The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-16
The Late Father O'Reilly

Very Rev. Father O'Reilly passed
away in Keokuk Thursday evening at
SOB o'clock, September 2, 1909. The
Daily Gate City in its issue of Sun
day morning, September 5, 1909, con-
tanned the following editorial com
ment:
In the death Of Rev. Thomas O'Reil-
~, pastor of ST. Peters church in this
city, the Catholic church, the com
munity and the state alike sustain a
severe loss. In early manhood when
Ihe gave himself to the work of ad-
yancing the kingdom of God among
men he gave himself absolutely, and
during his long years of subsequent
usefulness he illustrated strikingly
1.-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'Reilly ever took
thought of self or self-interest, he
never betrayed the fact in look, word
or deed. His life was continually and
consistently one of self-denial for the
good of others No worthy person or
cause ever appealed to him in vain.
That one of his strustful nature
should be imposed upon at times was
inevitable, but repetition Of such ex-
periences never dulled his ear to APP
lpeal Or suppressed the promptings of
his generous heart. He was as ready
tic give and give freely to the next
applicant as though all the objects of
his beneficence had been found APP
/ preciative and worthy. At times he
was seriously disturbed in mind lest
in seeking to do good in this way he
might Internationally multiply the
sources of evil, but he was not dis
posed to inquire so much into the
person seeking aid as into his neces-
stiles If he erred in some instances
The at least had the satisfaction of
knowing that he had given to human
lity.
1T was not alone in extending ma
! terial aid to the needy that Father
! O'Reilly demonstrated the benevolence
which was so large a part Of his ma.
ture and which so brightly illuminate
ed his career. He was also charitable
\ in his judgments and ever ready to
exercise pity and forbearance II
was characteristic of him to put the
! best Interpretation on the motives and
acts of others, to make the largest al
Ilowances for their shortcomings and
ito pass the gentlest sentence on
them. Above all, Father O'Reilly had
Ia splendid character, CT which good
] heart. benevolent feelings and a bal
anced mind are the foundation. II
/ has been well 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 after its possessor has left the
earth.
Father OReilly was especially in
terested in temperance and education
He taught temperance both by pre-
cept and example and lost no oppor
tunity to illustrate its value He
rightly held temperance to be car
i dinal virtue but he recognized that te
ibe virtue it must be free and moi
4 forced His efforts were therefore
/ directed to promoting personal abstin
4 ence rather than to the enactment Of
4 restrictive legislation. In this he was
i eminently successful and the result o.
4 his efforts is fine monument to his
Il memory, If he had accomplished moth
ling else in life his name would be en-
4 titled to high place on the list
A headed by that of Abcu Ben Adhem, o.
those who loved and served their fel
'llow men. His interest in education Is
4 well attested by the establishment and
4 continued maintenance of st. Peters
4 school. 1t is an open secret that
) Father OReilly gave literally OF his
4 means most literally, In fact-tha1