The Washington herald., 1908-01-08
DELIVERS FUNERAL SERMON
Father Fletcher Speaks of DR., Stat
ford's Work in Washington.
Points Ont Good Qualities that Won
Love and Devotion from
All Glasses.

! The Rev. Dr. William A. Fletcher. Of
the Cathedral in Baltimore, delivered the
funeral sermon over the dead body Of
Father Stafford.
! Father Fletcher spoke. of Father Stat
ford having been born in Washington.
| He told his audience Of the work the
dead priest had done IN this city.
Father Fletcher said. in part:
lie lives. he dies; he is here he Is gone-tbis is
all man. His symbol is the flower which to-day Is
clothed with glory and tomorrow changes iiceS
on the stem. Nor Is the language of inspiration
and prophecy different, and that is An flesh is
grass and all the glory theeof as the flower Of the
ned-the grass Is wthered and the flower Is gone q"
At times he flashes the view ike the flaming
meteor ON the mist Of the night His coming com
pes attention inspires love, reverence OF awe, but
hardly has he begun 10 shine and 10 attract when
be IS swallowed up in the darkness Of oblivion.
Again his course u existence is measured and
SLOW. but with him progress is decay. and advance
IS toward the goal where The gTayc yawns 10 re-
Ce1C him and his ambitions alike Nor is thiz
merely the exercise Of idle fancy. For so did He
once speak whom We al ADORE Consider the lilies
Of the field, how they grow; they labor not neither
do they spin. and say 20 you that not even Solo
mon in al! his glOy was not aTTayed as one q
these. But to-day they are and tomorrow they are
cast ihto the oven. So II is with man. He
cometh forth as a flower and is destroyed He
Heeth as a shadow and never cuntueth in the
same state But he whose mortal remains lie be-
fore us vas not a mere mamie was priest Of
the most high God.
Bonn IN the Capital Of the nation some forty
seven years ago, he inherited from pious parents
that love Of God and deep devotion 10 Catholic
ideals which first bent his steps toward the sane
tuaTY, This disposition was fOsteTed and strength
ened by the kindly influences Of the religious home
until. az the dawn Of reason, he called upon
10 invest il with the dignity and majesty q a de-
HbeTate purpose. On the one hand the world ap-
pealed to him with the witcheTy Of its ranities
but his soul had long since been attuned 20 the
music Of a higher and hOlier invitation.
90 forth ont Of thy country said God 10 him
as TO Abraham Of Old and from thy kindred and
ont Of thy fathers house, and come into the land
that ] VIII show thee. Forthwith he turned his
back upon the world and its aluremeuts and set his
face steadfastly toward the altar Of God On
certain morning he came into the presence Of the
Most High and accepted God for the portion of his
inheritance and His cup II is not necessary on an
occasion like this to speak Of the many and varied
talents with which God had endowed him. For
nearly fourteen years he has gone and out before
You During that time he yOur father and your
friend He your counselor IN the time Of doubt
and your strong support in the hour Of afiictiOn.
Each one Of yoa has felt the touch Of his personal
magnetism. Each one OF YOU has experienced the
thrill Of his elOquence the words leaped hot from
his heart 10 yoUs freighted with the sacramental
power which religion alone can imUar al dripping
with tokens Of heavenly benedictions. But even as
speak voice seems 20 come stealing mp from the
grave, "A flesh Is grass and all the glory thereof
ss the flower Of the field
But what is this strain Of hope. almost Of JOY
that bTUatheS through the Catholic seTcet Brethren
/ would not have You ignorant Of them that sleep
says st. Paul. that you be not sad, those who
have no hope foT as Jesus died ambrose again. even
them who have slept through Jesus God viii bring
with Hin" This truth is the basis Of Catholic
hopes. This truth it Is which dispels the gloom Of
occasion like this. good and devoted priest Is
dead In virtue Of the resurrection Of Jesus Christ
the Great High Priest he viii rise again, and God
viii give to him life refreshment and everlasting
peace for which his soul desired,