Father Suitbert Mollinger BORN: DIED: 15 June 1892. BURIED: Most Holy Name Cemetery.
From
The Pittsburg Press, 16
June 1892.
A Sorrowing
Throng of People Assembled on Mount Troy.
More Patients Arrive.
They
Hear
of the Demise With Profound Grief.
Arranging for the Funeral.
Priests That Will Participate in
the Services.
The Body Now Lying in State.
A deathly silence reigned on Troy Hill this morning. Few people were on the streets and the general aspect about the neighborhood of the residence of the late Father Mollinger was one of sadness. Every now and then people could be seen inquiring for the home of the priest-doctor, and the looks of disappointment which overspread their countenances when told that Father Mollinger was dead were distressing to behold. Some of them had not even known of his illness and their feelings of disappointment were mingled with those of sadness at the departure of a spirit so full of kindness for the suffering multitudes.
Last night and this morning people arrived from Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and many other points, and came to see Father Mollinger this morning. A gentleman and his little son from Coulterville were among the visitors this morning. He had brought his little boy here to be treated by Father Mollinger for an ear disease. A growth of flesh had almost covered the boy's left ear, and the hearing was almost destroyed. Eminent physicians had told him that nothing but a painful surgical operation would cure the boy. This the lad would refuse to listen to, and the parents not wishing to force him to undergo the operation had decided to ask Father Mollinger to heal him. The gentleman had expressed his bitter disappointment and went to the residence, hoping at least to get a last look at the remains of the dead priest.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon the remains were taken to the Church of the Most Holy Name where they will lie in state until 9 o'clock Saturday morning, when the funeral services will be held. The C. M. B. A. will guard the remains tonight, and the Knights of St. George will perform that duty to-morrow night. At the funeral services Father Wall will be the celebrant of the requiem mass. Rev. Peter Kauffman of St. Peter's will assist. Father Langst, of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, will officiate as sub-deacon. Father Schwab, of Sharpsburg, pastor of St. Mary's and of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, will preach the sermon in German. Father Wall or someone else appointed by the bishops will preach the sermon in English. Father Williams of St. Anthony's church, Millvale, will be master of ceremonies. Father Dangelzer will have charge of the chants.
The will of Father Mollinger has not yet been found. It is believed to be in his safe, or directions there where the will may be found. Father Wall was the only one who knew the combination of the safe, and an employee of the Barnes Safe & Lock company tried in vain to open it. Another attempt to open the safe will be made at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and if the combination cannot be found it will be broken open. There will, according to an authentic source, be some surprises when the will is read. People who thought they would benefit by the will on account of standing in close relationship with the dead priest will be sadly disappointed when the disposition of the estate is learned. It is thought he has made few individual bequests and the major part of his fortune will go to the church and various charitable institutions. Father Danziger said this morning that Father Mollinger kept all secrets relating to the disposition of the estate by his will safely locked within his own bosom and when any one would venture to inquire how he would distribute his property, Father Mollinger would always give the inquirer to understand that such matters concerned no one but himself, and that was about all the satisfaction that could be had on that subject. Father Danziger said Father Mollinger had told him none of his estate should go to anyone outside of the church or the United States. This statement is remarkable in view of the fact that all of Father Mollinger's relatives reside in the old country. It is thought by others that the property owned by him in Europe will go to his relatives there.
No one but Bishop Phelan knows who will succeed Father Mollinger, and it is doubtful if the bishop has determined who shall take his place. Father Danziger said there were only one or two priest physicians in this country, and that whoever succeeds Father Mollinger will continue the blessings for the sick, but no cures will be effected other than through the faith cure. No medicines will be administered hereafter. Many people who, learning of Father Mollinger's serious illness, remained in the city hoping that by next week he would be able to attend to their needs, left the city this morning. It was a rather curious crowd of invalids and cripples that met at union station this morning to take trains for different directions for their homeward journey. Never again, perhaps, will there be such crowds come on the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Anthony to be healed of their infirmities.
Transcribed by dc.
Still Very Ill, 15 June 1892
