Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-09-07

Boston, Mass.-The funeral OF Arch
bishop Williams in the cathedral of the
Holy Cross was the most impressive
event OF the kind ever witnessed in
this city.
1t was marked by the presence Of
the most eminent prelates of the
church in the United States, including
the American primate, Cardinal Glib
bone, aud tho sorviOe in tho cathedral
was filled with the spiritual dignity
and splendor of the Roman Catholic
| ritual.
1t was the last great honor that
could be paid prince Of the church
worthy of the beautiful character of
the man in whose honor it was be-
slowed
1t was such a tribute of love and
respect as only a great man could
call forth, and it came deep out of the
| hearts of the people, who knew best
the full worth of the life OF Most Rev
erend John Joseph Williams, D. D.,
archbishop of Boston.
The broad, tolerant, kindly spirit of
the archbishop was reflected in the
breadth of this last tribute, which in
cluded in its personnel not only those
of his own blood and faith, but also
those of other faiths, from the Saliva
tion Army to the Episcopal church
AS a spectacle the funeral service in
the Gothic cathedral was very I'M
posing-the great procession Of robed
priests and prelates which moved
through the wide nave to the sanctu-
ary to the strains of Chopin's funeral
march, the immense congregation, the
splendid choirs and organ music, the
tolling of the city bells, the profound
hush as Cardinal Gibbons proceeded
with the celebration of the solemn
pontifical mass of requiem, the splen-
did eulogy by Archbishop O'Connell,
that touched the hearts of all who
heard it, the occasional and the in
terment Of the body in the crypt be-
meath, and in the very heart Of the
cathedral which the archbishop had
| reared with such pains and pride
all these things, permeated as they
were with the religious feeling and
the sense of loss, made the service
memorable to those who witnessed it,
and it was no wonder that heartfelt
sobs were heard and eyes dimmed with
tears were seen of many in the vast
concourse of people who were pres
ent.
The cathedral was draped very sim
ply in mourning, both inside and out.
There was nothing in the way of for
al ornamentation, but the effect on
the lighted white affairs, and the vast
auditorium was in perfect harmony.
The body of Archbishop Williams rest
ed on a catafalque, surrounded by six
lighted candles, inside the chancel rail
and in front Of the central altar, with
the mitre upon the top of the coffin
and the crozier at the foot.
The overcast sky of the morning did
not prevent the crowds of people from
arriving early in the vicinity Of the
cathedral, which, however, had been
roped off on all sides and a Gordon of
policemen permitted only those with
tickets to pass into the enclosed space
| on Washington street in front of the
edifice. This crowd grew until by 9.45
o'clock, when the doors were opened,
there were several thousand people
massed around the main entrance. 1t
took but a short time, however, for
these to pass inside after the doors
were opened Here a large force of
ushers under Mr.. Blackwell quickly
escorted the people to seats. About
1000 seats in the front of the audi
| torium had been reserved for the
clergymen and distinguished visitors
In the meantime the church digni-
taries were dressing and preparing in
the chapel and the archepiscopal resi-
dence for the procession; also the
sanctuary choir Of men and boys.
The body of clergymen showed we'll
the cosmopolitan character Of the
church, for there were, in addition to
the distinctively American clergymen
delegations of the French clergy, rep
resentatlves Of the Italian, German and
Portuguese churches, representatives
OF the various orders OF Franclscans,
Dominicans and others, as we'll as mis-
slonaries who had seen service In
distant lands and some OF whom wore
| boards.