Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-09
FUNERAL OF FATHER SMYTH
st. Francis Xavier's Church Crowded
by Friends of Deceased.
SERVICES ARE MOST IMPRESSIVE
Three bishops and n LnrGe Number
of visiting Priests Present and
Participate In the Tribute
to the Dead.

Tho Impressive funeral s~ervices held yes.
tcrday morning At st. Francis Xavier's
church over the late Rev. Father Patrick
Smyth were a fitting tribute to the de-.
ceased priest and the large attendance evil
denced the love and esteem in which he
was held. not only by the congregation TO
whose spiritual wants he had ministered
for over seventeen years, but by the COM
munity at large.
The seating capacity Of the large audi
forum of ST. Francis xavier's church was
entirely Inadequate for the large number
who desired by their presence at the serv-
ice to pay their last respects 10 the dead
priest. Every pew was filled and the
aisles and space back OF the seats was
crowded with those unable TO find other
accommodation. who stood OF knelt through
the long service, to pay tribute to him
they mourned not only ms a minister OF the
church. but as a friend.
The interior OF the handsome edifice pre-
scented in itself an Impressive sight, hung
as 1t was with simple d~rapings of black and
white while the affairs were decked with
violet. the emblem Of sorrow. The vest
ments OF the officiarts at the mass were
likewise violet in color.
The services were begun with the recit-
ing Oh the Offices OF the OedQ Dy all OF
the assembled priests, nearly one hundred
in number, after which the solemn high
requiem mass was sung with the BIT.
Rev. James Davis, bishop Of the diocese
Of Davenport. as celebrant. The absolution
OF the mass was pronounced by the Rt.
Rev. Richard Scannell, bishop Of Omaha.
Very Rev. Hugh Smith OF Chicago was
archdeacon. Rev. Francis Ward Of Iowa
City. deacon of honor; Rev. Peter Brom-
menschenkel of Westphalia. Ia. subdeacon
OF honor; Very Rev. Thomas Reilly OF
Keokuk, deacon of the mass. and Rev.
Edmund Hayes Of Imoger,e, subdeacon OF
the mass.
The master of ceremonies was Rev. ].
M. Walsh of Washington, Ia, who until
recently was connected with st. Francis
xavier's church. He was assisted by Rev.
J. F. O'Neill, Rev. James P. Daneley and
Rev. James A. O'Neill, all of whom were
formerly under the pastoral care and in
struction of the late Father smyth.
The music of the mass was beautifully
and impresslvely rendered by the full choir
OF the church under the leadership Of ].
r. Gerke and with Miss Tholl as organist.
The mass was celebrated at the high altar,
while throughout the service the bier, sur
rounded by six funeral tapers, rested in the
central aisle.
He that believeth in me, though he be
dead. yet shall live" was the text taken
by the Rt. Rev. p. j. Garrigan, bishop
of Sioux City, who preached the sermon.
While declaring It was unnecessary to
e~ulogize az length, Bishop GarrigaD paid
a beautiful tribute to the high character
of the deceased priest. The sermon was
an eloquent presentation Of the nobility
of the priesthood, with particular appli-
cation to him whom the vast congregation
had assembled to honor.
ut is unnecessary" said Bishop Garrigan
In opening, ito refer to the personal virtues
or to eulogize the personal character OF
Father Smyth as a pastor. 1t is unneces-
sary before this congregation, which forms
so eloquent a testimony to his nobility OF
character, to speak OF his self-sacrifices
his devotedness and his fatherly care OF
you and your children"
Referring to the general belief caused by
the isolation Of the priest from the great
body of the people, that the members OF
the priesthood took no interest in politics
in government or In the material prosperity
of the state or community, Bishop CARR.
gan said:
Society is built on religion. Take away
from society the teachings of Jesus Christ
the precepts of the d~ecalogue. the Sermon
on the Mount. and what has society tC
stand on? 1t is for these things that the
priest stands.
I'VE are intensely interested in the wei
fare Of the people. in the prosperity of the
places where we live, in education and il
public morality. The priest is consecrateC
to the welfare OF humanity. The character
of the priest whose body lies before us wal
the character of a public spirited citizen
lie loved his fellow citizens, he loved tn,
institutions OF this land. however dear t.
him might have been the green hills o
the country from which he came. Thi