THE LATE ARCHBISHOP CROKE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 3

THE LATE ARCHBISHOP CROKE.

On Saturday, July 26, the funeral obsequies of the great Archbishop of Cashel were celebrated in the Cathedral, Thurles, under circumstances which gave the prand ceremonial something of the nature of an expression of National mourning for the loss the country has sustained. The whole Irish Church and its powerful and nourishing branches across the Atlantic and under the Southern Cross (says the Freeman' $ Journal) were worthily represented on the occasion, while people from all parts of Ireland came to Thurles in preat numbers to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the patriot prelate. Two Princes of the Church (Cardinal Moran and Cardinal Lopue) were there. Three of the four Metropolitan Bishops of Ireland were present, and were it not for the preat distance to be travelled and his advanced yearß, there is no doubt that the fourth — the Venerable Archbishop of Tuam — would have been in Thurlps to join in the universal expression of regret at the death of Dr. Crokt>. All the Suffragan Bishops of the Province of Munster took part in the ceremonial, while Church dignitaries and clergy attended not only from the diocese, but from all parts of the country. The Christian Brothers sent a large delegation of leading members of their Order. The Irish Party sent a special deputation, and. needless to say, there was a great gathering of the people and their local representatives. The Protestant gentry of the district were present in considerable numbers. In fact all classes seemed anxious to show how deeply they reverence the character of ' the valiant fighter' — as he was recently described by a high Roman ecclesiastio — who had just passed to his eternal reward. The magnificent ceremonial of the Church ordained for such occasions was carried out with the utmost solemnity and grandeur from the opening chant of the Office until the De Profnndis was intoned by Archbishop Fennelly over the grave of his great predecessor in the See of Cashel. A Great Concourse of Bishops,' Clergy, and representative people assembled from all parts of the country to take part in the solemn ceremonies. Special trains were run from Dublin and Waterford, bringing large numbers, while the ordinary trains, arriving from Limerick and Cork, were also crowded, and by the time the ceremonies started at 11 o'clock the spacious Cathedral was thronged with people. Cardinal Logue arrived on the previous day, accompanied by his chaplain, the Very Rev. Canon Quinn, P.P., and so also did the Most Rev. Dr 1 Coffey, Bishop of Kerry ; the Most Rev. Dr. Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory. his Eminence Cardinal Moran and his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin travelled by the special train from Dublin, and large numbers of Bishops and clergy also arrived by the various trains from Cork, Waterford, Limerick, and Nenagh, reaching Thurles about half -past 10 o'clock. Cardinal Moran was accompanied by his secretary, Dean O'Haran, of Sydney, and the Archbishop of Dublin was attended by the Rev. James Stafford, C.C., SS., Michael and John's acting as hie Grace's chaplain. Mr William O'Brien, M.P., Mr Michael Davitt, and the representatives of the Irish Party travelled to Thurles by the same train. The Cardinals, Archbishops, bishops, and clergy assembled in the hall of St. Patrick's College, which stands on spacious grounds on the other side of the road, right opposite the Cathedral. Here the robing took place. A procession was formed, and, headed by the cross-bearer, and walking two deep, the clergy and bishops moved solemnly up ita long avenue to the college grounds, and, crossing the road, passed in through the main entrance of the Cathedral. The procession -was a most impressive one, and its solemnity was greatly enhanced by its magnificent environment. In the background Rtandg the splendid buildings of St. Patrick's Diocesan College, founded 75 years a?o by the generous endowment left by a brilliant predecessor of Dr. Croke in the Archiepiecopal Chair, the Most Rev. Dr. Everard. In front ia the grand Cathedral of the United dioceses of Cashel and Emly, a reproduction of the famous Cathedral of Pisa, and flanking the grand church are two of the finest educational institutions in Ireland, the well-known Urßuline oonTent of Thurlep, and the admirable schools and convent of the Nuns of the Presentation Order. The front of the Cathedral and the buildings of the two conTents were splendidly draped The only piece of color benide black and white shown was a shield over the entrance to the Cathedral, on which was painted the monogram of the dead Archbishop, ' T.W.C Banners in black and white, with fitting devices, were hung from the windows of tho conveut, while over the entrance to the Ursuline Convent was a draped fhield, bearing the arms of the Archdiocese. As the clergy and bi«hops filed up the central aisle, and, passing the catafalque on which rested the coffin of the dead Archbishop, took their places in the Sanctuary,

The Solemnity of the Oocasion and full significance of the tribute paid to the great prelate im pressed itself on the mind of everyone present in the throngedoon gregation. On the Gospel side of the altar two thrones were erected for the two Princes of the Church-Cardinal Logue and Cardinal Moran. On the Epistle side was a throne for the present Archbishop of Cashel the Most Rev. Dr. Fennelly, aud beside him sat rShT£ ma1 Ti. Of J relan V he Mo <* Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin. The fine outlines of the splendid Cathedral looked magnificent, with the spacious sanctuary filled with such a great assemblage of Church dignitaries, the aisles and transept* thronged with people and the organ loft and pillars, the confessional of the late Archbishop and the pulpit draped in solemn black relieved with bands of white linen. The pillasters of the sanctuary, oovered in black bore large shields, displaying the Papal Arms and the Arms of the Archdiocese. The catafalque bearing the ooffin . btood in front of the sanctuary, and was beautifully designed. A background covering of black was overlaid with episcopal purple cloth At the sides were shields bearing the Papal Arms, the Arms of the diocese of Cashel and Emly, and the Anna of the dead Archbishop. Special places were reserved in the church for the representatives of the Irish Parliamentary Party. The deputation from the 819^ of , Mr William O'Brien, M.P., Sir Thomas Esmonde. M.P.. Mr Lundon, MP., and three of the members for County Tipl perary-Mr Thomas J Condon, M.P. (Mayor of Clonmel), Mr John Cullinan, M.P., and Mr Kendal O'Brien, M.P. ; Mr P. J O'Brien the fourth member for the county, was prevented by illness from being present. Mr Michael Davitt sat beside Mr William O'Brien The Corporations of Limerick, Waterford, and Clonmel were offU cially represtnted. The Mayors of Waterford and Clonmel were in attendance personally, and the Mayor of Limeriok was represented by his locum tenens. There appears to have been no representative of the Dublin Corporation, the only Dublin civic representative present being Councillor Hutchinson, who came to represent the Central Executive of the Irish National Foresters, and Councillor Little who attended in his individual capacity. Neither was the Cork Corporation officially represented, but the Cork Board of Guardian* sent a deputation. Templemore and the Councils of Mallow, Oharleville, Tipperary, Thurles, and other places were also represented • and so also were the County and the Central Executives of the (xaelic Athletic Association. Among those present from New Zealand were the Rev H W Cleary, editor of the N.Z. Tablet, and Mr John P. Bourke of Kilbirnie, Wellington. Shortly after 11 o'clock The Sacred Ceremonies Commenced, and while the Solemn Office for the Dead was chanted the Cathedral bell tolled a muffled peal. His Eminence Cardinal Moran, as Benior Cardinal present, presided over the Office and the Solemn Requiem Mass. The celebrant of the High Mass was the Most Rev. Dr Fennelly, Arohbishop of Cashel ; the deacon, the Yen. Archdeacon Jones, P.P., V.F., Fethard ; the sub-deacon, the Very Rev Oanon Scully, P.P., V.F., Hospital. The assistants at the throne of Cardinal Moran were Dean O'Haran, of Sydney, and the Very Rev. Canon Ryan, P.P , of Galbally. The assistants at the throne of Cardinal Logue were the Very Rev. Canon Hutcb, P.P., Midleton, and the Very Rev Canon Power, P.P., Emly. The Masters of Ceremonies were the Very Rev Father Duan, Adm., Thurles, and the Rev. Father Haye B St' Patrick's College, Thurles. ' The music of the sacred ceremonies was under the charge of the Very Rev. Canon Arthur Ryan, President of St. Patrick's College, Thurles. The music of the Office and Requiem Maßs was the plain chant according to the Ratisbon edition, published by his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, the only harmonised parts being the alternate verses of the Benedictu?. Owing to the absence for the holiday time of the choir of St. Patrick's College, the chanting of the Office was entirely in the hands of the assembled clergy who rendered the grand Gregorian music in the most impressive and admirable manner. The chanters were Canon Arthur Ryan and the Rev. Garrett Cotter, of St. Patrick's College, assisted by two members of the College choir. At the close of the ceremonies the Dead March in ' Saul ' was played on the Cathedral organ by Canon Arthur Ryan. At the conclusion of the ceremonies A Publio Funeral through the town took place. The procession through the town was favored happily by a glorious burst of sunshine. The laity formed up in processional order in the avenue in the college grounds. The boys of the Christian Brothers' school took the first place, marshalled by the local members of the Order. Then came the members of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, the members of the Irish Parliamentary party Mr William O'Brien, Mr Michael Davitt, and Mr C. G. Doran of Queenstown, walking together. After the laity and a large body of members of the Order of Christian Brothers of whom the dead Archbishop was a devoted friend and supporter came the clergy, biphops, Archbishops, and C.trdinalp. The coffin was borne from the catafalque to the funeral car by 20 stalwart members of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, while b hind the coffin walked Mr Carberry, of Oueenstown, a nephew of Dr. Croke and hiH only living near lelative in thia country A brother and eister are still alive in Australia. The procession made i circuit of the greater part of the town. Bu-iineHs was complete y sunpended for the time, and all shopa were- HQ'it. Returning to the Cathedral, the coffin was borne up tho aisle and taken to its lai-t resting-place in the Mortuary Chapel. The Cardinal*, Arehbis'iopo, and bishops stood arounq the grave, whiJe the clergy ranged themselves in the chancel. The last prayers over the grave were recited by Archbishop Fennelly, and the cert-m<>iiien, which were characterised thr<.ughout by the most impressive pomp and solemnity, were

brought to a close at half-past two o'clock. Immediately afterwards, the mortal remains of the patriotic prelate were laid at rwt in a grave in the Mortuary Chapel, at the very spot in the old Ursuline burial ground, now enclosed in the Cathedral, whioh he had for years marked out for himself.