The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-22
[CATHOLICS OF STATE PAY FINE TRIBUTE
 TO FATHER McELROY
cThe Catholic Transcript )

The unexpected death Of the Rev Charles J.. McElroy was a sad sur prise to thousands throughout the diocese. They had not heard that he was ill, and they had long had him l in mind as a man Of tireless activity,
 wholly absorbed with the great works l of his vocation. Nor did they dream that death could be so near to one
 who was so deeply concerned in things 1 of life.
 sanctuary He was at home amid the avocations of the priest and no 1 one ever imagined that he could havS, found a congeniaI calling anywhere else. His thoughts and his sympa-
 thies were with the people and with the things that make for their eter- I nal salvation He thought for them, planned for them spent himsel for
 them, and had no ambition; beyond 1 the promoting of their spiritual. and temporal wellJpeing. The uhirtyfive Iyears of his sacerdotal life were crowd ed full and oyeraowing with achieve nents.
 l He had a hnN experience both as Icurate and pastor In the bopu1eus
 Hartford parish he could weary his physical strength in the n1uititudin- Eous cares which confronted him on every side, but his indoraftable spirit
 never tired The busy years spent
 among the young and the old. the sick and the errfng, of St. Peters, did not unfit him for the wholly different du- ties of the Litch1e1d pastorate. From New Milford his zeal carried him as far forth as Washington, Bridgewat- CT, Kent and Roxbury. He knew the scattered Catholics of that hills coun-
 try, he saw chem h their homes, at their work, in the confessional and al ithe altar. He brought the sacra- ments within their radius and left al 1n-e to assemble for divine worship.
 1 At Derby. he entered splendid field, and his zeal prompted him to lvaried activities. Nob1y and success l fully did he cultivate that field. AS lone passes through the town llef can l Hgfous edihces with which the parish lis equipped. The fine school is pro- Iduct of his pastoral vigilance and the
 building Is but one monument to his
 untiring efforts in behalf Of Christian leducation-
 Tn Bridgeport, as in Derby, he beau 1tihed the house of the Lord and, like fthe elder Tobias gave his time and energies to the becoming bestowa7 of the dead There was no priestIy or lcharitab1e labor foreign to his zeal I or alien to his endeavor So deeply 1 was he absorbed in things spiritual, Iquasi- spiritual eternaI and quasi IeternaI, that he had little time for the mere amenities of life
 Father McElroy took his, priest1y duties and responsIbilities. with grav- l Iity and seriousness, and in meeting them he was ready to face opposition from whatever quarter 1t might hap lpen to arise. In fact, at times he
 seemed rather to enjoy the excitement Bof battling valiantIy for the Lord He
 had the temper of the prophet and iheld himself in nomentary readiness
  pres nIned to lift it's head He had faith and the temperament of that Iamiab1e disciple who drew his sword land struck off the eareof the servant of the high priest If he was fixed and ancom prom fsing. it was when standing for the fright and against those who were de vising and plotting against the Lord and His anointed. Workers of in Jquity found in him unsleeping en- iemy and their pillows were never wholly peaceful while he was in their vicinity. He was quick to resenH every intrusion into precincts which he deemed sacred to the Lord <; bi1f to those who knew his heart sand his love for the right. he was as swees as summer and as gentle and guile Hess as a child.
 Father McElroy was a man of char acter His life was beautiful and his Idays were laden with good works. His name will finger without reproach.
 Those who mourn him will be consoI- ed in the memory of true priest, one that appeared with full hands be- fore Him who rewards every labor performed under His inspiration and through love of the brethren May he rest in peace
 lieutenant Colonel Carlisle P Por- ter. United States Marine Corps, re- tired, died in the Naval Hospital at IrWashfngton, aged He was son Of Admiral David Porter.
 { The Beaver River Hotel on the Mo- hawk 6 Malone Railroad was burned, Involving a loss Of $40.0oO-