Evening star., 1925-04-23
LAST RITES HELD
. FOR MGR. MACK|N
Archbishop CurIey Says
Mass-Thousands Follow
Body to Grave.

Body to Grave.
With simple. dignifed service,
matching his life for 81 years as a
Catholic priest all that was mortal
Of Mgr. James F. Mackin, the only
pastor St. Paul's parish ever had was
laid TO rest in a humble plot in Mount
Ohvet Cemetery today.
In the church which he built. and
where he spent-many hours. each day.
now heavily draped in black, one of
the most impressive religious services
ever conducted in the Nations Capt.
tai at funeral was assisted by digni-
taries of church and State, diplomats
and ministers of other great nations,
heroes of the United States in war
and peace, admirals and generals, Gov
ernment officials. leaders in military
political, civic, professional and so
cial life.
The office for the dead was chanted
by more than 500 priests from all
parts of the archdiocese attired in
black cossacks and white lace sur
plices.
Archbishop Says Mass.
A pontifical high mass OF requiem
!. Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore,
while his excellency, Most Rev. Pietro
Fumasoni- Biondi, apostolic delegate
to the United States, representing the
Pope. occupied a seat in the sanctu-
airy.
A choir of more than $50 priests
sang a Gregerian mass.
More than a score of dignitaries of
the Catholic Church. attired in red
nd ro11I11la ,cnheS orcnplpd places in
the sanctuary.
The sermon. emphasizing especially
Mgr. Mackin's simple, sincere faith
and his love for children. was
preached by Rev. John Mcnamara,
pastor of ST. Gabriels parish, young
est pastor in the archdiocese.
Was Children's Friend.
The dominant thought and desire
of Father Mackin as a priest for 81
years was summarized by his pane
gyrist thus:
ITO appear before God with an
nointed hands unstained and priest
ly heart undefiled, to go from earth
with the conviction that he had given
his best and done his best for the
people under his care, was the hope
of his life, and the whole of his
priestly career stands out in witness
10 his efforts to realize his heart S
desire. He would save himself through
saving others"
How Father Mackin wooed the
love of the children TO bring them
closer through all their life to the
church, and that he learned from
them much that made him simple and
sincere, was emphasized by Father
Mcnamara. who pictured the dead
priest as above all else a friend of
"Christ's little ones" He said:
''If there is one characteristic that
made an impression on young and old
II was his love for the children To
WOO the children and win their smiles
was a part of his daily life. To the
end of his days he sought them on the
street or in the playground, where he
shared their amusements and even In.
dulged in their sports.
Learned Secret Of Youth
Mindful of the lasting impressions
of childhood, he knew that in late
years thef children would see in the
church what they saw in him, and he
became as one OF them to win their
love, not for himself. hut for Christ
and His Gburch. But If he gaves he
also received. The children were HIS
masters. They taught him the secret
of eternal youth. and in every gather
ing of young or old he was welcome
because his face reflected the smiles
of the children and his soul the fadi-
ance of youth.
There is no priest in this arch
diocese more revered and loved than
was he: none whose death could bring
greater sorrow, and not The least of
the reasons is to be found in the words
which he penned nearly 60 years ago:
Some may love to gaze upon the
mountains and forests. but | prefer
to walk the narrow streets. where the
poor spin out their busy lives. l love
to catch the eye of child and try
to win a smile in which there is no
counterfeit. l value more the smile
of one of these little ones than any
thing that comes from those who are
old enough to make themselves agree
able"
Besides the pontifical mass cele-
brated in st. Paul's Church, masses
for Father Mackin were celebrated in
each of the more than 80 parish
churches in Washington. and in the
chapels of about two score religious
houses in the city the members. of
the respective communities gathered
and recited the office for the dead.
Most of the many hundreds of priests
throughout the archdiocese said their
masses today for the repose of the
soul of Mgr. Mackin.
Priests Bear Body.
Fellow priests bore the body TO the
grave. while scores of prominent men
served as honorary pallbearers.
Outside St. Paul's Church thousands
waited for nearly two hours while the
church service was in progress to wit
ness the start of the funeral cortege
10 Mount Olivet. where several thou
sand more witnessed the interment.
At the grave the choir of priests
sang the Benedictus. and absolution
was pronounced by Rev. Leo j. Fealy.
Mgr. George J. Dougherty, vice rec
tor of the Catholic University of
America. and Mgr. J. J. Tierney of
Mount st. Mary's College, Emmits-
burg, Md, attended the apostolic dele
gate.
Assist at Service.
The priests who assisted at the pom
ttfical mass were: Rev f. r. Dyer,
S. s., of st. Mary's Seminary, Balti-
more, assistant priest: Rev. Clarence
Wheeler of Holy Comforter Church
and Rev. r. ]. McAdams of st. Josephs s
Church, assistant deacons; Rev Philip
Sheridan of Towson, Md, deacon of
the mass; Rev. Alonzo Olds of st. Au-
gustine's. subdeacon: masters of cere-
monies, Rev. William Carroll of the
Church of the Assumption. Rev. Law
renee Shehan of st. Patrick's s and Rev
Henry Quinn of Taneytown, Md: Rev
John Callahan of St Matthew'S
thurifer; acolytes, Rev Thomas Bren-
nan of st. Peters and Rev. Joseph
Kennedy of st. Josephs.
The choir of $50 priests was con-
Quoted by Rev. C. c. Kerr of st.