Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-12
BREAKS CUSTOM At FUNERAL
Rev. J. F. ellis in Impressive
Discourse at Cathedral.
Max HOfrichtcr Joined Holy Name So
ciety the Day lie Dicd-Mrs. HOf-
richter in Serious state
ThrOnE at Funeral.

The Rev. Joseph +. Gilis departed from
the usual custom, at the funeral of Edith.
Mary and Max Hofrchter in the Cathe-
dral Of the Immaculate Conception yes
terday morning, when he delivered n dis
course in which he showed how well pre-
pared to die the three victims of the
recent drowning accident were A triple
funeral is rare enough. but the obscquies
yesterday were unusual in several other
ways. The Cathedral was crowded as it
has not been at any funeral in recent
years; five wagon-loads of flowers were
carried from the late home of the de-
ceased to st. Joseph's cemetery; Max
Hofrichter became member of the Holy
Name society on the morning of the day
he died and received Holy Communion.
He seems to have been prepared in
material sense. well as a spiritual.
He and his father were working the farm
on shares and were about to purchase an
additional piece of land adjoining it.
1t was 9:15 o'clock before the long pro-
cession of coaches, automobiles, buggies
and other cOnveyances reached the Cathe-
dral, preceded by the three hearses. and
before that time Cherry and adjacent
streets were filled with a throng of people.
The husband and remaining child Anna,
supported the heavy steps of Mrs. Hof-
richter into the Cathedral.
=. The body of Max Hofrichter was placed
in front of the altar in casket of quar-
tered oak; that of his two sisters in cas-
kets of silver gray broadcloth.
The mass was a solemn high mass OF
requiem, the Rev. w. II. Cassidy acting
as celebrant, the Rev. j. +. ellis as
deacon and the Rev. p. J. Liddy as sub
deacon. 1t was 1915 o'clock before the
ceremony was ended.
EULOGIZES PREPAREDNESS TO DIE.
The Rev Father ellis, in an impress
sive discourse, eulogized the spiritual
preparedness of the three deceased. He
said in substance: 1t is not our GUS
tom to speak on occasions of this kind
But this one being so extraordinary. it
will not be out of place to say few
words that may console the afflicted rela-
tives and friends, and point out lesson
FOR us all.
The decree of death for all is as old
as human nature. St. Paul tells us, 1T
lis appointed unto men once to die and
after this the Judgment" We must all
be prepared. For all we are certain of
is that we must die. Where, when or
how is beyond the knowledge of man.
God in His infinite mercy has warned us
to be always ready. BE we always ready,
for We know not the day nor the hour
when the Son of Man will come
/, sad, in the light of faith it has some
consolation. Eternity is a reward, a
prize. For God has said. Il shall be thy
reward exceedingly great" Time is only
q moment eternity is everlasting. Death
II the entry into eternity. a blessed
eternity If the person be prepared when
death comes. BLESSED are they who die
in the Lord" 1t is therefore the great
est consolation to know that those whose
bodies are lying here were most faith
full to their duties. To us Catholics it is
the greatest happiness to know that the
young man received Holy Communion
with the Holy Name society the morning
OF his death and that the girls had re-
Oeived theirs a short time before. We
ARE sure therefore that they enter into
eternity we'll prepared. We who are left
must prepare for our time We must die
as we'll as they. We must appear before
, the same Judge before Whom they have
already appeared and from Whom they
have received their reward. If the death
of the just is blessed the death of the
unprepared is the most unfortunate OF
all events. We will all arise and once
more be united. and this is what l wish
. to you all, a blessed and happy union
J that will be for all eternity.
A LARGE FUNERAL.
The Catholic Church does not permit
flowers to be placed about the altar, and
florists in town had busy time remov.
ing the many tributes-crosses, wreaths
etc.-from the house to the cemetery
' Goethe Lodge No. 500, d. o. H., and
Burlington Auxiliary, No. ST. of it, were
organizations that sent flowers. Many
private gifts were made in addition to the
flowers carried by the florists
The simple service, consisting of pray
ers, was used at the grave, the Rev
w. II. Cassidy being assisted by the Rev
Father Gillis. The bodies were lowered
into one grave. the remains of the sisters
!, being side by side. Flowers were banked
! about the grave, in the usual manner
The bearers were Arthur n. Johnson
George Wrinkle. John Collins, C. H. Har.
rington, Ferdinand Ludwig and f. D.
Wood.
MOTHERS STATE PRECARIOUS.
Mrs. Hofrichter was taken to her home
yesterday, having been with relatives
since the tragedy. The father has con.
templated selling the farm and moving
Z elsewhere to help her and the daughter
. forget the grim tragedy. For, as a rela-
I tive remarked the old home, where She
had all her children about her, will never
seem the same again. She was already
I in rather poor health and it is feared the
blow may kill her The daughter is
\ taffected badly also, but has her youth
. She is the only survivor of five children
i The father seems to mind the death OF
\ the son more than that of either of the
= daughters, for Max was a good boy anC
= his fathers partner in the farm.
-----------------