Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-22

him scarcely noticed the final separa,
 tion which came just as the close oi
 the recital of the litany of the de.
 parting.
 During the summer months he was
 able to be about town and he enter
 tained the hope of being able to make
 a trip south before the winter set in
 Last month he suffered a relapse and X his condition became so alarming
 Bishop Tierney, since deceased, was
 notified and came on here spending a
 portion of Friday, October with the patient. On the Saturday following the
 bishop was stricken, but at that time Monsignor Slocum's condition was SC
 serious that it was decided not to
 make 1t known to him and he passed
 away unmindful of the fact that
 Bishop Tierney had preceded him into the unknown world.
 Monsignor Slocum had four broth CTS and one sister, all of whom died before him. They were Thomas, Frank, John, Michael and Mrs James Fruin. He leaves the following nephews and nieces: Miss Angie Slocum, Port chester, N. r.; John Slocum and Will liam J. Slocum of Winsted, the lat ter a reporter on the Republican: Dr John w. Fruin of St Mary's hos pital, Hoboken, N. J.
 Right Rev Monsignor William J. Elocum was born in Winsted on Feb ruary 6, 1851, and received his pre- liminary education in the public and . parochial schools of his native town. His college and seminary courses were completed at St Bonaventure's Allegany, N. T., where he was ordain. ed to the priesthood on June 22, 1876, by Bishop Ryan of Buffalo His first assignment was as curate under the late Rev Lawrence Walsh at St Peter's, Hartford. Later he was assistant to the Very Rev James Lynch and Rev J. s. Fitzpatrick at St Patrick's New Haven. From there he went to the cathedral at Hartford In May, 1888 he was appointed pas tor at Norwalk, where he was made a permanent rector. On September l, 1895, he came to Waterbury to succeed the late Vicar General J. A. Mulcahy. His work in Waterbury has been the wonder of the whole community and include repairs on the church, purchase and layout of the new St Joseph's cemetery, pur- chase of site and erection of St Thomas's church. the building of the Mulcahy memorial, purchase and es- tablishment of St Mary's Day nur- sery, erection of St Mary's new gram mar school with large boiler house and other modern equipments, and last, but by no means least, purchase of site for St Mary's hospital. to which he donated the sum of $20, ,000, which is said to be every dollar he was worth. The property acquired and paid for since Monsignor Slocum came Is valued at about $200,000. The most remarkable thing about Monsignor Slocums phenomenal suc- cess in Waterbury is that 1t has been accomplished without infiicting any hardship upon his congregation, no collection being taken up for church purposes since he came here. and yet the parish is practically out of debt.
 Monsignor Slocum was tireless worker, and in addition to the out side work of the parish he has cele- brated mass and preached almost ev- cry Sunday. Besides this he has an- swered several invitations to address audiences in other places and on va- rious occasions has been the princi-l pal speaker at c. A. R. meetings and other gatherings of that character. He was considered one of the most brilliant orators in New England and on more than one occasion demon 1trated his claim to this distinction.
 In November. 1906. Father Slocum vas elevated to the dignity of domes- tic prelate, with the title of monsig- 4or, by Pope Plus X. The ceremony df investure was held at the Immacu- lkte Conception church on Thursday, January 3. 1907. Right Rev Bishop Tierney, D.tD., officiating. and was the most impressive church function 1 ever held in Waterbury. The sermon was preached by the Rev Hugh i Treanor of Norwich. At that time l he was beginning to fail, but 1t was | thought that trip south which he | had planned and carried out would i restore his vigorous health, but this ]