The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
SOLEMN RITES TO-DAY
Funeral of DIR. Stafford at
st. FatPick'S Church.
THOUSANDS SHOW THEIR LOVE
Not Sueh an Outpouring of People,
Except when MRrtyFed Mckinley
Lay I'm State at the Capitol, as Yes
terday During Time Body of Be-
loved Priest RcDOEed in Church.

Seldom. if ever in the history of Wash
! ington has there been manifested such a
great popular demonstration of love and
esteem for the memory of d good and
useful citizen Of the country as the Deo-
I pie of the District are now witnessing
with regard 10 the late DR.. Stafford,
whose funeral takes place from his church
at 10 o'clock this morning.
/ Within the memory Of the present gen
/ Grafton there has been only one similar
great outpouring Of the people 10 show
! their esteem and affection. and that was
| when the beloved and martyred Presi-
dent Mckinley lay in state at the Capitol
Where all the people came from that
passed the bier of the deeply beloved
! IT ctor of ST. Patricks and bade him a
/ last farewell with heavy hearts and eyes
/ filled with tears 1t is difficult to say. 1t
! seemed as If all Washington-man
woman. and child well and I'll. white
and black, young and old-had rendered
/ obedience TO their hearts call TO behold
/ for the last time that countenance which,
when animated with life and love. was TO
them an inspiration for good and for
| better life
Strong Men Wondered.
Strong men passed and halted their
steps when coming face TO face with
the majesty of death. and wondered
why the career OF a good man is cut
short in ITS very prime.
Women in costly gowns and furs,
/ TO whose hearts the sorrows Of an
everyday life is a comparative stran-
/ ger. stood with bowed head contemplat-
| ing the brilliant man as he lay before
them. the divine soul having departed.
/ And poor women in rags and tatters.
who I'm their most trying moments OF
poverty found in the good father
friend indeed, wept as II their poor
hearts would break, realizing their
great loss.
Children. red-cheeked boys and girls.
not fully comprehending the mystery
of death, and the fact that Father stat
! ford was TO more. gazed upon his life
less form In reverent awe and cOnfu-
sion.
There was the Protestant, who for
the time being forgot the little differ
ences OF outward forms, TO pay his
! respects 10 a man who was regarded
/ By all denominations as the type Ct "A
good man, an American patriot, a God
fearing gentleman.
Respecting the edifice wherein lay
the remains cf the prelate, many OF
/ the non-Catholies who paid a last fare
well to DR.. Stafford followed their
Catholic brethren and bent their knees
T before the high altar containing the
I Host, before turning into the side aisles
/ on their way out Of the church. Events
| like this one. Judging from facts. seem
/ to contribute more TO smooth over
/ differences OF an honest mind than
anything else.
/ RepOsed ia Peace,
/ And without the golden sun was shining
/ in the heavens. pouring a flood of light
through the beautiful. glass-stained win
dows of the house Of God, and shedding
sanity halo over the beloved priest, IL
/ Illuminating his countenance with "a reaec-
ton OF heavenly peace. A huge drapery
Of mourning stretched from the top OF the
white gl.steniug marble altar to the roof
/ Of the vaulted dome. The scarlet throne
| of tire cardinal in the sanctuary also bore
1 its sign of black. AS did the polished
granite pillars rising TO the roof, and the
/ statues of the saints and the pictures and
paintings
The white marble pulpit from where the
renowned orators voice was so often
heard in prayers and appeals for q better
/ life and for the exercise OF charity and
/ love, was draped in somber black And 50
was the exterior of the church Every
I thing, everybody, mOurned the death OF
/ the good priest the loyal friend, the elo
quent orator, the brilliant scholar, and the
educator. the bcnefactor of the poor, and
/ the refuge of many a heavy heart and op-
pressed soul
/ Many were the fervent prayers that
/ asceHded 10 heaven from DR.. Stafford
church yesterday, the side altars all day
/ having before them a kneeling, devout
multitude.
Tickets of Admission.
Great activity prevailed from early
morning until late at night at the rectory.
where Mr. Doyle, the late Dr. Stafford's
/ secretary, distributed tickets of admis-
sion to the pewholdcrs and others. who
wished to be present at to-day's services
( to pay their last honor to the memory
of the man they so dearly loved. The de-
mand for admission was so great that #
/ the church could accommodate ten times
| its capacity. every seat would be taken
and every inch of standing room would
| be occupied
/ Not only is St. Patricks Church i'm
mourning, but the Knights OF Columbus
1 Hall. in f. street northwest and the
Carroll Institute. have been draped.
/ OF the latter, DR.. Stafford was a
most enthusiastic member. and the So
/ ciety is cooperating with the other So
cieties in everything pertaining to the
+ funeral.
/ At the last solemn rites, which will be
| held at ST. Patricks beginning at 10
O'Clock this morning, his eminence. Cardi-
nal Gibbons. vested in his full robes Of
Office. will preside The deacon of honor
to his eminence viii be Very Rev. E.
/ r. Dyer, Of St. Mary's Seminary, Bal
/ timore. and Rev Thomas Lee. of St
/ Matthew's, of this city. The deacous
/ to the apostolic delegate. Archbishop
/ Diomede Falconoi will be Rev. DR.. Buel.
/ S. J., president of Georgetown University,
and Very Rev. DR.. Burns, superior of
/ the Holy Cross College.
/ The officers Of the requiem mass are:
/ Rev. Charles Bart. St Theresa's, ceIe-
brant; Rev. Daniel O'ConneT, Toledo,
Ohio, deacon; Rev. Philip O'Donnell. sub
deacon; Albert Ridgway, master of cere-
monies. and Rev. George Dougherty,
master OF ceremonies to the cardinal
Rev. Dr. William Z. Fletcher, rector of
the Cathedral, Baltimore, will preach the
sermon.
An orchestra of about twenty artists.
under the direction of Prof Sol Minister.
viii accompany the choir, Prof Gum
preeht presiding The orchestral num-