Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-03-11


d tablet to his memory. which took
place yesterday, are events which Will
linger for many years in the hearts
and the memory of the parishioners of
St. Joseph's Catholic church.
The cspscious auditorium of the
church was filed, even the gallery, be-
ing crowded. The services were most
Impressive.
The divine Office began at Q a. M,
the Rt Rv. Bishop Shanahan. presid-
ing. In addition to the bishop aud the
Very Rev. G.. g. Benton, Vicar Gen.
eral, of Steelton. the following neigh
boring clergymeu were present: Rev.
Father Murphy, of Bloomsbury: Rev.
Father Melchoir, of Berwick: Rev.
Father McCleary OF Milton; Rev. Fa-
ther Huber of Hanover, Rev. Father
Galligau of Locust Gap; Rev. NJ. @.
Donovan, of Philadelphia; Rev.
Francis Sheehan OF st. Charles Semi
nary, Overlook, Rev. A. M, Freezer
and Rev. Jules O. Foin of Dapville.
During the chanting OF the bene-
dictus the memorial tablet was un
yelled and blessed by the bishop. The
tablet is fixed in the wall at the cor
ner just at the left of the great altar
beside the small altar. Ii contains the
bust of the late Father NJ. |. o. Reilly
in low relief, along with an inscrip-
! 1. Il bn 10 of 10 birth and
death and the letters, K. |. P, an ab-
breviation for the latin: Requies-
cat in Pace" (May He Rest in Peace).
The Rev. Father Edward O'Reilly,
of Waverly, N. Y, brother of the late
pastor of ST. Joseph's church, the Rev.
Rev. NJ. l. O'Reilly, who was to have
celebrated the solemn requiem mass,
was unable to be present by reason Of
illness. Ia his absence the Rev. Faith
er McOaun, present pastor of st. JOS
eph's, celerbtaed the solemn requiem
mass
At the conclusion Of the mass the
eulogy was pronounced by the Rev
Father NJ. G. Donovan. OF Philadel-
phia former resident of Danville
and lifelong friend of the Rev. Fa-
ther o. Reilly's. The sermon was a
noble tribute, founded on the 18th
verse, 5th chapter of st. Paul's first
epistle to Timothy: Let the priests
that rule we'll be esteemed worthy Of
double honor, especially they who lab
or in the word and doctrine.
With deep feeling the speaker re-
verted 80 the death of Father o. Reilly
which occurred one year ago, empha-
sizing the extent to which it was de
plored, not only by the bishop, who
regarded him as one of the abless and
most devoted priests in the diocese,
but also by his fellow priests on whom
he reflected so much credit and honor.
and the parishioners Of st. Joseph's,
who always had in Father O'Reilly q
sympathizing friend and counsellor to
whom they could turn in times OF
trouble andssorrow for help and con-
ISOLATION. In the community where he
stood exceptionally high as model
and foremost citizen his death was de
plored and his memory was honored.
It is WELL the speaker said, Ito com.
memorste the life and services Of such
man as Father O'Reilly, that those
who come after may be reminded OF
his exalted character, his pure devo-
tiou and blameless life. Let the priests
who do we'll be esteemed worthy OF
) such honor, for while bishops and
priests pass away their works and self
denial live. The Catholic church Ii
ever sclicitous for the honor Of hel
priests. living and dead.
Jesus Christ exercised his ministry
for only three years and in a narrow
boundary, but his gospel was to be
preached TO the whole world, in all
ages. To accomplish this he establish.
ed his church and selected his apostles
"As the Father sent me so send you
-"Go and teach all nations.
Through the Christian priesthood
the teachings of Christ have been per
petuated to our day and thus they will
be CARRIED forward in the future. The
Catholic priest, the speaker continu-
ed, through the doctrine he breaches
is the salt of the earth and the light
OF tine world The truth he teaches has
come down through twenty centuries
of time from the savior of the world
If all would listen to the teachings of
the priests of the Catholic church we
would have better world. There
would be no suicides, divorces, muir
ders and the other forms of crime that
are so common today The Catholic
priest feeds the flocks of Christ with
the bread of life. He stands at the bed
side of the dying, consoles the mourn
er and reconciles the departing soul.
The speaker dwelt with great emp
hasis on the high dignity and the aw-
ful responsibility of the priestly call
lug. Father O'Reilly, he said, bore
these with honor and humility to his
dying day. For twenty nine years he
was brought into close contact with
the world, but he was never sullied by
| it. He handed down his priestly vest
ments as untsrnished as they we're on