Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-12
FATHER O'CONNOR,
OF HARRISON, DEAD
CONTINUED from First Page,

(COntinued from First page.l
York, by the late Archbishop Corri-
gan, May 20, 1877 He was first as
signed to st. Johns Church. Trenton.
He was transferred to st. Columba's
Church, this city, in June. 1878. In
August. 1879, he went to st. Joseph's
Church, and in March. 1882, to st.
| Patricks Cathedral.
Later on he was authorized by the
late Bishop Winand NJ. Wigger to or
ganize a new parish In East Orange,
where he founded the Church of Our
Lady Help of Christians. He was
rector there until December, 1883. He
was then transferred to Harrison,
where he assumed charge of what was
then known as st. Pius's parish. The
church which was then used has long
since been converted into a school
building, and is now used as the
parochial school
Rev. James ]. McGahan was the
first resident pastor in Harrison. He
was sent there by Bishop Bayley in
| 1871. Father McGahan was an Irish
priest and volunteered for the Aus
tralian mission. He was released
from this obligation by the late Pope
| JUS i<NsB anu III GADItSSluB Ills app
citation of the pontiff's act declared
that the first church he would erect
he would place it under the patron
age of st. Plus. Father McGahan,
when he began the erection of the
church in Harrison, fulfilled his prom
Use. He died on January 7, 1874.
The death of Father McGahan halt
ed the work on st. Pius's Church. On
March 8, 1874, Rev. Thaddeus Hogan,
Of I1ll fa1 to
coed Father McGahan. -Four years
later he was sent to a parish in Tren-
ton. EIe was succeeded by Rev. Pierce
/ Mccarthy November g. 1878. Father
! Mccarthy was transferred to East
Orange December 6, 1888, and was sue
eeeded the same day by Father O'Con-
nor.
When the parish committee of st.
Piuss Church waited on the late
/ Bishop Wigger, after the people had
| learned of Rev. Pierce McCarthy's
transfer. they told him that the
foundation of the new church had
been left untouched since January l.,
1874, and that the people wanted a
pastor who would finish the work.
"An right" the bishop replied. II
have my man. ] Will send him to
you
1t was in 1886 that Father O'Connor
resumed building operations on the
church, which were broken during
Father McGahan's pastorate by the
panic of 1873. Father O'Connor re-
named the parish edifice as the
Church of the Holy Cross He soon
completed its erection. This splendid
building cost $4,000. and has a seat
ing capacity of about 1900. The par
ish is one of the most successful in
the State and has numerous societies.
On May &c, 1886, the ninth ami
versary of the ordination of the rec
tor was celebrated by beginning
work for the new church. The old
foundations of the new church be-
| gun thirteen years previously We're
removed, having been pronounced
unsafe. The corner stone of the new
church was laid on August 15 that
year. Governor Leon Albeit; of
New Jersey, and other distinguished
citizens were present. The dedica-
ton occurred February 16. 1890.
In March, 1898, it was found that
the parish had grown to such an ex-
tent that a division was found neces-
sary and thus the new parish of st.
Cecilia's, north of the Erie Railroad,
| came into existence. +
From the very beginning of his
| incumbency in the Harrison pastor
| ate Father O'Connor accomplished
notable results. He cleared a debt of
$4,000 on the old ST Plus Church.
and did much to liquidate the debt
on the present church.
Not only the parishioners appreci-
ated his worth. but men and women
of other denominations realized the
good he had accomplished for the
town in general.
Never was Father O'Connor afraid
to step into the pulpit on a Sunday
morning and denounce any wrong
doings of the town officials. He re-
peatedly scored them from the pull
pit. His sermons always brought
about good results. In 1884 he was
successful in closing the saloons on
SUNDAYS. Prior to his public de-
nouncement saloons were open Sun
dav the same as any other day in
the week.
In 1898 when gambling dens -four
ished, thousands of men gathered at
poolrooms and even the shell game
was worked day after day. When the
officials failed to interfere Father
O'Connor started a crusade. He
quietly notified the ministers of other
churches Of his purpose and secured
their aid.
Ousted the Gamblers.
At all the masses one Sunday morn
Ing, ne asked the men Oh his pdIlSH
to assemble in the town hall and
there, with the men of other denom-
nations, to insist that the gamblers
should CO. No permission was pro-
cured from the town council to use
the hall, but the priest followed by
the clergymen of the town, and the
citizens, demanded the keys which
were not refused.
Father O'Connor was elected chair
man Resolutions were passed and
later laid at the feet of the town
council. The latter carried out the
requests made and the gamblers had
to go.
Only q few years ago Father O'Con-
nor organized a total abstinence
league Many of his parishioners en-
rolled as members. Shortly after this
the priest took UP the matter of COM
polling saloonkeepers of the town to
| live UP to the law as regarded the
sale of intoxicants to minors. On
more than one occasion Father O'Con-
nor, while driving through the town