The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-15
THE COMMUNITY Shocked.

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The Community Shocked.
Tho dealt, of Father William. so sad
and tragic and to the deep religious
aense OF the catholic SO striking III Us
SURROUNDINGS. sent q shock through the
entire community Yesterday when II hc-
came Known "A Is few hours before The
majority OF tho congregation had seen
him alive and apparently we'll, and It
was for q time impossible for many Of
them to comprehend that the cid had
como so suddenly.
or Sunday evening last Father VIII
liam beganEthe usunl Sunday night Len
ten service at the church. This service
consists of tho Stations Of tho Cross, fol-
lowed by Sermon. Father William had
been complaining q little. aud might havc
ilcftgthe service to one of the assistant
priests. but 1t is said that he had Il spe-
cal sermon OF, MIXED Marriages that
he wished to preacl, himself. Before he
could do 80. however, he was mortally
stricken.
The church was fairly well filled with
people. Father William, accompanied BY
the procession OF acoiytes and altar boys,!
had begun what is known In Ca tholr
service as tho Way Of the Cross-tlte
contemplation OF tho fourteen paintings
representing different stages In the jour-.
the second station and had knelt before
the neutrality-suspicious. the first fall Of
5Christ--wher, slightly mumblng the
words OF the prayer, he was seen to
sway weakly, as If a bout, to faint. He;
asked for help, and two mon in tho con-
gregatton assisted him to seat. The
church was by this time considerably.
alarmed but the priest declined to leave.
Father Edward was called in, and he
Vtato Il .,i,ns -,
mon was left unfinished. Father Will
liam sat In the pew, too weak to rise
or kreel. Scvera times he passed his
hand over his browsas ito clear away q
mist from his eyes. the solemn bene-
dlctlon he bowed his head and struck
his breast az is customary at the SER
vice. Than when the people began to
leave a cha r. was brought and the sick
priest-stricken with paaryss-was car
ried through the sacristy and tho yard
to the residence.
every attention was given, but without
effect. Father William fingered until 80
o'clock yesterday morning, and died. HI
lost consciousness soon after he was
stricken, and his breathing was difloult.
Once. just before he died, he raised his
head as If to arise from the bed. The
blood rushed to his brAin, and In a mo-
5IleI.t ALL was over. =5f i.5 s
Was Greatly Beloved. N.
The news OF the sudden death spread
rapidly through the cltyand caused the
most 81 widespread sorrow among the
Catholics. Many at once visited the
priory at Fourth and marshall Streets,
where @the body. robed in the sombro
habit of the Bcnedictine monk, lay dur.
ing the day that it might be seen BY
all az. ,5a}
Throughout the Catholic community
Father William was known and deyoted-
~ loved. AS a preacher he was one ofsthe
best the church has ever had. AS a pas.
tor he was q father to his people. A man
of powerful and striking physlque-over
six feet In height and with a great;
sweeping beard just touched with gray
he was yet the special friend ofSlfttle
children, whom he loY9d Tfarh EN- thy. he
boys and girls Of st. Arary,s were at
tached to him and he to them In a man
ncr that was striking and beautiful to the
outsider TO these younger ones In his
FLOCK the death was >:,ost severe in It's
shock. Manga little boy and girl who
had perhaps often run along beside; the
great priest and swung to, his hand,
stole silently. into tho death chamber
yesterday, and after gazing few min
eyes red with tears.
Sketch of His Life.
Father William was born5i in Neuhausen,
Wuerthemberg. May is, 1856. He came to
America when boy He was student
at st. yincent's College. Westmoreland
county. Pa, where he was ordained July
Is. 1880. In 1885 he joined the Benedictine
Monastery at Belmont. n. G., where he
was professor for a time. Afterwards he
was sent to Richmond as assistant pastor
OF st, Mary's German Catholic Church.
After one year he was appointed pastor
Of Sacred Heart Church, Savannah. Ca,
where he remained SIX years, when he
was recalled to the monastery at Belmont
[ N. c., and was appointed rector of ST.
NIary-'s College. He held this position for
three years, when he was appointed again
pastor of, Sacred Heart Church, Savannah.
I Ga. After again holding the position for
six years he was, in July,g1901. appointed
pastor OF ST. Mary's Church, this city.
Father Mayer was greatly beloved In
Virginia. North Carolina and Georgia. He
was man of rare intellectual ability,
and his sermons were among the best
preached IN this city.
% The golden jubilee OF st, rMary's Church
was celebrated December 5. 1901, and
Father Mayer took part In IT.. The church
was repaired after Father Mayer became
pastor In July, 1901. lie succeeded the
Rev. Father Meyer and the Rev, Father
Wilibald Baumgartner.
The Funeral:
A telegram was sent early in the day
to Bishop Leo Hald. of Belmont. n c..
tho abbot OF tho Order Of st. Benedict.
At first Bishop Had replied, directing
that the remains be brought. to the abb
boy. The trustees of the church, however,
wished TO have the funeral here and In
a manner becoming the pastor Of s.,
AIary's. and the request was at once made
that this be permitted. Bishop Had con-
scented. and wired that lie was on his way
to Richmond. A third telegram received
from him last night said he would be hc1'e
at 4 a. NJ. to-day.
st, Mary's has been heavily draped III
black At . o'clock this morning the
coft,n. attended by a representative body
of Catholics, will he removed from the
rriorS to the church. There 1T will Ito in
state until the time for tie funeral, a
guard OF honor will keep constant watch
day and night. The guard will he conf
posed OF four members from each of the
r,otL nIi> sClCetteS. ST Mary'S