Burial in Saint Mary's Church
The Lafayette Daily Courier, Friday, April 9, 1875
The Pastor of Saint. Mary's Church Now Lies Cold in the Embrace of Death.
The knowledge of the death of Father Hamilton which sped through our community this morning through not entirely unexpected to many produced a profound sensation.
It is well known that through most of the past winter and early spring
the deceased had suffered from severe attacks of congestion and determination
of blood to the head and from which he had but recently received sufficiently
to be seen occasionally on our streets, through not as yet able to resume
the full discharge of his ministerial functions in the church.
The disease that terminated so suddenly and fatally last evening was
that of the heart and with but a brief warning the death messenger entered
his chamber "the silver cord was loosed, the golden bowl was broken", and
the spirit of Father Hamilton took its flight.
From Father Hamilton, his co-laborer in St. Mary's Church, we gather the following facts with regard to
this early history and the main points of interest that attach to this
career in the discharge of his parochial duties as a member of the
priest hood in the Roman Catholic Church:
George A. Hamilton was born in Marion county, Kentucky, in the year 1819, and was consequently at the time of his death fifty-six years of
age, having just passed the anniversary of his birthday on Wednesday last.
In the year 1832 he commenced his preparatory studies with a view to
the priesthood, at Bardstown, Kentucky, and subsequently entered the Theological
Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri, from which he was ordained to the priesthood
in the year 1846. He was immediately attached to the Missions in
the vicinity of Alton, Illinois, and was subsequently stationed at Joliet
where he was instrumental in the building of St. Patrick's Church, as also
a church at Lockport, in the vicinity of Joliet.
In the year 1856 or 57 he was stationed at Logansport, Indiana and
during his pastorate there erected St. Vincent's Church of which he afterward
became the priest in charge, and at the same time turned his energies to
the building of churches at Winamac, Harrison, Fulton and Kokomo.
Subsequently he became a permanent resident of Lafayette in the year of
1864, and the building of St. Mary's and St. Ann's Churches, the brothers
school building and the pastor's residence adjoining the church, stand
as monuments of his indefatigable labors and untiring zeal in the cause
in which he was enlisted. He was also instrumental in the erection
of a church at Colfax. These and other acts that made up the sum
of his life attest his vast powers as a workman in behalf of the church
militant, and stamp him as a man of great execumtive and administrative
ability. He was moreover a man of kind impulses and genial
disposition and had drawn around him many friends among protestants as
well as those of his own communion. The ancestors of the deceased were
among the old families of Kentucky, emigrating their from Maryland at an
early day.
Father Hamilton was conscious of his approaching dissolution early in
the evening, and when a sensation of fluttering in the region of the heart
manifested itself a few minutes before 9 o'clock, he told those around
his bedside that the end was at hand.. Medical aid was immediately
summoned (Dr. Cady), but it was found that it would be of no avail.
the last rites of the Church were administered to him, and at 5 minutes
past 9 o'clock he fell asleep. He retained his consciousness to the last
moment, and died calmly and without a struggle.
The Rev. Dr. Spaulding, Archbishop of New York, who is a relative of
the deceased has been telegraphed and is expected to be present at the
funeral, which is set for Sunday afternoon, 11th inst., at 3 o'clock.
Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, is expected on the evening train.
FATHER HAMILTON'S FUNERAL
The members of St. Mary's Parish and all the societies connected with
St. Mary's Church, will meet at the Brothers school room, on South street,
at 7 o'clock P.M. prompt, on Saturday, the 10th instant, to perfect arrangements
for the funeral obsequies of the late pastor, Father Hamilton. By
order of the Church Committee.
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April 12, 1875 , page 4, Funeral of the Late Father Hamilton.
The readers of the Courier were informed Saturday as to the programmer for the funeral of Father Hamilton yesterday. It was carried out as announced. The body was exposed for view in the vestibule of the church during a part of the day, and thousands took their last look at the face of the beloved pastor.
Shortly after two o'clock the resident and visiting societies filed into the church and were seated. The vast edifice was filled to it's utmost capacity, and with those who remained on the outside, being unable to get in, there were fully four thousand people present. When the body had been placed in the front of the alter psalms were sung. Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, then preached the funeral sermon from the words, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course and kept the faith". His remarks occupied about an hour. Every tribute he paid to the memory of the deceased was well merited. After the sermon the burial service was said and the body lowered into the vault.
Page 38 from the book 'St. Mary's Church of The Immaculate Conception'