The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-02-03
a WIDELY KNOWN PRIEST DEAD.
Rev. Matthew O'Keefe, Pastor of the
Church of the Immaculate, Tow
SON, Passes Away-A Long
and Busy Life.

| Rev. Matthew OKeefe, Pastor of tn,
| Church of the Immaculate, Tow
| son, Passes Away-A Long
and Busy Life.
Rev. Matthew O'Keefe, the widely known
pastor of the Church of the Immaculate. Tow
son, died at his home here at 745 o'clock las
Sunday morning. in his 18th year. He haC
been in failing health for several years, but
had been able to go about and as late as
Tuesday before his death he called on sick
member of his parish. He took cold that day
pneumonia rapidly developed. and he died as
stated above. The last sacraments of the
church were administered to the dying priest
by his confessor. Rev. Father Devine, pastor of
st. Johns Church, Baltimore. Father O'Keefe
stated that he realized his work was done, and
declared that he was prepared for death.
Father o. Keefe, who was native of Ireland.
had been priest of the Catholic Church for
fifty-four years and was one of the most wide
ly known clergymen of the archdiocese. He
was ready debater and quick, clear thinker.
He was educated at st. Johns College in
Waterford, Ireland, where, after his gradua-
ton. he served three years as professor of the
ology and philosophy. In his native town,
was
ordained priest by Bishop Foran. Several
months afterward he came to Baltimore and
was assigned to Frostburg, being the first pastor
ofthat parish. He was there only short time
and although his work promised rich results,
he was recalled and sent to assist in the Diocese
of Richmond. He was placed in charge ofthe
work at Norfolk, where he remained for thirty
five years.
In 1856 the yellow fever broke out in Nor
folk and Portsmouth, just across the river. 1t
was during this plague that Father O'Keefe
did the work that made his name famous
throughout the South. He worked among
the people like hero nursing the sick, ad-
ministering the last rites of the church to the
dying and burying the dead. He buried more
than half his congregation during the epidemic.
In 1885, the year after the yellow fever plague,
his church (St. Patrick) was burned, but be
rebuilt it, and also commenced the present
st. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Con-
ception, in that city.
Father O'Keefe, who was intensely Southern
in his feelings, was chaplain OF General Ma
homes famous brigade of the Confederate
army; a personal friend of Jefferson Davis
and Gen. Robert E. Lee, yellow fever hero,
and a member of the Legion of Honor OF
In 1887 Father O'Keefe returned to Balti-
more and was appointed by Cardinal Gibbons
to the chaplaintg Of the Notr9 Dame Convent,
Govanstown, andpastor of st Francis Church,
Towson. In addition to his pastoral duties be
took great interest in the parochial schools.
and was until recently superintendent of
schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
1t was at Towson that Father O'Keefe per-
formed the browning work of bis notable life.
He erected here the Catholic Church of the
Immaculate. fine marble building, and con-
sidered by many the most beautiful church in
Maryland. It was built largely out of Father
OKeefe's private purse. In this beautiful
church, the second of the kind which he cree
ted, is the tomb of the venerable priest.
Father O'Keefe lived most austere life
and spent his large private fortune for religious
and charitable purposes. For some time at
Towson he lived in building which had been
formerly used as shop. The furniture in his
room was of the most simple kind. Most of
his meals consisted of bread and water or milk.
After the new church was built he occupied a
room over the sanctuary: he gave up the
parochia residence to the Sisters of Notre
Dame, who teach the parochial school. found
ed and endowed by him so as to be forever
free. He frequently taught classes In this
school.
Father O'Keefe leaves one sister who is Sister
Matilda, of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy.
She did not arrive at his home until after be
had breathed his last.
The body was removed to the church on Mon
day afternoon where it lay in state until the
hour for the funeral 1t was viewed by hun
dreds of people, including the children of the
parochial school, who manifested deep. sor-
row at the death of their pastor and friend.
AN IMMENSE, CROWD AT THE FUNERAL.
An immense crowd of people attended the
funeral, the services of which commenced in
the church at 8 80 o clock on Wednesday morn
ing. Cardinal Gibbons took part in the SER
vices and number of priests were present.
The services were most solemn and impressive
and lasted several hours. At their conclusion
the remains were deposited in a specially pre-
pared receptacle in the church that the vener-
able priest had built and which he loved so
we'll.
The honorary pall-bearers were the priest
present and not taking part in the ceremonies
The active pail. bearers were Judge N Charles
Burke and Messrs. James J Lindsay, James
r. Wheeler, G N. Mullin. w. Bernard Duke,
Frank B. jenkins, Thomas w. Offutt, John G..
Perkins, Martin j. o Hara, Benjamin Z. But
ler Julius Rudiger, Frank Fitzpatrick, Plus A.
Siberts, Benjamin Bruins, Theodore Urban,
John j. Michigan, Frank T Wheeler, James
Beacham, John Dohony, James Kelley Joseph
B. Perkins, Harry Davis, Joseph T. Padian,
William McKeown, George E. Wheeler, Jr.,
and Charles B. Roberts.
FATHER o'KEEFE's SUCCESSOR NAMED.
Rev. Philip FL. Sheridan, one of the assistant
pastors of St. Paups Church, Caroline and
Oliver streets, Baltimore. has been appointed
by the Cardinal to succeed the late Rev. Mat
thew O'Keefe. He is a native of Washington,
D. c., and was born in 1872. He received his
early education in st. Johns College, Washing
ton, and then took course at st. Charles Col
lege, Ellicott City. After graduating he en-
tered ST. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He
was ordained by the Cardinal at the Cathedral.
He then went to the Catholic University,
Washington, where he pursued two years OF
special study. In 1898 he was appointed assis-
tant pastor OF St. Peters Church, Baltimore,
/ where he remained five years. For three years
he lectured at St. Mary's Seminary on history,
/ and in October, 1904, was sent to St. Paul's
Church.
| Marriage Licenses for January.-Dur