Body of Lawrence McMahon returned to Hartford

1. McMahon’s body was dressed in the pontifical robes he wore when he celebrated mass.
2. His ring was placed on the little finger of his left hand.
3. A crucifix was placed into his hands.
4. A pectoral cross was placed on his chest.
5. His body was then placed into a metal casket.

1. The casket was moved to the cathedral at 6:00 PM and was placed at the head of the center aisle in the nave.
2. People began crowding into the cathedral shortly afterwards.
3. By 7:00 PM, the nave was filled with people.
4. People continued to arrive over the course of the next several hours, and many people took seats and remained for some time.
5. Shortly after 9:00 PM, an honor guard made up by members of the Knights of Columbus arrived.
6. The honor guard worked in shifts through the night and remained with the casket until 7:00 AM the next morning.

1. The casket was made by Scott & Smith.

• It was trimmed in gold and inlaid with fluted white satin.
• It was inscribed “Right Rev. L. S. McMahon, Died Monday, August 21, 1893. Fifth Bishop of Hartford.  I.P.”
• With McMahon in it, it weighed almost 750 pounds.

2. The cathedral was decorated by the time McMahon’s casket arrived.

• Altar trimmed with purple and white ribbons
• Both the bishop’s and archbishop’s thrones were heavily draped in purple bunting
• Chancel and railing were festooned in the same draping
• Only the sanctuary was lilt

Lawrence McMahon died on August 21, 1893.

The Knights of Columbus were scheduled to hold a special meeting this evening at 8:00 PM in order to discuss attending tomorrow’s funeral as a group.

The funeral of Lawrence McMahon will take place tomorrow.

“The crowd was not made up alone of members of the parish and of the Catholic faith, but many of the prominent citizens of Hartford, members of other denominations, were seen passing up the aisle in one accord.”

1. “Father Leo of Winsted” was Leo Rizzo de Saracena. He was apparently a very well-known priest in Connecticut, and he was a close friend of Lawrence McMahon.
2. William A. Harty was the rector at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph.
3. Thomas W. Broderick was a priest at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.
4. John J. Quinn and Timothy F. Bannon were priests in Lakeville and had been with Lawrence McMahon when he died.
5. McMahon’s three sisters were not named, but they likely included Rose McMahon, who had been with her brother when he died.
6. There were 36 members of the Knights of Columbus who were part of the honor guard.

Unattributed.  “Many view the body,” Hartford Courant, August 24, 1893, page 2

Unattributed.  “Funeral of the bishop,” Hartford Courant, August 23, 1893, page 6.