DEATH OF ARCHDEACON DALTON, MURWILLUMBAH.
DEATH OF ARCHDEACON DALTON, MURWILLUMBAH.
Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Thursday 26 October 1911, page 25
MURWILLUMBAH was plunged in grief on Friday last, October 20th (writes our correspondent) when in the early morning news was spread that Archdeacon Joseph Dalton, for twelve and a half years the pastor, had passed away in the grey hours of dawn at Dr. Bell's private hospital. Amongst his immediate friends, the end was not unexpected. His health for many years was precarious, and for the past few weeks he had been seriously ill. However, he was pronounced out of danger just a week before his death, but peritonitis supervened on gastritis, and he died on Friday morning last. His assistant, Father O'Reilly, was with him the whole night and closed his eyes in death.
The church bell tolling at five a.m. told the parish the sad news. There was no clergyman in the district held in greater respect and esteem than the deceased priest. His Lordship Dr. Carroll arrived from Lismore by the midday train, when the remains were conveyed to the church and laid in state, the Hibernians keeping up a continuous guard of honour, in which they were also joined by the Children of Mary and the convent school children and parishioners.
By Saturday morning all the priests of the district, including Archpriest Walsh (of Maclean), and the Rev. Father Lawton (of Grafton), who had motored 150 miles to pay their last sad respects; Dean Quinn and Father Van Riel, M.S.H. (of Lismore), Fathers Battle (Ballina), Williams (Wardell), Kiely (Coraki), Monsignor Ahern (Casino), Fathers MacDonnell (Casino), Sullivan (Bangalow), had arrived, as well as the Rev. Mothers of Lismore, Ballina, Coraki, and Bangalow Convents, and a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated, and the Liturgy for the Dead sung. Dean Quinn was the celebrant of the Mass, Archpriest Walsh deacon, Father Kelly, O.F.M., sub-deacon. The convent school children and the clergy alternately sang the Gregorian music incidental to a Solemn Requiem.
The Rev. Father Battle preached a very emotional sermon, in which he dwelt on the priestly characteristics of the deceased clergyman, and referred particularly to his great humility and his zeal for his people. His Lordship Dr. Carroll, in black cope and white mitre, then pronounced the Absolution and incensed the coffin, and the funeral procession was formed. It was headed by the Mayor (Dr. Goldshmid) and all the leading citizens and the Archdeacon's own parishioners following. Then came Hibernians, Children of Mary, the Convent school children (the girls in white with black sashes), Hibernians carrying the coffin, and the clergy. It passed out at the main entrance, made the full circuit of the church and re-entered by the western door to the Sacred Heart altar, in front of which the interment took place. The Bishop pronounced the last absolution. Archdeacon Dalton lies in his tomb robed by two of the Presentation nuns, in his cassock, alb, and purple vestments.
He was born at Pilltown, Kilkenny, 48 years ago, and was a school companion of Dr. Carroll, whose election as dignissimus by the priests of the diocese on the death of Dr. Doyle owed a good deal to the advice of Archdeacon Dalton and another priest in the southern end of the diocese, both of whom knew his intrinsic worth since his childhood.
He commenced studies in St. John's College School, Waterford, and then went to St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, from whence he proceeded to the Propaganda College, Rome.
In Rome his health broke down and he returned after a short stay to All Hallows College, Dublin, where he was ordained priest on the 24th June 1892. Father Dalton went to Lismore, and in a short time was appointed to the charge of Ballina, which parish became under him, for the first time in its history, self-supporting. After about three years, during which he thoroughly reorganised and galvanised the district into taking a healthy interest in itself, he was appointed to the immense district of the Tweed, with Murwillumbah as his headquarters. For twelve and a half years he laboured there, where, besides almost rebuilding the church, he erected a fine convent and schools; and only a few weeks ago there was completed one of the finest presbyteries in the State, but he was fated never to occupy it. Some two and a half years ago, and in broken health, he paid a visit to Europe and Ireland, also America and Palestine. While he was in Ireland his father died, but his mother still survives. The Rev. Father Kelly, O.F.M. (Waverley), will remain in Murwillumbah for a little time to assist Rev. Father O'Reilly, for in addition to Murwillumbah there are many churches in outlying places connected with the Tweed mission. The late Archdeacon was looked upon as one of the best financiers in the diocese. — R.I. P.
