The Irish standard., 1917-09-01
he was thoroughly WEN informed on

He was thoroughly we'll informed on
controversial points, and many we're
the errors he successfully refuted and
the shafts of insult that he made to
recoil upon their instigators. Among
the most noteworthy of these was a
controversy with Rev. o. F. Burgess
a prominent Baptist minister of Min
neapolis, which occurred in the late
eighties and which attracted general
public attention. The series of let
tiers of the two champions were pub
lished in the Tribune and attracted
widespread attention. They were af-
forwards published in pamphlet form,
and are kept by some of the old fam
lilies as souvenirs of the historical re-
ligous duel.
Mr.. Vail also had less spectacular
but more bitter quarrel with Mr.. p.
B. Gaskell Of the Tribune, who had
come from Boston as young man to
take editorial charge of that newspa-
per, and also had charged editorially
that ignorance, not England, was the
tyrant of Ireland. Roger came back
at the scorpion from the hub" so
vigorously that the tone of the AFRO
CANT young man was perceptibly
changed thereafter. Many of the Irish
societies adopted resolutions threaten
ing effective retaliation if these pol
icies were continued. The whirligig
of time has certainly produced re-
markable changes when the name of
the present editor of the Tribune is
Mr.. William Murphy.
Supported National Movements.
He was an active member and pro-
moter of the local branch of the Land
League and served as it's secretary
for several years. He was instrument
al in bringing Michael Davitt to the
Twin Cities and helped enthusiastical-
ly to rally his fellow citizens to the
support of the great movement, which
included citizens of all nationalities.
At many of the league meetings Mr.
Vail made addresses which were we'll
received and commended for their
moderation and instructiveness. g..
Last Rites of the Church.
The funeral was in charge of T.
Connolly and services were held at the
Pro- Cathedral of St. Mary's at 9
o'clock Monday morning. 1t was very
largely attended, considering the fact
that the deceased had for such long
tine been in retirement. Many of
his old time acquaintances were no.
ticed in the gathering for the High
Mass of Requiem which was celebrat-
ed by the following priests: Rev. r.
E. Cullen, celebrant; Rev. J. H.
Gaughan, deacon; Rev. VIM. G. Cough
lin, sub-deacon; Rev. M. O'Brien, mas
ter of ceremonies. Other priests in
attendance were Rev. Father Cunning
ham and Rev. James O'Hara.
Sermon Of Father Cullen.
! After the final blessing of the body,
Father Cullen took occasion to pay an
eloquent tribute to the life and, char.
acter of the deceased. He reminded
all of the great fact of death, for which
preparation should always be made
because of the uncertainty of life. He
spoke of the long and active career
of Mr.. Vail as defender of faith and
country against the prejudice and big.
otry that prevailed, especially in the
early part of his career To meet as.
man were needed and he fully meas
ured up to the requirements of the
situation. He was well grounded in
the principles of his religion and fully
capable of presenting these truths with
clearness and force. His work was
one of the great forces that stamped
out and eradicated in a notable degree
the antagonism to the church arising
from ignorance and prejudice. To him
the Catholics of this community owe a
debt of profound gratitude for his
sood Offices in the struggles of the
church to establish itself here and its
triumphant growth as against it's early
opponents.
From the worldly standpoint indeed,
said Father Cullen, the life of Roger
Vail might be called failure.
! He did not accumulate wealth or
even competency for his old age,
so that at the end he was obliged
to seek the kindly protection of the
! Sisters having charge of an institu-
ton for the aged and infirm: But
the Church does not pass judgment
upon him from the material stand
point, but rather from the moral and
spiritual qualities of his life, for the
span of our existence here is insig.
nificant in comparison with the meas
ure of eternity.
The pall-bearers were all old friends
and associates of Mr.. Vail, as follows:
James E. Shaunessy, Edward O'Brien
William w. Mullan, Maurice Melon
aid, George Heinline and ]. ]. Court
ney.
| A CARD OF APPRECIATION.
BY Edward O'Brien:
Roger Vail, who passed away in this
city last week, was one of the best
known Irishmen in the northwest. Ir