The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-24
William Cardinal O'ConnelI

The Roman Catholic Church loses one
Of its most eminent leaders and this
country one of it's most distinguished
citizens in the passing late Saturday of
William Cardinal O'Connell, Archbishop
Of Boston, dean of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy of this county. Members of
the hierarchy and those with him at the
end said his death was peaceful, beau
tiful and inspiring.
During his lifetime Cardinal O'Con-
nell went far. Beginning as poor boy
in New England town he appreciated
both the narrowneSS and the finenesS of
the New England character. He attached
himself to the religious life in early years,
and from then on followed life devoted
to religious duty in the holy priesthood
and to an active participation in affairs
Of the world as they affected daily life.
He held high place among his asso-
CiateS in the church; was a distinguished
spokesman for such things as pertained
To dogma and the daily spiritual life. He
likewise took an active interest in what
went on in the world and was one of this
country's sternest critics of the social
habits of the day. 1t was the custom OF
His Eminence to issue periodically public
statements to the press on the morals and
manners as characterized in the dress
and department of young people and
older people, but the young especially.
immortality and immodesty in dress were
particularly criticised by him in his fire.
quent statements, which were always first
page news, not only in Boston and all New
England, but pretty generally in this
country.
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edge or capabilities to evaluate Cardinal
O'Connell's outstanding traits as clergy
man, Prince of the Church, or an honored
and patriotic citizen. He, however, was
man of great dignity. He realized the
Importance of his position and carried on
his duties as he saw fit, and in accord
ance with the rules and rigors of Rome.
He had great love for all mankind, but
remained just enough aloof in keeping
with his position. The honors which
came to him from his church were re-
ceived by him and regarded by him until
the end as something very special COM
ing from God, and as Archbishop Spell
man of New York expressed it, next to
God came his love of country, the New
York prelate saying, mo American loved
his country more than Cardinal OCon-
nell and none with greater intelligence
and with better will served America
nobly he served both i. j.. he was an inter-
nationalist with charity for all men as
brothers and in the order of love of
country he was intolerant of whatever
he saw as a menace to the heritage OF
freedom bequeathed to us by the Sacrl-
fees of our founders and forefathers."
In his passing comment one of the coun-
try's outstanding laymen, former Cover
nor Alfred E. Smith, referred to him as
"great churchman and American citi-
ZEN"
Throughout Boston and New England
expressions of sorrow and commentator
came from ranking citizens, officials and
church leaders. Cardinal O'Connell fol-
lowed with keenness and interest the
events of the day, he was a patron of the
arts, and was honored by Catholic and
oecCiar colleges and universities, includ-
ing Harvard of his beloved Boston. One
Of family of twelve he knew life as
lived in meagre circumstances ard the
life OF plenty as viewed through his sur
roundingS when he later mingled with all
types in the New England background
which held a mixture of culture, narrow
ness and religion. Through the years the
Cardinal emerged definite figure, man
Of singular attachments, a great leader,
an eloquent orator, who at his death
rightly merits the praise of the highest
and the lowest.