Evening journal., 1907-12-16
GREAT THRONG AT
PRIESTS FUNERAL
One Thousand Unable to Get Into St. PatrickS
Church at Services Over the Remains
of Father Birmingham


services over the Rev william ]. Ber-
mingham were held this morning in
a ST. PatriciIs Roman Catholic Church,
and the body this afternoon was taken
70 Dover N j., where after services
do-morrow morning, interment will be
made. More than a thousand persons
who were uIqbe to get into St. Pat
a ricks Church this morning gathered
outside and accompanied the funeral
procession to French street station.
Aside from the occupants of forty
coaches in the procession, which was
headed by the .Hibernian Knights i'm
uniform, there were several hundred
members Of the various Catholic So
cieties Of Wiminiytc'n. Sobbing and
weeping men and women gathered
along the street, and those in the pro-
cession were unable to restrain their
grief Rarely. If eve q. has there been
such a manifestation OF sorrow in this
eity for a departed c clergyman.
Gathered at Daybreak
Friends and admirer Of the late
'Father Birmingham were at St Pat
rcks Church at daybre ak, so anxious
were they TO gain adr littance. The
"A frst service of the morn ing was at
3'cloclS. when mass of requiem was
said for the school children Of the par
ieh. rhe chuch was filled at this hour
Il was followed by the chanting of the
cmce for the dead at $50 o'clock by
Bishop John j. Monaghan and the
clergy Of the diocese of Wilmington
and visiting clergymen.
The church was again hNed for this
Service. and more than a thousand per-
}sons gathered outside aayaiting an op-
W .rortunitv to get within. but they were
trisari ointed. Captain Thomas A..
,oF-ane and a squad Of policemen guard
td the doors to prevent any confusion.
Z Pon.ihcai Mass Of Requiem
Members Of the various Catholic So
hioties were in attendance, and after
fhey and the sisters Of the different re-
Heious orders in the city had been
tsafed The remainder OF the seazings
were for the public Tire church was
trronred To the doors when the mass
Il REQUIEM began at 10 o'clock, with
rishop Monaghan as celebrant. There
'apcre about fifty clergymen present. in-
dirg the priests of the diocese OF
fnWwinrton, those from tho Sale sion-
Ia and many from other diucesca.
fhdse not participating in the service
hceunied places within the sane tuary.
Bishop Monaghan was assisted by the
w. Rev. John A. Lyons. Vic;r-gen-
sfral. The deacon. Of the mas's was the
rev. r. L. Brady. Of St. Mary S
church and the sub-deacon was the
Rev w j. Scott, Of St Josephs
-Church on the Brandywine. Ihe heV.
H. IT Higgins. Of St Pauls- Church,
$50 is chancellor of the dio eese, was
master of ceremonies. The deacons or
honor were Fathers Ward and Dono-
Z Nan. Of philadelphia
mic music was furnished by St. Pat
ricks choir, augmented by singers Irom
Other Catholic choirs Of the city and
rnfer the direction Of John a. Ma
ttnev The mass was OhueWald
I reauiem Mass, the solemn singing
hsing one of the impressive features of
DE service.
= frhrouahout the service the soAs Of
men and women could be heard In the
8 rchurch, and added to the impressive
ness and solemnity Of the occasion.
Father Fedisan's EuIosy.
81 Tke eulogv Of Father Birmingham
,vas.nelivered by the Rev Father j. J.
FediEan. o. S. A., of Villa Nova Col
d. ..lere. who was a close friend and ad-
nireE Of the deceased preiate tather
Fedies,n voiced a fine tribute OF the
departed pastor of st. FatrlcAs. ne
sDoSesfrom the text, "A good name, Is
better Indn DfGllnQH oAAAAAAA~A-N-t 'tt+N' t--
dav OF death, than the day OF ones
brit" in Ecclesiastes, z, 2
AT the outset Father Fedigan referred
feelingly to the fact that Wilmington
was narticularly unfortunate the past
.t,eels in thesloss OF two beloved church.
,nen-one a priest of the Roman Cath
olic Church and the other bishop of
the Protestant Church. They Will be
f,nour~ed by Catholics ana Protestants
alike" said Father Fedigan' who con-
tinued:
nor TO retain, without working for it,
. and this work must be done before
the all seeing eye Of God ana receive
His approval, otherwise it will be of
no account-here, and certainly not
hereafter.
"Let your works shine before men
taat they may see them, and glorify
your Fa-her who is in Heaven From
So this IT follows. that to God must we
give praise and glory for all the good
that we do
would society be to-day, If every one
? walked in this proper way2 II Trey
were as anxious about how they stand
before Cod as they are how they stand
before men, But above all others,
must the priest have and retain this
good name before the people in order
that his word and his work may pro-
duce the desired effects upon them,
that they may know the voice of .he
true shepherd and follow Him into
healthy pasturage that he may say with
his Master. know mine snd mine
know me-
So Had a Good Name.
did your beloved pastor have this
good name among you, and cid he
know and love you as his spiritual
children committed to his fatheriy
care2 He did indeed, as the presence
Of bishop. priests and people loudly
proclaim. This lovely House OF God,
where he so often offered up the holy
sacrifice Of the mass for the living
~ and the dead. where he so often ad-
ministered the sacraments Of grace for
your souls where he lifted up his an
nointed hands. TO call down Gods
blessing upon you. are ample Ircoi
, that he sdid. That catholic school
where your children are taught. by the