New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-30
FATHER DESHON DEAD
Superior General of Paulist Fathers
Vas Gen. Grants Roommate.

Father George Deshon. superior general OF the
Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle more
iaFnllarly known as the Paulst Fathers died at
midnight last night in his rooms at the parish
house attached to the church, at Coumbus-ave
and Fifty-ninth-st- Heart disease was the cause
Of death. Father Deshon had been I'll for about
three weeks.
Father Deshon caught cold about eight days
ago. He had a congested lung and pneumonia was
threatened, yet he persisted in attending TO his
duties. and went about them every day until
Christmas Eve. when he had go to bed. He felt
so much better next day that he went about his
work again. and kept at it until last night He
even then returned at the usual hour But half
an hour afterward Father Deshoa called his at
tendant to his bedside
NY heart is weak" he gasped. cit is becoming
weaker and weaker
He was so feeble that the attendant called in
the other priests OF the order. and all were soon
by his side. 1t was well known then that he was
dying. There was plenty of time to administer the
last rites of the Church, and they were performed
while the priests knelt by his bed
The body viii be kent in the church till the
funeral on Saturday, and the burial viii take place
on that day. Like his predecessors. Fathers Hewitt
and Hecker. his body will be buried in the crypt
under the church he did so much to build
Father Deshon has sister in Connecticut, and
nephew, lawyer. Charles Deshon. in this city.
he has several other nephews and two uieces. He
had several brothers, Of whom went to Mica
ragua' while another was Giles Deshon. Episco-
paAan minister OF Meriden, Conn
He was elected to the Superior Generalship of
the Paulist Fathers for term of nine years
He was born in New-London, Conn. January 20,
1s25- He came Of Huguenot stock. After prepar-
atoTy school education he went TO the West Point
Military Academy, in the class with General
l. ). Grant and other men who subsequently, at
tanned fame Father Deshon was General Grants
roommate there Entering the service afterward
he became q captain IN 1851.
It was about this time that Captain Deshon be-
gan to Inquire diligently into religious views of
lie, and his studies ended in his retiring from the
army and entering the priesthood as & member of
the Redemptorist Fathers This was in 1855. He
was engaged in mission work with Fathers Heck
er, Hewitt, Baker and Walworth, and with them
organized the congregation of ST. Paul or the Paul
list Fathers. The Rev. Augustin T. Hewitt became
the superior general of the order and on his death
Father Deshon was chosen TO succeed him in Sep
TENDER 1897. He was the last surviving member
or the fOunCers OF the community of the Mission
airy Society OF st. Paul the Apostle. He
famous Tor his work, IN many ways, Father
Hecker and Father Hewitt. So liberal were these
men that their order became known throughout
the religious world The Protestant Catholics"
Father Deshon continued the work his prede-
cessors. His work missionary as was theirs.
but he was a fighter bv propaganda more than by
direct debate. He had stirred the missionary
workers Of the Catholic Church TO greater zeal
than ever before. that his society became known
al over the world.