Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-12
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 A PLEASANT SURPR1S Egrr,
Father Fitzgerald Visited at Ansonia
 Ky Committee From St Fraur3s' Church, Naaxatuck, and PressutAd 1 With a Purse of $500. L6; E6s'

With Purse of $500. Les.@ Ansonia received an influx of visitors last night, who when they left that quiet village left behind them something which will long be remembered. Despite the storm fourteen good men and true boarded the o'clock train at Naugatuck. The fol lowing were the names of this mysterious committee: Patrick Conran, Joseph Bren- nan, Michael P. Coen, Patrick Brennan, James l.. Murphy, Attorney w. J. Weary Dr W. J. Delaney, Michael O'Donnell, James Fitzgerald, Jeremiah D. Shea, Eugene Geary, Michael Dalton. Robert Cleary and Thomas Benton. They were accompanied by Edward L. Maloney, the representative of the DEMOCRAT. There was and thLre was not a mystery to this sudden trip on such a stormy evening To strangers it was a mystery, but most Naugatuck people knew what it was all about. Arrived at Ansonia the committee trudged through drifts of snow and slush to the residence of Rev Father Synnott of the church of the Assumption. Here en- quiry was made for Rev John J. Fitz gerald, who two weeks ago to-day was transferred from the curacy of St Francis church in Naugatuck to his present posi- ton as assistant to Father Synnott. The committee were invited into the parlor and after being received by Rev Father Fitz- gerald, the object of their visit was ex- plained by the following resolutions which were read by Attorney Weary:
 Resolutions adopted on the departure of
 the Rev John J. Fitzgerald from St
 Francis parish, Naugatuck.
 Whereas, It has pleased the governing prelate of the diocese of Hartford to re- move from our midst and to a higher and broader field of labor the Rev John J. Fitzgerald, and
 Whereas, We, the parishioners of the parish of St Francis, by that removal suffer loss, the magnitude of which the future alone can tell and
 Whereas, In the last eight years, by | works of kindness and of charity, of | friendship and of love he has endeared himself within the hearts of our people by l his blameless private life and by gracing and honoring every function of public life in which he was called to engage, and Whereas, As citizen the universal grief manifested at his departure by the community in which he dwelt, testifies in | the strongest manner how deeply, without any conscious effort of his own, this quiet, | unpretentious man, trusty friend and sin cere character has endeared himself in the respect and esteem of his fellowmen, and Whereas, In his departure we recognize | that promotion which merit claims and | justice demands, and while we are deeply sensible of the selfshness with which we would still retain him as leader among our people, still if we can do nothing more
 the intimate relations long held by Father Fitzgerald with the communicants of St Francis, render it proper that we should place upon record our appreciation of his | services as cleric, and his merits as a man.
 Therefore, Be it resolved:
 Firstly, That we, the parishioners of St Francis, in his departure suffer a loss that
 is not without some solace for during his successful work here he won respect for
 hIs great ability, honor for his rare integ | rity, admiration for his fearlessness, and
 candor and affection for his unselfsh na-
 ture.
 Secondly, That in him, as we watched
 from his ordination to the present time,
 we have seen what we most ardently
 hoped, that rare combination of powers
 which he possessed, moulded almost un-
 consciously from an ideal into a pleasing
 reality.
 Thirdly, That we extend to the people
 of Ansonia our heartiest congratulations in
 securing so gifted clergyman and so sin
 cere friend.
 Fourthly That we present to him as q
 token of our respect and esteem the hand l some purse which the munifcence of the
 community has so spontaneously given.
 Fifthly, That we extend to the Rev John
 J. Fitzgerald our sincere wishes for his
 future success in whatever sphere his abil-
 ities may be called to engage in, and
 firmly hope that he will be through life
 what we have always found him, cool and sound adviser, an upright citizen, a l conscientious clergyman, true friend and khok Gn foin hot | lous integrity and answering fidelity that has so endeared him in the hearts of our | people.
 Slxthly, That a copy of these resolu-
 tions be presented to the Rev John J. Fitzgerald and that they be published in
 the local and Catholic press of the state. After reading the resolutions Attorney Neary spoke as follows:
 "It is not easy, it is indeed impossible,
 to adequately express by formal resolu-
 tions or indeed by any word of man the sentiments by which we are moved on this
 occasion. It would be but vanity on my part to presume for moment that by any
 word of mine I could express the senti-
 merts of that community which we have
 the honor to represent tonight. On these
 occasions perhaps the least said the better,
 where hearts are bowed by grief and the | association of years are in a moment rent asundtr. We admire in public life the man
 who by some tact. ability or magnetism.
 peculiarly his own, becomes a leader among the people. We admire the man.
 who by some heroic action distinguishes
 himself above his fellows, and so it is fit
 tingly just that when occasion offers. we | should show our respect and esteem for one of those who are chosen lights, illu- mined by the hand of the Creator, to show l Gl obo ko oJo the road to his appointed destiny. So we show our respect and esteem for you to- | night. May these resolutions be to you | memento that in after life, looking down through the vista of years, will bring to pleasant recollections of the associations made and friendships soi fled wlile among our people. May this check, being as it is, the contribution of no particular class, and no particular clan, but in which poverty and wealth, youth and age have | inseparably joined to make one consum- mate whole, may it, say again, as you | view it tonight for one moment, refuse to reflect the cold, dull figures of it's financial
 value, and in their stead may you read | these words:
 Sorrow cloud your pathway never; Happiness be thine forever.
 For that is the greeting we bring you to- | night from the communlcants of St Francis"
 Father Fitzgerald could scarcely reply and for few moments, while tears glitter ed in his eyes, he looked from one to an- other of the committee and in that look without word being spoken he expressed his kind and tender feelings for his old parishioners. Finally rising he spoke as | follows:
 "Iappreciate in the highest degree the very complimentary address and the valued and valuable gift which you have kindly presented to me in the name of the people of St Francis parish. Both came to me as one of the happy surprises that tend to brighten one's life. and the surprise on this particular occasion recalls many happy associations of the past. I accept this testimony of the peoples distinguished regard, with feelings of higher joy then mera narsonal nratifcation. For l estaem