The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-05
A Remarkable PariSh-Father OC0nners Brilliant Work-GrOwth of Building Fund Red Mems Excursion - Odd Fellows S-LOcal Personals.

lief fund for the sufferers by the Ital- ian earthquake. A detailed account of the financial record shows how gen. .erously Father O'Connor's people have responded to every call for the benefit of the church. When he arrived in town on the 18th of March, 1908, as the successor of Father J. J. Elty. there were but $23.49 in the treasury of the church. This is no reflection upon Father Elty. as he had raised some $3,00O which had been used to pay for the lot upon which the new church is to be built. and had at the same time liquidated the running ex- penses of the church. During the nine and one-half months Father O'Connor has been the priest at St. James the following moneys have been received from pew rents, $4S5.25; from seat money, which means the price paid at the door by those who do not rent pews, $365.75: the offertory amounted to $437.S7: the annual collection was s856.56; the entertainments, whists, food sales, etc., netted $768.00; there was a donation from a member of the parish amounting to $2,000: the fair held last fall yielded $925.00; the Guild has collected $151,S5; there has been gift of $8, and the diocesan collections amounted to $69.25. All these sums make grand total of S6, 10091. This is more money than was ever before received during any single year in the history of the parish. And it is mo- ticed by Father O'Connor that more of his people are going to church than heretofore. Considering that the par ish numbers but about 600 people, this record, as detailed above, is simply re- markable. One of the leading Protes- tant clergymen in town said he would not. have believed it if the facts had not come from Father O'Connor him. self. The expenses of the church for the year past have been $1 603.92 This leaves a balance on hand January l of $4, 4,466.9 99. Two thousand dollars of this sum is in the Farmers and Me chanics' bank of Bridgeport, and $2,- 200 is in the Peoples Savings bank of Bridgeport, while the small balance of $266.99 is in the Connecticut National bank, for current expenses. All these facts and figures show how well be- loved Father O'Oonnor is, and how much new life he has infused into the parish. He is as popular with his non Catholic friends as with his own parishioners. and the town may con- slider itself fortunate in having him for one of it's public spirited citizens and as a member of the clergy. Tonight a party of Red Men will leave for a fraternal visit to New Ha- ven, where there is to be a public in stallation of chiefs The gentlemen going are l.. E. Peck. Geo. w. Spall, Geo. A. Fairchild, H. B. Barnum, H. w. Doolittle, George and William Fryer, w. A. Strickland, William Ap- pleyard, and possibly one or two oth- | CTS.
 pr. Elliott Cogswell returned to Bos- | ton yesterday to resume his medical l studies.
 1 It should not be forgotten that the third annual dance of the Okenuck | tribe of Red Men will occur tomorrow evening at the Town hall. This is really the first large ball of the new year and will doubtless draw a large crowd, since there are some 200 gentle | men who belong to the order. l There will be meetings this week of the various Embroidery clubs and of the Afternoon Whist club. | Miss Amy Gaines has sold to MT. Charles w. Blakeslee four acres of l property is said to be very valuable. l Miss Gaines makes her home with l the Blakeslees.
 l MT. William Newbury is recovering from an attack of pneumonia. l Every day now loads of iron work can be seen going down East Broad way, to be used in the construction l OI LI1O lOOI pCIl tuO sue OI II1G I Washington bridge. When completed this will be a great convenience to the
 public.
 Recent visitors to New York include
 Herbert w. Doolittle and Dr. Lemuel Beardsley.
 Dr. H. M. Clapp has recently been i'll.
 A chorus of 25 voices took part in the Methodist Sunday school concert . l G11ndtau Tn
 was at the piano and Miss H. Louise Fairchild at the organ. Many pretty
 selections were sung by the little boys
 and girls. Rev. J. w. Eggleston was present and made a pleasant address
 Miss Vivian Marie Conine has re-
 turned from her trip to Cromwell.
 The Odd Fellows have elected the | following gentlemen for the various official positions of their lodge: Messrs. W. c. Bartlett, w. w Huibbell
 Chas. G. Homan, E. H. Pitzer, James A. Mallett, H. A. Hoadley, R. N. More
 house, H. N. Hunt, G. F. Quire, G. C. Mansis. David H. and w. E.. Middle
 brook, John Moon. William Beard
 Frederick Wilcoxson. Charles Mills
 and J. H. Thompson.
 The week of prayer is to be observ-
 ed at the Methodist church Wednesday
 and Friday evenings.
 The family of Rev. Mr. Egglestor
 has returned to town from a holiday
 visit to relatives in New York.
 All the school teachers having re turned to town. the schools opened or
 time this morning, and all the hono1
 roll pupils were present.
 This afternoon the Bridge Club wen over to Bridgeport, to hold a meeting
 at the residence of Mrs. F. O. Rhoades Golden Hill.
 | This afternoon one of the many Elm
 broidery clubs met with Mrs. Paul A Carey, on Sutton avenue.
 Last night Mrs. Harry Wilcoxsor
 had one of the Embroidery clubs a her house.
 Elliott w. Peck, Miss Dorothy Peel
 and Miss Carrie L. Peck have beer
 visiting in New Haven recently Tomorrow evening the officers of tn. Evening Star Rebekah lodge will b, II installed.