The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-23

else of religion He was especially so1icitous for educations He saw clearly that the Catholic church recog- nized that the Christian citizen must be one entirely educated. Secondly, he never spared himself i'm providing means of education and carrying on the work of those who devote their life to. the edncation of young men.
 He was a strong advocate of Christian literature. He endeavored to make
 the diocesan paper one that would be
 read in every Catholic household.
 Saw Need of Press.
 ssFr. McElroy recognized the necess sityef Catho1fc press. He rscoEnized the great influence for good ot evil Of the press and he endsavored to build up taste for Catholic reading in or der that all might be more interested in religion and in answering the as- pensions cast upon it.
 Vile spent a few hours time at my house last week and thcre he told me of his plans for the future; of his plans to supplement the education of those who had gone through the paro- chial schools and for those for whom there was no Catholic high school. He wanted them prepared at all times to give a. reason for holding the faith they possess.
 Another characteristic that occurs to my mind was the great respect we owe to the dead, as well as the duties towards their bodies.
 .In Derby he showed most excel lent work in enhancing the cemetery. He always wished to have the last resting place of those who died show departed but remained with them even in eternal life.
 1T might go on to relate many other 'characteristics of the dead priest but they are known to you as well as to me. I might say one more word. As he lived a ferverent priest, his death was the death of fervent priesti The great English Card4nal Manning whom he admired so much in life tells how as the last sacraments are administered and in the sick room peace and quiet. reign, the familiarity of death has something about 1t that makes one realize the sanctity to come the sinfulness of sin. the Holy Ghost If such be the case, says the great English cardinal. the death Of a. fer vent priest, even though his death be sudden, can never be unprepared, for his life is continual preparation for death.
 Points Lesson in Death.
 If Father McEIroy were here to- day T am sure he would endeavor to teach the lesson he did all the years of his priesthood The lesson that we are preparing rest for the going; the lesson that it matters not that we die !. and at what time or place, but rather how we die. This lesson he always taught first The second was the charity we ought to pay those who are associated with us and that we ought to pay for them and that they | should be accepted. He was fond of appealing to that beautiful doctrine r The Communion of Souls'--that oth- |
 --r-- <~4t- IL. that they can be assisted by sacrifice of man and prayers and | good works am sure today that he has appealed to you people of St. | Augustine's and the people of the oth- er parishes where he has labored so we'll.
 s.He realized the full dignity of the i priesthood. their full relationship to E he people, their definite and special relation to the custody of the body md their full relation to the people | to the priesthood as a bodyE realize this so fully. am sure that | ris request today would be that you LII might join in doing what you could. 'or the eternal repose of his soul and |, 1ou people of St. Augustine's should lot only pray for him, but you should pray Almighty God to raise up in the church others like Father McElroy and that, among you. you nay now be preparing one as high Lnd energetic as he was
 Farewell then to this faithful f priest. His life's work has been done tnd done we'll. Almighty God only <nows how well his work has been r lone May his soul and the souls of LII faithful departed rest in peace.
 As soon as the priests left the altar he congregation came forward to file past the black draped casket for the ast time before it was borne away.