The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-28
MURDER WAS
LOGICAL DEED
ANARCHY CONDEMNED At eElR
OF ire PRlEsTLY VICTIM.
SERMON WAS ELOQUENT

Father Organ Delivers Eloquent
Funeral Grafton for Father Leo
Praises the Church In Service Of
Which Priest Gave up Life.
Denver, Feb. 26.-With the solemni-
ty and reverence due to his holy per-
son and spOtless character, the body
OF Rev. Father Leo Heinrichs was
taken from st. Elizabeth's cathedral
today to the Union station, where it
was placed aboard the afternoon Bur-
lington train to be forwarded to Pater-
son, N. J., where the Franciscan faith
era have their American headquarters.
The funeral procession was q nota-
BILE one and was viewed by thousands
who stood bareheaded as the hearse
passed them.
The parade vas led BY q squad Of
police and q company Of the knights
Of st. John in full uniform and with
drawn swords acted as guard of hon.
or. The knights of Columbus and rep.
resentatives Of numerous Catholic So
cieties followed on foot and a long
line OF carriages brought up the rear,
When the services were begun in
the church at 10 o'clock this morning,
every available seat was filled and q
crowd Of 5000 people waited patiently
outside until the church ceremony
was over. Inside the. church were
many Of the prominent citizens Of Den
ver.- including Governor Henry IA.
Buchtelt and Mayor Robert w. Speer.
Rev. Father William Organ delivered
the funeral sermon, in which he high.
lly eulogized the martyred priest.
Organs Sermon.
Rev. Organ said In part:
That any sermon is attempted on
this solemn occasion is not because of
Father Leo. the simple Franciscan
friar, who is dead, nor even because
of the high offense against the AL.
mighty Father OF us all who loves. but
because of the society in which we
live and its outrages and loosened
bond OF law. Crimes such as that OF
last Sunday are assaults on no mere
individual; they are against you and
me and all Of US. They strike and
wound law and justice in her holy
sanctuary whence breathes the very
life Of the civilized state.
Father Leo was struck down, the
murderer %confesses, because he was q
priest and not for any fancied griev.
ance or imaginary injury that the
murderer had received from him. He
never knew the dead priest, he had
never spoken with him; their lives ex.
cept in that n dread moment OF
blood and sacrilege had never touched.
Nor did he kill him, as priests have
been killed. in hatred Of his special
creed. But the f1end knew that the
priest was some outward symbol and
presager Of authority. And because
the murderer had .revolted against
Gods authority his rebellion went to
its uttermost logical conclusion in &C
ton; he revolted against its presence
In the world Of human law and broke
It and shed human blood; he revolted
against it's outward symbol In the
priest, and slew him.
Murder Logical.
The murder was logical. The an
archist ts never truer to his diabolical
principles than when he Stays a Cath
Ollie priest and Stays him at the ALTA
OF God. It matters not that the in
dividual priest possess little of the
worlds power or goods, nor desires
them for himself; it matters not ever
that he is q follower Of that blessed
Savior who chose poverty for hill
bride and gave his great love to the
poorest things and the most unloyed
Wherever he is. the Catholic priest in
some great way carries in himsel
that voice Of authority and Of God anl
exhibits 1t to men. He is an Officer
In that great army whose tramp 1.
around the world; whose discipline 1!
most perfect; whose organization Il
most infinitely refined, whose barriers
are forever set against the enemy o
disorder and anarchy which is in tn.
hearts and in . the actions OF mel
who are opposed to just human gov
eminent and divine. rule.
"Yes, he vas logical. He nigh
hate the ministers OF other churcl
bodies. but not with similar hate, thu
impotent hate that Stays; for they
alas; are too divided to be dangerou,
to him. He might hate a king, for h,
rules. but kings come and 60 an,
kingly policies have their chances an,
changes. But the Catholic priest Il
slain but to live and the Catholic pol
l{riaa %ha Nafhn1ir acnonfc NJ moral