The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-09-28

rights OF his people. Many times he
fought and lost, but he died game.
As a Catholic churchman.
AS Catholic Mr.. McGhee is per.
haps better known to me and to this
congregation than to most others, but
,'even as Catholic his reputation was
, in keeping with the universally OF
I the Church to which he gave his al.
| legiance, universal in a limited sense
; for right here in the United States,
North or South, East or West, you
, will find Fred. McGhee as a Catholic
known and loved by his fellow church.
men. Right here in st. Paul was his
, activity to which his former pastor
. can attest. Night or day, sunshine or
, rain, winter or summer, he was al
ways here at the pastors beck and
call. He labored for Church, for So
ciety and for the individuals in this
little Church. His heart was so
wrapped up in the interests of this
J little mission that at times his name
and the name Of st. Peter Clavers
were interchangeable.
As Professional Man.
AS a professional man his practice
brought him in touch with all races
and all conditions of life, and who
could ever imagine how generous he
was. how devoted and loyal to client
and friend, SO much SO that his &C.
tions were sometimes regarded as a
bit of madness on the part of a public
man who had so many appeals to
meet. Who knows of his liberality? {?
/ can assure you that not even his
wife knew the extent of his liberality
until death called him. Then it was
that his relations and friends had an
opportunity to see how his purse
strings had been open to the poor for
relief.
The time comes when we must
give an account of our stewardship.
1t is certain, yes frightfully certain,
that we must account in the strictest
manner some day.
| Not more than four weeks ago I
was standing at the door of the
Church waiting for the worshippers
as they wended their way to the
parochial Mass. I knew, or thought
Il knew, that Fred McGhee was at his
country place, for that was the only
Occasion except absence from town,
that prevented me from seeing his
presence at the Church. AS l looked
I saw a man on Harrington Avenue on
lcrutches, little did I think that was
the commencement of the end. I was
unable to believe at first it was he
for / had never known him to be i'll
sufficiently to cause alarm in the
minds of his friends. He hobbled
along, and as he approached the
church I recognized him. He came
not to his post but seated himself in
the last pew in that corner to par
lticipate, for the last time, in the
|parochial services of this Church.
After the services he came into the
sacristy to see me for a while. Did
1 imagine that that was his last visit
Ito me? No. But there was something
|sad in the tone of his voice as he
asked me Father, l wish you to say
Ia mass for me-" That was his last
request. Only those of us who know
the import of mass understand the
meaning of that request. He bade me
good bye, and, lame as he was, he
paid his respects to his Lord and
Master in the tabernacle, and then
he departed, never more to return to
the church until he returned a corpse
Two days after, received telephone
call from his devoted wife-"Come,
Father" she said, and the Catholic
priest is ever ready for such calls.
Come, Father, Mr.. McGhee is suf.
fering, and he needs you" hurried
off and found him in excruciating tor.
ture, yet, with that tenacity of purpose
which characterized him he refused
from the start. to conceed any pro-
spective victory to death. I saw him
for an hour. knew his physical
needs had been attended to. l knew
he wanted me there to take care of
the interests of his soul, and / asked
him: do you wish to receive the
Sacrament now?" NO" he said,
mot yet ] am suffering, but it will
pass away. Just pray for me-" The
next day I called and found him, to
my mind, In worse condition, but
in response to my inquiry as to how
he was, he replied: "Oh, Fine! Fine!"
After administering the Sacrament 1t
was then that felt that l had done
my duty as his minister, and hoped
that he would prove the victor. That
night I visited him again, and he
seemed to be passing through crisis
There is Sacrament known as the
last amounting. Many Catholics dread
this service. Those over whom It is
TO be performed often become fright