St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-03-17
IN MEM0RIAM.

FIR. BOiSSOnnault.-S0me TributeSlr0n
Our Citizens.
Never has there been a more impressiv
funeral and not for many years one s.
largely attended as the service in mem
orv of Rev. Fr. Boissonnault at tn
Notre Dame des Victories church Thurs
dav morning. Long before the hour o
service the friends began to arrive, anC
when the service began there were Owe
1900 people in the church and about 200
standing outside the doors. The altar
the pulpit and the stained glass windows
were draped in purple, while banners
with appropriate inscriptions were hung
on the walls around the altar Nearly
40 priests participated in the requiem
mass, including most OF the priests OF
the Vermont diocese, several from Can
ada and Bishop Paul La Rogue Of Sher-
brooke.
There were almost as many Protes-
tants as Catholics at the service, and as
mark of respect business was generally
suspended on the streets, and all the
chuch bells were tolled as the long pro-
cession passed to the cemetery.
The celebrant was Rev. c. Boisson-
nault of Three Rivers, nephew OF FIR.
Boissonnault the deacon, Rev. n Proulx
OF Rutland; the sub-deacon, Rev, l., Mar
ceau ofSt. Johnsbury; the master OF GER
emonies, Rev. w. A. Plamondon of Bur
lington; assistant master of ceremonies,
Rev. L. NJ. Archambault of Shoreham;
incense bearer. Rev. 7. J. Leonard; AGO.
lytes, Rev. J. A. Campeau ofAlburg and
Rev. !. A. Lynch of Pittsford. The
Guards Champlain provided a body
guard.
The eulogy was given in French by
Rev. c. Beaubien of Sault au RecOllet,
p. O.. and was a most eloquent and
tender tribute from one who had known
Father BossOnnault from early days.
Father Beaubien was not only the hrst
priest to welcome him to his St. ohns-
bury parish, but on many an occasion
he has come here to participate IN some
religious junction. He spoke of his
faithful work in the school and seminary,
of his devotion to his chosen calling, and
of his remarkable achievements in the
ST. Johnsbury parish,
Rev. D. ]. OSullivan of St. Adams
followed with an appreciatlve tribute in
English. He referred to FIR. Boisson-
naut as a good and holy priest, and
then spoke most impressively of the
sacred calling of the priesthood. He
characterized this as the sublimest
office in the whole world and said it
was always FIR. Boissonnault's aim to
be worthy of the order.
'The priest is a special creation OF God,
and the man that chooses this calling
sacrifices his life Tor a two-fold work,
becoming a saviour and servant OF his
people. FIR. Boissonnault had a high
conception of his Office. He was respect
full of his own dignity and exacted that
from others. All his great work i'll the
erection OF buildings and the improve
ment of the church property was tor the
salvation of the souls in his care. Priests
come and priests go, but the priesthood
of Iesus Christ goes on forever. His
successor, whoever he may be, will be
powerful, not because of his personality
or popularity, but because he represents
the church of Jesus Christ. Pray, my
dear friends, for FIR. Boissonnault, for
you owe him debt OF gratitude. Pray
for his successor, that God may endow
him with the same sacerdotal virtues,
the same selfsacrihce, the same modesty
the same faithfulness that existed in FIR
Boissonnault."
Following the service, which lasted
nearly two hours, the procession formed
for the cemetery. There were IS sleighs
in line and nearly GOO of his parishioners
marched to the grave where a brief
prayer was offered by FIR. Beaubien. The
societies in the escort were the St. Jean
de Baptiste, Knights of Columbus
Catholic Order of Foresters, the Holy
Name Society, the St. Anne Society, and
the children in the convent and parochiaI
schools. The bearers were Joseph
Duclos, p. Dupont, Frank Nolin, Jovltt
Piuard and Alfred Boucher, The mer
who carried the body from the house tc
the church on Wednesday evening were
David Frechette, Jovte Pinard JOSEPH
Bison, Frank Lacourse, Frank La
branch, and Annie Juneau.
Among the priests present at tn
funeral were the following; Right Rev
Paul Larocque d. d., Bishop OF Sher
brook; Right Rev. Mgr. J. NJ. Cloarec
NJ. r.. Burlington; Very Rev. Mgr. II. 0
Chalifoux, V. g., Sherbrooke; Rev. d.
O'Sullvan, St. Adams; Rev. ]. f. Audet
Winooski Rev. c. y. Trottier, Islant
Pond Very Rev Z. NJ. Salmon, S. 5. f.
Supr., of St Michael's Classical ant
Commercial College, Wnooski Park
Rev. Antoine Clermont, Richmond; Rev
c. Boissonnault, o. NJ. l., Cap de |
Madeleine, p. Q; Rev. l.. NJ. Archan
bault, Shoreham; Rev J. A. Campeat
Alburg; Rev. E. P, Hickey, Springfield
Rev. W. z. Crosby, Burlington; Rev |
Cray. Barre; Rev. X. Devay, St Albar
Bay; Rev. J. n Plante, Suncook, N. H
Rev. !. ]. Marin, Brooklyn, n, y; Re
T. Redden, Woodsville, n H.; Rev,
Lynch, Pittstord; Rev. l.. H. Quay, No
ton Mills; Rev. b. Ling, Lebanon, N. II
Rev. F. II Paquet, Milton; Rev J.
Paquet, Orwell; Rev. w. Plamondo
Burlington; Rev. G. II Pepin Lachanc
Keelcr's Bay; Rev. b, II. Sullivan, Baker
field; Rev. T. O'Danell, Poultney; Rev.
r. Gauthier, Highgate; Rev, !. NJ. Ba
ten Newport; Rev. J. Therrien, Unde
hill Rev. Napoleon Lachance. Fairfel
Rev J. n. Lachance, HYDE Park; Rev.
A. Vezina, Vergennes Rev. !. D. Godai
Cookshire, =. Q; Rev {. l.. Pontbran