Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-03-19
FUNERAL Of REV.
N. |. O'REILLY

Funeral services over the body of the
Rev. Michael I. O'Reilly, pastor Of st.
Joseph's Catholic church, were held
Friday forenoon. AS the life he liv-
ed among us was blameless and crowd
ed with good works so at his death
had Father O'Reilly high honor. The
capacious auditorium of st. Joseph's
church was crowded to the doors with
people irrespective of.creed or nation
ality, who had come to pay their last
respects to the memory of the lament
ed priest.
1t was the usual service of the Oath
olic church performed over the hody
of one of the clergy. Nearly one hun
dred priests representing Harrisburg
and neighboring dioceses were present
and participated in the extended cere-
mony. Rt. Rev. J. w. Shanahan,
bishop of the diocese of Harrisburg,
celebrated the pontifical high requiem
mass and preached the panegyrical
sermon. Bishop NJ. J. Hoban of the
diocese of Scranton occupied a place
in the sanctuary.
On dais raised some four feet from
the floor reposed the remains. The
body clad in purple vestments and
with hands clasping cruoitix had a
most familiar appearance, the face.
even in death, wearing a benign and
resigned expression. AT the head stood
large palm.while two others flanked
the casket on each side. Right and left
of the body burned three tall tapers.
The guard Of honor, consisting of six
young men, members of the Total b.
stinence Society, stood, three on each
side of thesoasket, almost as immov-
able as statues, during the long cere-
mony. The large auditorium was drap-
ed with heavy festoons of black Grape,
which in four lines extended from the
sanctuary to the rear of the church.
The services began at 10 o'clock,
fully forty-fve minutes being occupi-
ed with the "office of the dead" in
which the body of priests partioipat
ed. Father Foin, of this city, and Fa-
ther Donovan of Philadelphia native
of Danville. were "deacons of hon
or :" Father McCann was deacon of
Mass" and Father Galligan, Sub
deacon of Mass" Father Hollern was
master of ceremonies.
At the close of the requiem mass
Bishop Shanahan stepped upon the
dais and taking position beside the
oasket delivered the panegyric. 1t was
brief straight forward address justly
eulogistio in tone.
The bishop recalled the death Of Fa-
ther McGinnis, which occurred at Dan
Vile thirty-fve years ago, when he as
a young priest occupied place In the
sanctuary. He touchingly alluded to
the fact that he himself had now about
rounded out the labors Of a life time.
He knew Father O'Rielly from boy
hood, he said. He paid splendid
tribute to his piety, his devotion to
his congregation and the church, and
found in the life of the deceased an
example, which convinced him that
life in the priesthood is not spent in
vain.
While the loss sustained by st. JOS
eph's congregation. the speaker said is
marked, the loss sustained by the do
cese is just as great. Father O'Reilly,
the bishop explained, was chancellor
of the diocese of Harrisburg. 1t fell to
his lot to examine the clergy aud he
was Judge of the matrimonial court.
In these two relations alone, he will
be greatly missed.
Father O'Reilly, the bishop said,
came from sanity parents, who gave
four sous to the priesthood. He was
gifted with great intelligence, to
which he added as the result Of his
close application to study deep learn
ing and we'll disciplined mind. No
man ever entered the priesthood that
was better equipped mentally or pos
sessed truer sense of manhood, a
gentler nature or a kinder or more low
ing heart. He needed no eulogy, the
bishop declared his whole life was q
eulogy. In conclusion the speaker
significantly remarked: "Well may
you mourn his loss, for you will never
look upon his like again.
Following the sermon the benedic-
tion of the body was pronounced by
the bishop. In conclusion the remains
were viewed by those who attended
the services.
AT 80 o'clock the body was taken
to the station followed by procession
made up of the congregation, the bis
hons and the Waiting cIerpy At tho