Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-26

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 nature to be. His keen sense of justice made him always desirous of giving honor where honor Is due and particularly to the dead. And so he could have no greater pleasure than to keep alive the memory of his pre- decessors in the two parishes of Norwalk and Waterbury where he labored-the memory of Father Pe- ter Smith, the old warhorse of Cath olicity in Norwalk; the memory of Bishop Hendricken, for whom the church of St Thomas, Waterbury, is named, and the memory of his im- mediate predecessor. the late Father Mulcahy, whose memory will be kept ever green In the hearts of Water bury Catholics as long as the brick and stone and mortar of the Mulcahy Memorial shall survive the ravages of time.
 Serious In all that concerned the obligations of his sacred calling; whole hearted in the accomplishment of every work undertaken, he look ed askance upon any dereliction of duty on the part of those sent to as sist him. The work of their ministry was Gods work, the work of the church which he believed to be Christ's infallible representative on earth and which he loved with all the fevor of a loyal heart. If ever inclined to be severe with those as- sociated with him, 1t was when they were guilty of serious breach Of sacerdotal duty. It was then, if ever, that he resembled Goldsmith's s schoolmaster:
 "A man severe he was and stern to
 view,
 knew him we'll and every truant
 knew.''
 But in his leisure moments and when taking legitimate recreation, there was no more companionable man. With deep sense of the hum orous, scintilating wit and a seem. ingly never-ending fund of stories and the happy knack to tell them well, that was indeed a morose in- dividual eft for treason, stratagem and spoils," who could not enjoy a sociable hour with him. Men met him in the world and found the gentleman always. Those more in timately acquainted called on him and were delighted with the brilliant conversationalist; but 1t was only those who sat at his board and shar- ed with him the arduous labor of parish work that could appreciate to the full the jolly good nature that was hidden behind the grave exter- nal mien of the serious thinker and active doer.
 Perhaps one of the most beautiful traits in the character of Monsignor Slocum was his unselfishness. Re- alizing that
 "Glory built
 On selfish principles is guilt" He was the very incarnation of con- slderateness for others needs and pleasures. One had to know him in- timately to live with him under cir cumstances that called forth the trait of character to know how thoroughly unself1sh he was. And especially when the interest of souls were concerned did that trait shine resplendent. It was owing to that unselfishness that ten years ago he begged Bishop Tierney to make the present parish of St Thomas's, then voluntarily and because of his con- scientious conviction that 1t would benefit religion, did he deprive him. self of some ten thousand of his par ishioners.
 No estimate of Monsignor Slocum be complete without reference to his scholarship. We'll versed in the theology, moral and dogmatic, of the Catholic church, he was no stranger to the teachings of most other Christian denominations. In, deed It might be said that few non- Catholic clergymen were better equipped with the theological know ledge of their various sects than was he. The various systems of both ancient and modern were familiar to him. Whilst he dealt but sparingly in poetry, yet he was thoroughly conversant with the Latin, the English and the Italian poets. He was not looked up to, nor did he pose as scientist, yet his knowledge of physical science was more extensive and profound than most, even of his near acquaintances ever knew. Whilst. no professed student of modern economics he was nevertheless thoroughly and perfect ly imbued with the principles of political economy. We'll read and widely travelled, with a giant intel [ect, a capacious mind and a reten- tive memory, he acquired a fund of general knowledge that but a com paratively few men had. He was never at loss to speak learnedly and Interestingly on almost any s,ib- Iect. There were times when those who did not know him we'll sought 10 test him and generally with the result that they were baffied. On one occasion certain politician sought | 70 sound his knowledge of American | politics with this obpect in view, as he expressed 1t himself, 'to lick l lim." About one half hours inter- view convinced the politician of the | error of his ways and he left Monsig- nor Slocum with changed views as to | 1is knowledge of American politics. As he expressed ]" himself he found | him full up to the neck" with the subject.
 On another occasion whilst travel ng in Canada he visited an institu- ion of learning which had just pur- 'hased a new microscope with mod, 9rn improvements which the good sister in charge desired to exhibit. Whether from nervousness of not | 'he became somewhat confused and vas making rather a bungle of it, when Monsignor Slocum in a kind, genial way relieved her of her dis .ress and gave very thorough and nj i'm of +