Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-10
TRIBUTES PAID To
DECEASED PRIEST
Eulogies Upon Life and Char
aotef Of Dr.. Stafford.
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT
Vice President Fairbanks and Sena-
tor Beveridge Among Speakers.
SPEAKER CANNON IN AUDIENCE
President Roosevelt Sends Letter
Regretting That he Was I'm
able to Attend.
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT
SPEAKER CANNON IN AUDIENCE

| To pay tribute to the memory of Rev.
Denis Joseph Stafford, the late pastor OF
St. Patrick's Catholic Church. citizens
from many sections of the country and
from the District of Columbia, men high
I'D In the affairs Of the nation and others
of the rank and file, Jews and Gentiles.
Protestants and Catholics. gathered In
Chase's Theater yesterday afternoon.
When the doors were opened at S:15
O'Clock a large throng was in waiting.
and fifteen minutes later every seat from
pit to topmost gallery was filled. and
the space In the rear was damned with
humanity. Then the doors were closed
and hundreds were turned away.
Seated on the stage were the various
speakers. who told of the different
phases in the life of the dead priest;
many of the members of the general
committee which had charge of the me-
mortal meeting and numerous clergymen
Of the several local denominations. Over
the heads of those on the stage and IN
full view of the vast audience was an en-
I
mated by electric lights. Around the
front of the stage were many palms and
Towering plants. The members OF the
Marine Band were seated in the rear OF
the stage and that organization played
several appropriate selections during the
afternoon.
With words Of highest praise. eloauently
spoken. men prominent in national af-
fairs, in local church circles and In the
professional world voiced the sentiments
Of those they represented regarding the
life and character of the dead clergyman
Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks
spoke Of the dead priest as "a citizen"
Rev. DR.. John Van Schaick OF the Church
Of Our Father, Universalist. spoke of him
as "a friend; Hannis Taylor. ex-min-
lister to Spain, as the scholar and phi
lospoher; REV. Thomas E. McGuigan. act
Ing pastor of st. Patrick's Church, spoke
of DR.. Stafford as the priest: Corporal
James Tanner. ex-commander-in-chlef OF
the G. A. r.. as the patriot; Rev: Dr.
Abram Simon Of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation as 1.-The philanthropist." and
Senator Albert J. Beveridge as the ora
tor" Henry B. F. Mcfarland. presi-
dent of the board OF Commissioners of the
and acted as the presiding officer. Others
prominent in national life who sat with
the speakers were Speaker Joseph G.
Cannon Senator Scott and the members
of the arrangements committees.
President Roosevelt's Letter.
i President Roosevelt. who was unable to
attend, sent a letter praising Father Stat
ford, which was as follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE,
WASHINGTON,
February 8, 1903.
My Dear Mr.. Mcfarland: 1 very sin
cerely regret my inability to be present at
~ yAI k~ N h0
memory of Father Stafford 1t was my
privilege to know him and to work with
him for many different objects on many
occasions. and he was one of those -Amerf-
can citizens who. by actual practice. teach
their fellow countrymen what is best in
American citizenship. Moreover, Father
Stafford illustrated in his life what we
have a right to regard as one of the very
strongest features of the American char
acter. namely. the capacity to combine
fervor Of religious belief, fervor in the
effort to strive for moral and spiritual
betterment, with. wide and kindly toll
erance of difference in individual convic-
tons as to the form which conscientious adj
herence to religious belief may take. 1t is
eminently fitting that men of widely diff
ferent creeds-PrOtestant and Catholic,
Jew and Gentle-should meet in memory
Of this. our brother, who in his lifetime
strove manfully to do good to all men.
and whose charity of heart and breadth of
vision were such that all could work with
him who sincerely wished well for mankind.
The forces of evil are strong enough, any
how, and they should not be reinforced
rom the ranks Of those who. under diff
ferent banners, war for q common object:
nor should they who in reality have
common enemy turn their arms
against each other. On our belief in
the deep. underlying essentials which go
should all be one: and the finest type OF
character will always seek expression in
service to mankind such as Father Stat
ford rendered: Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Cardinal Gibbons, head of the Catholic
Church in America, also added his words
OF commentator to the general tribute.
He sent a telegram reading as follows:
Regret my inability to attend the memo
rial meeting in tribute to Father STAFF
ford. I am grateful for the honor you
and your citizens are paying to his men,
Ory.
Commissioner Macfarland's Address.
After the playing Of Chopin's funeral
march by the Marine Band Commissioner
Macfarland told of the purpose Of the
gathering. saying in part:
washington is not ungrateful. &, 1t is
not forgetful, as some have charged, of
service done to it Cities. like individuals,
know that they cannot afford to be in
different toward those who have served
them. Public appreciation. public graft
.ude public praise, are just stimulus as
we'll as reward for public service. 1t does
the city good. not only in its conscious
ness but In inducing future self-sacriflc-
ing service. to gratefully commemorate
the past service of the citizen.
"All honor to those who. taking time
from their own affairs. justify Aristotle's
definition OF a city as place where men
work together for noble ends. And when,
as today we assemble in the name Of one
who not only served the city, but was the
friend of all without regard to race or
creed affection mingles with admiration
as we gratefully remember his words and
deeds. In this. as in every such case. We
ought to have shown more honor to the
living, but at least we can now do our
best to show honor to the dead.
1T was the spirit Of it in which DR..
STAFFORD responded to every call Of civic
duty and to every call of private need.
This civic spirit, rather than wealth or
knowledge. is what distinguishes the
great citizens, and because DR.. Stafford
| had il we are here today. You will hear
| from those who know how to speak of DR..
| Stafford as citizen. friend. philanthropist.
scholar, philosopher. priest. patriot and
| orator AS they stir up your minds by
way of remembrance you will realize as
never before what the National capital lost
l when DIR. Stafford passed out Of our sight