The Irish standard., 1906-02-24
a SECULAR TRIBUTE.

A SECULAR TRIBUTE.
To the Memory Of Patrick Meceol,
Recently Deceased. =.
A correspondent of the Boston Daily
Traveller pays this tribute to Mr.. Nc
Cool's memory:
Patrick McCool, who was agent of
the Mission Of Our Lady Of the Rosary,
in State Street, New York, and who
probably knew more native-born Irish
than any person in the world, was
stricken with apoplexy in st. Paul's
Catholic Church, in 117th Street. near
Lexington Avenue, Saturday night, and
died at his home, Is East 114th Street,
an hour later.
For twenty years Mr.. McCool repre-
scented the Mission Of Our Lady of the
Rosary at the immigration. station in
New York. During this time he has
assisted at the landing Of 615,000 Irish
immigrants, more than 100000 of whom
were unmarried Irish women and his
special charges. Only a few days ago
in celebrating his twentieth ami
versary, he said Of these girls: THE
Irish girl is a good girl, loves her
family at home, and never forgets
them. She sends them big propor-
ton Of her money, and in hundreds
Of cases saves up enough to bring
them to the United States"
Mr.. McCool was kind hearted and
lovable man who gave up his life alb
solutely to the work of caring for Irish
immigrant girls. He advised them,
helped them to their destinations, aided
them to get work. He did not come
to this country until he was about 40
merchant in Ireland and later u Bag
man" in England and Scotland. Soon
after his arrival in, the United States,
he took up the work of looking after
the immigrant girls as assistant to
Father Reardon, which he continued
under Fathers Kelly and Callahan, and
the present pastor of the Mission Of
Our Lady of the Rosary. the Rev. NJ.
]. Henry.
The relations between Mr.. McCool
and the other missionaries at the i'm
migrant station were Of the most
cordial and friendly character. He and
Miss Alma Matthews, representing the
woman's Home Mission Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, many
years ago agreed that if they were to
achieve their full measure of useful
ness, it must be in the line Of practical
assistance to immigrants arriving.
They were to be safe-guarded on ar
rival and aided on their way. Tracts
and moral lectures were subordinated
to this end. Religion came before and
but not at the moment Of,
landing.
If ship arriving late at night found
Miss Matthews at the station, and Mr.
McCool was not there, it was no un-
usual thing to see her take with her
to her mission home a party Of Irish
Catholic girls who were given a clean
bed after a good supper, and in the
morning sent to Father Henry's mis-
sion next door. If McCool was there
and Miss Matthews was not, the same
thing happened.
A few years ago, Mr.. McCool made
his first visit to Ireland after more
than 20 years absence. He came back
strongly impressed with the idea that
Irish immigration to the United States
should be discouraged, as he felt that
the prospects were better for them at
home. He knew personally and by
correspondence, thousands of clergy
men in this country and Ireland, and
the Primate of Ireland, Cardinal Logue,
was his sincere friend.
Here was a man who for twenty
years devoted every minute of his
waking hours to Gods work, without
ostentation or parade, without any am
bition save for the welfare of his
charges. He never wronged man or
woman in his life and was as Pure
in mind as a child.
1t would be difficult indeed to esti-
mate the number of girls that Mr.. Nc
Cool has helped personally during
these twenty years. but it would be
safe to say that there are few places
in the United States where some one
will not remember him with gratitude
and affection. and the sorrow at his
death will be more universal and
sincere than that which would be felt
for most Of the great rulers and
poteptates Of the earth.
He was true hero of peace, writes
Edward i. Insolvency.. in Boston
Traveller.