The Washington herald., 1908-01-13
STAFFORDEUL
Appreciation Of Dead Pastor
by Father Michigan.
CROWD FILLS ST. PATRICK'S
Associate in Parish Tells of General
Esteem in which Dead Divine was
Held-Homage Due al Nobility of
Character and Sympathy-ReIigiOu
and PrieStIy Attachments,


crowded yesterday morning with an
paid to the late pastor, DR.. Stafford. by
one of his assistants. Rev Thomas E.
McGuigan.
Rev. Father McGuigan, who had been
associated with him in daily life for sew
eral years, in his sermon told of the love
shown by the community to the late pas
tor and described the sympathy which
DIR. Stafford had for his fellow-men.
''The clergy of st. Patricks feel it in
cumbent upon them to express their
gratitude to you for your active and gen
erous cooperation in the performance Of
the sad duties that devolved upon US
during the past week" said the eulogist
Never in the city OF Washington, and,
may say. in any city Of the country,
were demands. so many and so eager.
made for permission to join in the last
act Of homage and reverence to mortal
man.
Thousands Offer Their Services.
by telegraph, telephone, naessenge
and in person. came requests for oppor-
tunity 10 assist at the funeral service OF
our beloved pastor. ten thousand times
more than We could answer Did his
cherished St Patricks cover the block
upon which 1t is situated. there would
yet have been devoted seekers after ad-
mission turned away. They were the
humbIest workmen. black and white, and
the highest men in office.
''They were professional and business
men, statesmen, and ministers Of the Cos
pei. They were women OF humble estate,
and women Of high society. The devotion
Of those among you whom we could en-
list in making and carrying out arrange
ments that would give becoming dignity
decOrum. and solemnity 10 the obsequies
could not be surpassed. The self-sacrifce
Of the other members Of the congregation.
as members of one great family standing
aside 10 give hospitality to friends and
admirers. TO guests from afar. and men
Of high position among US, stirred in US
the greatest admiration.
THE exigency of the melancholy occa-
sion has expanded, if possible, our SYM
pathies toward you. and made US more
sensible OF yours toward US; 1t has shown
an entire understanding between clergy
and people, and given expression 10 a
sweet and tender relationship. sweeter
and more tender perhaps in that language
cannot express il.
Nor can I pass by the magnificent sup
port Of the Catholic men Of the city the
members of those excellent organizations,
the Knights of Columbus, the St Vim
cent de Paul societies, the Ancient Order
Of Hibernians, Carroll Institute, and the
Catholic Knights Of America
Homage Paid 10 Prince of Men.
Never was king or potentate so hon
ored in the uniformed and armed soidiery
that stood in stern duty about his bier as
was Dr. Stafford by the hundreds OF de-
voted men that stood guard all night long
in this church in loving homage TO the
prince among men. Why all this reveT-
ence, why all this love. this devotion; why
this universal homage Of deep. personal
sorrow at the death of Gods priest?
7 shall not try TO answer this ques-
ton. We may analyze character; we may
discern the wonderful gifts Of mind and
heart that endoW one; we may dwell
upon the separate traits that make one
powerful and Iovable, yet we cannot say
that personality is merely the sum Of
them all The wonderful influence of Dr..
Stafford. so marked in life, SO spontane-
ously acknowledged In death. Is so much
his own that no one dares presume TO
explain.
In part it arose from his true judg-
ment. One could watch at the rectory,
day in and day out, the line Of people
-
was a word Of advice, a counsel, an en-
couragement a direction, that was asked.
His Judgment was true. An individual. a
family, an organization was set right, and
DIR. Stafford was the hidden influence
Add 70 this his deep personal sympathy
in every single interest brought before him.
Only those who lived with him, talked
with him. chatted with him, could sound
the breadth and depth of that heart of
sympathy that made personal the grief
Of all men. and sought about for means
to assuage it. More than this. his sym
pathy met men on the road 70 success,
and his bright and bUOyant cOngTatula-
ton TedOubled many an effort Of his fell
loW-men.
Religious and Priestly Attainments.
IF an influence was thus difusing it
self among the people from what might
be considered natural traits. what could
be said of his distinctively religious and
priestly attainments? His grasp of di-
vine truth. the result of hard and con-
tinued study in Scripture. in theology.
in philosophy. in history, produced in
him an answering loyalty to the church,
so that her welfare whether off in the
FeT,
home, was always foremost in his
thoughts and in his works. What hurt
religion, hurt him. What advanced re-
ligiOn, Tejoiced him.
"No less notable than his grasp Of
divine truth was his zeal to expound II.
More admirable to me was his earnest
ness and perseverance, oftentimes elo-
quence, in explaining the teachings of
the church to an individual in his office.
than his power In preaching to the vast
concourse in church. An enthusiasm ema-
mated from him that caught all who
labOred with him. that elevated and ideal
ICED his own duties, and expelled work-a-
day routine from every avenue of en-
deavor.
Whether or not this be any accounting
for the unrivaled manifestation Of per
sonal love for DR.. Stafford from so many
thousands of this community. this coun-
try, the world. the fact remains that his
influence has been centered about st. Pat
ricks. It must continue to emanate from
here.
st. Patrick's HIS Monument.
est. Patricks must be his lasting monu-
ment. Nor can 1t be a monument of
stone, however beautiful In architecture
and ornamentation. These stately build
ings have always stood for him only as
instruments in which and through which
the minds of men would be enlightened.