New Britain herald., 1930-01-11
ELLEN RYAN JOLLY
 GETS FATAL HONOR
Woman With Many Friends Here
 Decorated by Rome


 Dr. Ellen Ryan Jolly ol Paw tuckct, l.. |, past national president of the Ladies Auxiliary, A. o. H.. and chairman of the Nuns of the Battlefield committee Of the order. has had conferred on her the Papal Medal. the highest possible honor that can be conferred on lay woman by thc Catholic church. Presentation of the medal was mad at the cathedral in Providence by Bishop William Hickey of the dio- cese of Rhode Island, acting for Pope Plus NJ.
 The award was made because of Mrs. Jolly's untiriuE devotion to the cause of recognition Of the work done hy the Catholic nuns on the tattlefieids of the Civil wa: and for her efforts in behalf ot the National Catholic Shrine 10 the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D, C.
 Mrs Jolly, frequent visitor in this city where she has numerous intimate friends, is perhaps the most outstanding figure in the world in lrish-American circles.
 After years of research which took her to all sections Of this country and used mp the greater part of 3 small fortune. Mrs. Jolly began agitating for an act Of congress whereby a monument dedicated to the Nuns of the Battlefield, should be erected and placed with the figures of other patriots and national figures near the national capital
 Meeting many obstacles in her initial endeavors, Mrs. Jolly persist ed in her efforts until, through her rarnestness and knowledge Of the subject in hand. she enlisted the aid of several senators and congressman and was given q hearing. She ap- pcared on several occasions before senate and house committees where she presented the data she had col lccted and furnished proofs of tn" claims she was making on behalf of tilt llullS VI ikp tNltu dS llIl ''1 lO iilt wounded in the many battles in the Civil War.
 Monument Dedicated
 Through her untiring zeal. congress passed an act authorizing the erection of the monument and this was dedicated in the presence of the papal delegate. cardinals, Bishops, priests and thousands of visitors from all sections of the country. Mrs. Mary T. Crcan O. this city held d place of honor on the program in connection with the dedication. Sh" was. at Mrs Jollys request. named as the soloist for the occasion.
 Following this. Mrs. Jolly secured authorization to have the graves ol the nuns who had served and died during the Civil war. decorated with government markers. The nuns are buried in the Notrc Dame cemetery. connected with the University O. Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana.
 For her remarkable work in this particular instance Mrs. Jolly had conferred upon her by the University of Notrc Dame the degree Of doctor of laws.
 She then spent several years in compiling inc history of the work, incorporating the results of her re- search and the results of the hear ings with description of the monu- ment and report of tn" dedication, it. volume which is called Nuns of the Battlefield" This book has reached d large circulation through out this country and Europe.
 Shrine To S.. Bridgid
 Her work in this connection comE pleted, Mrs. Jolly turned her atten- tion to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and con- ccived the idea of erecting an altar there which would be dedicated 10 st. Bridgid. one Of the greatest o1 Irish saints.
 The shrine, an immense cath"- 1ral and considered one of the finest church buildings in the country. has been erected on the campus of the Catholic University at Washington.
 Mrs. Jolly made an appeal 10 tn" officials Of the shrine and received permission to have the altar erected and fully equipped. She then ap- peaIed 10 the members of the La dies Auxiliary of tho X. c. II. for help and devised a plan by which members could send her old gold and silver which would be melted and rccaH into the articles which adorn end equip the altar. Tn" national board ot the organization gave is full approval to the work and voted <IU.ooU with which 10 start the work.
 Then began tho collection oG old gold and silver. X golden stream poured into the fund oC tnr woman Who@r zeal had communicated itself 10 thousands of other ~onru Ihroughom the country. The altar Was dedicated to tHr memory of the Nuns Of inc Hatl"G,ld and plans W"r. mad" for its equipment.
 Tn" first movement was the form ing Of ,halr. Mrs. Jolly formed Il committee which included Bishop Hickey ot protid,ur. as the cpisco- pal chairman and herself us actiy" chairu&n, Mary 1imou Horan na- tional prrsI4"Ht of thn |. A. A. e. H. and others. lns committee dc .ided that cF.rNh"S that went on she altar would hr strictly rl;ic in design and a r.plict ot in" art treasures Of Ireland
 kiinraHo'& Challcc Design Chosen
 Be2unlng with the chalica, thr somla'trn cOnsdrrrd three chAllr". ne ArmagH, the Patrick %arsGrl md -u" N...''7.. After careful consideration, '.e u.f-tamrd Gylgl "'s chosen. IL r5 r.pd daily in tn, celebration Of ula-. at ihg historic