The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-16
Impressive 0bsequieS over Rt.
 Rev. Benedict Menges
WAS ILL FOR LONG TIME
Many Church pisnitaries From All Points of the United States Take Part in the Rites at St.
 Bernard.


 St. Bernard college, was buried in the college cemetery today The obseques in the college chapel at o'clock this morn ing were very impressive and were wit messed by a large crowd of people, both Catholic and non-Catholic.
 The father abbot died last Monday af- ter an Illness of several years. While his death was not unexpected, 1t was a great blow to the community, and the benedict order at large.
 The services opened with the chanting of the office for the dead This was followed by 8 pontihcal requiem, with the Rt. Rev. E. P Allen, bishop of Mo- bile, as the celebrant.
 i Absolutions were given by the Rt Rev. Abbot Edmond of Gethesmane, Ken; the Rt. Rev Abbot Nepomusene, of Chicago, the Rt. Rev. Abbot Innocent of Atchison. Kas., and the Rt Rev. Abbot Peter of Minnesota. The final dissolution was given by Rt. Rev, Bishop Allen. The | burning of incense and the sprinkling 1 holy water on the casket added to the ] solemnity of the rites.
 The ceremonies consumed q little over two hours and was all in Latin, and though they could not be fully under stood by the larger part of the assembly, the people attended every part with in- terest and solemn reverence. There was no sermon. the dead abbot having requested that no discourse be de- livered at his funeral
 The procession to the cemetery was pre- ceded by the cross bearer and acolytes. The mourners followed the funeral train afoot and every head was beared in the monday sun. The casket was followed by benedict sisters and they were fol- lowed by the brothers and priests of St. Bernard and by visiting abbots and cler- gy. At the cemetery there was a short ceremony in which the grave and casket were incensed and sprinSled with holy water
 The pail bearers were: The Rev Paul Meyer, the Rev. Giles Shulkers, the Rev. Ambrose Rager. the Rev Placidus Beck CT the Rev. Raphael Obermeyer, the Rev. Vincent Oberdaefer, and the Rev Angus tin Palm.
 Celebrant and Officers of Mass.
 The celebrant and officers of the mass were: Celebrant. the Rt. Rev E. P AL len, D. D.; arch priest, the Very Rev. J. B. Morris, S. F. L., V. c. of Nashville; deacons of honor, the Rev P. J. Gleason and the Rev. D. Savage, D. D.; deacon of the mass the Very Rev. P. Joseph, o. s. B.; sub-deacon of the mass, the Rev. Fred Haarth; chaplains, the Very Rev. J. M. Dean Meurrer, the Rev. P. A. OReilly the Rev. L. H. Galand, the Rev. w. Schliemers, the Rev. P. J. Leonard and the Rev. J. Kelly; master of ceremonies the Rev. P. Gregory. 0. S. B. The Following prominent ecclesiastical dgnitaries from distance were present at the ceremonies: The Rt. Rev. W. G.. McClosky, D. D., bishop of Louisville; the Rt. Rev Thomas Hesslin, D. D., bishop of Natchez, Miss; the Rt Rev. Peter En- | gle o. s. B.. Ph. D.. of Colegeville, Minn.; the Rt. Rev. Edmond Robrecht of l Gethsemane, Ky; the Rt. Rev. Nepomn- cene Yarger, O. s. B., of Chicago. and the Rt Rev Innocent Wolf, o. S. B. of Atchison, Kans. The bishop of Nashville was represented by the Very hey. John B. Morris, vicar general. The Very Rev. P. Joseph, O. s. B.. represented the Rt. Rev. Archabbot of St. Vincent Monastery of 1 Penn. The Rt. Rev. Leo Haid, o. $. B.. of North Carolina was represented by the Rev Eugen Egan, o. s. B.
 Among the other visiting clergy were the Rev. P. J. Gleason of Nashville; the Rev Dennis Savage. D. D., of Montgom cry; the Rev. F, Marinus, o. g. B., of Covington. Ky; the Rev. Fred Hart of Lakeside, H.; the Rev. P. Theodose. o. & B. Ripley, of Ohio; the Rev Severin Lanfenberg of Cullman; the Rev. Am prose Reger of Corbn, Ky, the Rev. Robert, of Brookside. Ala. the Rev. P. Paul, o. S. B., of Jellico, Tenn; the Rev.
 
 Rev Augustine. O. S. B., St Floraine, Ala; the Rev Father Henry, of Decatur. Ala.
 | Father Benedict Menges successor as abbot of St. Bernard monastery and pres- ] ident of St. Bernard college will be chosen | by the charter members of the commu- nity on next Wednesday. July 20 There are thirty charter members wno will par tcipate in this election. When your l po a bo 10 ba bip cessor would be he was told that it was impossible to predict as there was no politics in the matter.
 Invalid for Long Time.
 Father Benedict, as he was familiarly known, has been an invalid for long time but only within the past few months had his condition been critical His death was blow to all. for by his death not only St. Bernard's but also the entire country lost father. brother, and a 1 citizen whose generosity of spirit, whose untiring zeal for the salvation of souls | whose Gnselfsh character made him be- loved and honored by all who knew him regardless of creed.
 The establishment of St. Bernard col | lege at Cullman has been worth a great deal to the community and as it's founder the Father Abbot is mourned by every | citizen
 I ne OecedSed was born at ODeTme0T, l Rhenish- Bavaria, July 3l. 1S40, He re- ceived his primary educaron in the gov ernment schools of his native province and afterwards continuing his classical 1 studies under private instructors. From 1 childhood he was imbuedl with the holy desire to be a priest of God and when about twenty-five years of age he came to America with the determination to be- come a benedictlne. With this intention he entered St. Vincent's monastery at Beatty, Pa, soon after his arrival in this country. Having completed his novitiate and been admitted to the profession Of Simple Vows he finally made his solemn 1 vows on September r. 1869, and was or dained to the priesthood December 2l, 1872. His first charge was as assistant at St Joseph's church in Chicago. It was during the great fire of 1872 that he came foremost in offering words of consolation as well as material aid to the homeless and distressed regardless of creed or opinion Shortly after this disaster he was transferred to St. Mary's church at Allegheny Pa, where he remained for four years thence directed by his superb ors to take charge of the missions in northern Alabama.
 Cause of His Church Prospered.
 Here 1t was that Father Benedict showed how deeply he was filled with his | masters love for the spiritual welfare of mankind. With but few years in- rerruption (being made superior of the Benedictine house in Carrollton, Pa. and