The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-05
THE LATE FATHER o'RElLLY.


L., pastor of st. Peters church in this
city, the Catholic church, the COM
munity and the state alike sustain g
severe loss. In early manhood when
he gave himself to the work of adj
vancing the Kingdom of God among
men he gave himself absolutely, and
during all his long years Of subsequent
usefulness he illustrated strikingly
the value of his high ideals and the
possibility of following closely in the
footsteps of the Master whose cause
he served with such ability, fidelity
and zeal. If Father O'Re'lly ever took
thought of self or self-interest he
never betrayed the fact in
look, word or deed, His life
was continually and consist
emily one of self-denial for the good
of others. No worthy person or cause
ever appealed to him in vain. That
one of his trustful nature should be
Imposed upon at times was inevitable,
but repetition of such experiences new
er dulled his ear to appeal or suppress
ed the promptings Of his generous
heart He was as ready to
give and give freely to the
next applicant as though all
the objects of his benefcence had
been found appreciative and worthy.
AT times he was seriously disturbed
in mind lest in seeking to do good in
this way he might unintentionally
multiply the sources of evil, but he
was not disposed to inquire SO much
into the person seeking aid as into
his necessities. If he erred in some
instances he at least had the satisfac-
ton of knowing that he had given to
humanity.
1t was not alone in extending ma
terial aid to the needy that Father
O'ReilIy demonstrated the benevo-
lence which was so large part of
his nature and which SO brightly IL
Illuminated his career. He was also
charitable in his judgments and ever
ready to exercise pity and forbear
ance 1t was characteristic of him
to put the best Interpretation on the
motives and acts of others, to make
the largest allowances for their short,
comings and to pass the gentlest sen.
tence on them. Above all, Father
OReilly had a splendid character, Of
which good heart, benevolent feel
ings and balanced mind are the
foundation 1t has been we'll said
that other things may be deemed
fortuitous; they may come and go, but
character is that which lives and
abides and is admired long ofter its
possessor has left the earth.
Father OReilly was especially in
terested in Temperance and education
He taught temperance both by Ere
cept and example and lost no oppor
tunity to illustrate it's value. He
rightly held temperance to be a cardi
nal virtue, but he recognized that tt
be a virtue it must be free and no
forced. His efforts were therefore di
rected to promoting personal abstin
ence rather than to the enactment o
restrictive legislation. In this he wa
en1inently successful and the resul
of his efforts is a fine monument t.
his memory. If he had accomplished
nothing else in life his name would b.
entitled to a high place on the lis
headed by that of Abou Ben Adhem
of those who loved and serv
ed their fellow men. His in
terest in education in wei
attested by the establishment
and continued maintenance of ST
Peters school. 1t is an open secre
that Father O'Reilly gave literally o
his means-most literally, in fact
that his parish might have such al
institution free to all who wished {
attend. He always took the creates
interest in the proper training an
development of the young and spare
himself nothing for the attainment Q
this end. He was also closely in touc
with the higher education and full
abreast with the best scientifi
thought of the day. He was familia
with all the recent advances in tn
arts and sciences and perfectl~ a
home in current speculative philos'
nhv Had he given himself to the pul
suit of science his Eeeniy analytics