The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-09
Monsignor Omciates At
 Funeral OF Late Official
Park City HOnOrs Memory of Late Beloved COrO-
 ner Phelan

the United States, and for his la bors in 1t he was created a Knigh of St. Gregory, a Papal order, b, decree of Pope Plus on Decembel II, 1925.
 In his younger day Phelan wa! active in politics, serving one tern as Secretary of State, 1893-05, fol lowing his holding of office 1T Bridgeport. He had been both ar alderman and city attorney.
 He was born in Wexford, Ireland the son of Michael and Catherine Phelan, attended the Christian Brothers school, and went to worl for his father in the granite cut ting business. In 1870 he came t this country and settled in Bridge port, taking up granite and marble cutting until 1874. In the lattel year he had gone into business fol himself and begun to study law Tn 1878 he received a degree in law from the University of the City o' New York; on May IA of that veal he was admitted to the Fairfield County Bar and began to practice in Bridgeport. He had his brother Patrick (deceasedO as a law partner until his appointment as coroner.
 Serves in Legislature
 Phelan was member of the al. de:manic board from 1880 till 1884 in which later year he also went to the general assembly. Ht served single term. At organiza' tion of the house he was the demo- cratic candidate for the speaker ship, and was minority leader that session. He was city attorney fol Bridgeport in 1889 and 1890. IT the state election of 1890 he wa' elected secretary of state but tht legislative deadlock that year pre- vented his taking office. In tho next election he won and served a. secretary for the 1893-95 term.
 Phelan's membership in thu Knights of Columbus began in 1885 The order had been granted a char. ter by the state and council wal early formed in Bridgeport. It drew from the organization then In ex' istence the Red Knights, a pa. triotic body of Irish-born residents of which Phelan was a member. Ht joined Council No. 16, and was made grand knight in recognition of tho energy he put into the work of or ganization.
 At a state convention in New Haven in 1886 Phelan and Philir Markley of New Britain were made a committee to revise the constitu' ton of the order. The expressed idea had been to take 1t out of thu benefit and compensative nature o many fraternal organizations O that time. The constitution was sub mitted to @ convention at Hartfort the following month and adopted and the one now in force is sub stantially the one drawn up b Phelan and Markley. The wor' Catholic" was placed in the docu ment for the first time.
 Phelan was elected supreme knight of the order that year II succession to James Mullen of New Haven, the first supreme knight The order had It's first public dem onstration in New Haven on Colum. bus Day, 1892, under him. He served as supreme knight until 1887. ane became ex-ofiicio by vote of tho national convention. Tn the many years since then he seldom failed to attend the national convention
 Honored By Pope
 Tn recognition of his services tC the Knights, and upon recommends. ton of Edward l.. Hearn, the orders representative in Rome, he was made Q Knight of St. Gregory. The order was bestowed in December 1925. and the conferring of 1t was at the parish house of the late Rev Patrick McGivney, long supreme chaplain, in Bridgeport Q month later. This illustrious order was founded by Pope Gregory XVI, and its honors are conferred in recog. nition of noble birth, illustrious deeds, and for distinguished service in behalf of the church and the Pope.
 The decree of Phelan was over the signature of Cardinal Gaspari, sec- retary to Pope Plus xr, and wal engraved by hand on vellum. At tht time the only other Knights of St Gregory in Connecticut were tht late John T. King and William J Mulligan of Hartford.
 On Christmas Day, 1879. he wa. married to Annie Y. Fitzgerald, c school principal of Bridgeport.