The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-10-21
TRIBUTE IS
PAID PRIEST
BY A friend
Father Reynolds Talks Ten
derby and Reverently of
Father Hickey.
HIS VIRTUES ARE TOLD
And Lessons Are Drawn from
His Noble Life for Ben
/ eft of Living.
HIS VIRTUES ARE TOLD

eHt or Living.
The Rev. John A. Reynolds. of
clarksburg. delivered the discourse a,
the funeral of the Rev. E. NJ. Hickey
in Parkersburg Friday. He said In
part:
"Rt. Rev Bishop. Fathers. members
of the Parish and Friends. Sad in.
deed is the occasion which calls us
here together this morning at the mos,
solemn ceremonies over departed
priest to unite our prayers for the re-
pose of his soul.
You, the people of this parish. and
the people of the city. lost a sincere
friend, a prudent counselor and a
consistent pastor. We of the clergy
depiore the loss of one Of our most
distinguished and honored member
OF whom We could Justly feel proud.
THE painful task has been assigned
me to say something to you people in
your aff1lction. The close relation
which exists between the Catholic
people and their pastor is so strong
that those outside the fold cannot
realize what 1t means. Early the
pastor receives the little child. into
the church, he unites In lawful mar
rage the young and invokes the love
OF heaven on that bond of marriage,
and participates in the final services
when death comes.
He breaches the Word of God in
season and out of season, and admins
listers correction whenever he deems
1t necessary for the good of his peo-
Pile. When sickness and death in
wade the home the priest then be-
comes the strongest and almost sole
support of those who are in sorrow.
I'm the shadow of death he prays
that the sins OF the afflicted may be
forgiven and he strengthens the hope
OF the dying by holding up the thought
of blessed mortality. He becomes,
in word and truth, the sharer Of joys
and sorrows. He rejoices with those
who rejoice, and mourns with those
who mourn. ~ II
1T is because death has taken such
a faithful priest that sorrow not only
envelops the jarlsh. but the whole
cley at large. His emaclated body
separated from his noble spirit, with
the chalice which was presented by
his congregation OF almost fifty years
ago. clasped IN his hands. which shall
never be lifted up again before this
altar.
Father Hickey. after he had fin
ished his studies at st Charles, was
raised to the dignity of Priesthood at
Newark New. Jersey. in 1860"
AT this point Rev. Father Rey-
nolds told of the protection of the
young priest before he starts in his
work of the ministry, and continued,
saying: ut Is only when the young
priest is launched on his mission that
the safeguards which have surround
ed him are removed and he goes out
to face the world. and 1t was as a
sturdy tree that he waxed strong as
the trials Of Me multiplied.
at would be no little tribute to say
that he spent over forty-nlne years of
his priestly life in purity. and wears
the robes which are as unsullied as
on the day forty-nine years ago, when
they were given to him by the conse-
Grating Bishop.
"He did not hide his talent, hut
has made 1T bring forth fruit many
fold. and, the recording angel alone
can disclose his ever good deeds. He
has turned many away from iniauity
as he was indeed an angel OF the Lord
of Hosts.
81 need not speak to you of the
labor of the early years of his priest
hood in the Diocese OF Newark. or
of his work at clarksburg and New
burg. except for the sorrow OF the
people there who unite with you in
sending their prayers to Heaven for
the repose of his soul.
Neither need ! say anything of the
last twenty-nine years he has spent
among yfu, as. his life has been an
open book. Whatever he said or did
he had your best good In view. He
was never strong physically, and
when the last sacrament OF the church
was administered he gave up his soul
to God. It may be said. He fought a
good tight: he has finished the race: