mary's Church. Father Currier spoke of
the duties. responsibilities. labors and trials
Of the priesthood. and impressed upon his
hearers the fact that the death Of a priest
should not cause feelings of sorrow, but
work was at an end. AS an intimate friend
of Father O'Brien he related instances of
his charity, amiability and zeal. He made
particular point of saying that Father
OBrien always found time to say a word
to a caller. no matter how busy he might
be. He reminded those present that the
proper way to live was to learn how to
die, and concluded by urging the congrega-
ton to keep their late Jealous pastor ever
In their mind.
At the conclusion Of the service all were
invited to view the remains. A watch was
kept in the church last night by several
members OF the congregation. Those of the
parish who accompanied the remains to
Baltimore were Messrs. Joseph Burg,
Franklin T. Howe, jr.: w. o. Bergman. E.
]. Smith. w. A. flanagan, Nicholas Crook.
T. ]. Moran and Walter Clarity.
The honorary pallbearers included a large
delegation of members of the parish. and
the active pallbearers were DR.. Franklin T.
Howe. J. c. Myers, w. o. Bergman. w. A.
flanagan, Joseph Burg and T. ]. Moran.
celebrated at o'clock this morning
with Rev. Francis Doory Of Elk
T. Russell of the Baltimore Cathedral as
subdeacon, and Rev. A. M. Mark of St.
Anthony's, Brookland. as master Of cere-
monies. Among the clergymen who acted
as honorary pallbearers were Revs. d. J.
P. Holden, ]. E. Dunn, E. ]. Wunder, P. j.
O'Connell JOS F. MCGEE. E. A. Hannah
J. J. Dillon, John Wade, R. c. Campbell
JOS F. Dolan, VIM. Kane and c. w. Bart.