AN GAODAL
23
his race and native district — a passionate love of
country and of its history and traditions — with a
corresponding pride in the fame of his ancestry
in the glorious old times —
"When Erin, Emerald Isle was free."
From boyhood to his death he was a close stu¬
dent of the history, language and literature of his
country. This fact served to intensify the impres¬
sions of reverential admiration for his land and
race, which he had received in his earlier years,
and strengthed his resolution, never by act or
word of his to bring a stain or cause an aspersion
to be cast on either.
In the year 1850, Thomas O'Callaghan came to
America, and soon after became a resident of New
Haven. In this city he was known and seemed
as one of the early Irish settlers who were looked
upon by their native fellow-citizens as the typical
representatives of their race. This distinction he
deservedly enjoyed up to the hour of his death.
From his arrival in this country he was an ard¬
ent admirer of America and its institutions.
In the space at my disposal I can only briefly
refer to the several good works in which he took
a prominent part, and which had for their object
the welfare of Ireland or the amelioration of her
expatriated sons.
He was one of the organizers of St. Mary's Tem¬
perance Society, and, for over twenty five years,
its continuous president. He was one of the char¬
ter members of the first St. Vincent de Paul socie¬
ty in the city — that of St. Mary's Church. He was
also president of the Holy Name society of the
Sacred Heart parish. He was a promoter of the
St. Joseph's Home for Destitute Boys of Lafay¬
ette Place, New York. His quiet, forcible appeals
interested many of his fellow-ciitzens of New Ha¬
ven in that good work.
During this time he organized the Grattan Gae¬
lic Class, and attended to its instruction until the
Land League movement seemed to overshadow
all other patriotic movements, and of which he
became treasurer.
While engaged in teaching the Irish class, the
Jesuit Fathers held a Mission in New Haven. It
was attend by several of our countrymen who had
but a limited knowledge of the English language,
and they requested Mr O'Callaghan to render the
sermons into Irish for their benefit. This he did
to their great edification, and afterwards had the
substance of the lectures published in Irish in
the Gael.
More recently, when Father O'Growney pub¬
lished his Simple Lessons in Irish," the O'Grow¬
ney Irish School was founded in New Haven. Mr
O'Callaghan was elected its president and contin¬
ued in that position until the time of his death.
His presence among the teachers and pupils was
an incentive to acquire a knowledge of their grand
old language. He presided with dignity, spoke
in Irish fluently, and then repeated what he said
in English with equal accuracy. It was remarked
among the teacher and scholars, how smoothly
the word flowed from him, and how closely he
followed the idioms in either language.
Since the death of his wife about two years ago,
Mr O'Callaghan had been in failing health, until
he was called to rejoin her on the 2nd of August
last.
His funeral took place on the 4th of that month
and was largely attended by all classes of his fel¬
low citizens. A solemn Mass of requiem was cele¬
brated at the Church of the Sacred Heart by Fa¬
ther Fitzgerald.
(From the New Haven Union)
At the conclusion of the mass the Rev. Father
Fitzgerald took for his text; "It is given all men
once to die,“ and said as we come near to one
who was dear to some and respected by all, we
feel that the death of a good man must bring com¬
fort, although we are again furnished with the
proof that "all men must die." The review of his
life shows that all his life he has done good. This
is known to some better than others. He seemed
never to miss an opportunity of doing good. The
organization of the St. Vincent de Paul Society
Brought Comfort
to the widow and orphan. When the cry came o¬
ver the broad expanse of the ocean for help for
that oppressed Island that gave so many saints
to the church of God, he responded. He was one
who first organized to remove the poisonous cup
of intemperance from the tempted, and making
strong efforts, he did not forget the duty he owed
himself. Even when his health was impaired, his
feeble limbs brought him to God's altar to receive
that breath of life, and he found true comfort
on his bed of sickness in the visits of God's app¬
ointed ministers, and be passed away, possessing
that peace which passeth all understanding, yet
reminding us that "all men must die" Yet there
may be some blemishes before he can realize the
beatic vision. By the words of God, Lazarus ar¬
rose; when he came forth from the tomb he was
bound hand and foot, which was left for friends
to undo. Father Fitzgerald compared these to the
Blemishes
on the soul, which it is the duty of friends to re¬
move by prayer, trusting that his soul and the
souls of all the faithful may find eternal rest. He
concluded a very eloquent and merited tribute to
the deceased.
Mr. O'Collaghan was a devoted father, and the
sympathy of all is extended to his surviving daug¬
hters, Mrs. John Allard, Mrs. John Carney and
the Misses Lizzie and and Annie Callaghan of
this city and Mrs. William Fitzgerald, of Brook¬
lyn, N. Y."
Go dtugaiḋ Dia suaiṁneas síorruiḋ
⁊ ríoġaċt na ḃflaiṫis d'a anam.
Amen.
