The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-23

.'The city of Bridgeport has lost by his death a most useful citizen, for l Father McEIroy stood for what is best in American citizenship, as he stood I for what is best in the priesthood. I Father McEIroy loved the CatIo- lie church with all his enthusiastic and ardent nature; loved the church and all it represented and he was loved and respected by all. If any thing reflected either upon the priest hood or the1churcE, he felt 1t person ally. Any mis-statement aaainst the church or it's history or touching up- on the priesthood always awakened earnest indignation in his breast. He was proud of belonging to the | Catholic church and he was always a priest. His studies had taught him, ! as they teach all educated men who are looking for the truth, that wher- ever civilization is in the world today. that civilization has been derived from tIfe church Of winch he was a priest. He was proud of the work of the priesthood.
 Christ founded. the church, as we learn to save. to teach, to. govern, to sauctify and to save again. one word will enable men to work out their term Of destiny and save their souls. In everything the church has dpne-its enterprise, great instftu- tions. all it's religious orders, all it's T 1 ,view-tos enable them to save their souls.
 Early Call to Church. Christ established the church to continue the work he came to per form He called men in every age to do this work. Father. McElroy felt this call in his early years
 He felt, that he was destined to serve the altar of God. that he was destined to be one of those who carry on the work of Christianity So con- fident of this was he that those who met him in his early years relate how he was urged to give up his studies because physicians said that his health was such that it would be i'm possible for him to finish his college course. But, in this instance, he dis agreed with the physicians, He con- tinued on at work and three wears later was raised to the priesthood in the old diocesan seminary at Troy, N which has sent out so many useful priests in New York, Connecti- cut, New England and other parts of this land
 His elevation to the priesthood has been revieweds by the press of this city and the diocesan journals and I must say. from what have read. they the diocese appreciate the work he has done.
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 Personal Characteristics.
 s1Fr. McElroy was a man not easily known It is said that men did not understand him but year by year you grew to appreciate his character, his principles and his true mind, and therefore I feel that the comments of the press of this city and the diocesan press have shown a remarkable ap preciation in this parish. We find t1ere stated what hi ', shoev, though most of his work had been in St. Peters Hartford parish. There he had a chance to exercise deeds both as chaplain and as a priest. After wards he served in other parishes re- quiring entirely different .administra- ton. Tn New Milford, they required a priest strong and robust. Father McE1roy was never in good heaIth-I may say not for one month in his whole life. Afterwards he was pro ] noted to Derby and finally, this par ish. where he ceIe brated his first and last mass was vacant, the Bishop re- | cognfzed in his former assistant a | man especially qualified to meet the | requirements of this great parish and | Father McE1roy was appointed He has 1abored amongst you since and | you must have grown to recognize his | work.
 Whole Heart In Work.
 eff you were to ask me today what were the salient and prominent points in the character of this priest, would E have difficulty in answering that ques- tion for anything pertaining to the glory of God and ad- of the church. appealed to him. He never did anything in half hearted way. He was constant in the performance of duties of a priest. He recognized as his chief obligation the salvation of souls.
 He was constantly building up the spiritual side and the character of the people entrusted to his care as we'll as the material side in New Milford, Derby and Bridgeport. He would ac- anything he started out to do. Those priests who labor for the highest always attain that which is sought for in vain by those who labor less loftily. He loved the church and he spared no personal pain to secure for others that which he sou ght
 His every effort was to make thas church more appropriate for the exer- k