In October, 1919, Father Earley and his assistant, Father Donlon, while preparing a class to be confirmed by Archbishop Patrick J. Hayes, learned that the Archbishop would not be able to dine during his visit to Irvington. Losing no time and mincing no words, Father Earley  wrote  a  brief  note to the Chancery that began: "I certainly expected His Grace would be able to honor me with a meal on the occasion of his first visit to me as Archbishop'.' But, as was soon made clear, the more tick­lish issue about the Confirmation in 1919 was not the eating plans of the Archbishop but the basic question of which children should be confirmed. On October 22, 1919, a worried mother in the parish wrote to a priest in the Chancery about her concern:

"I am terribly worried about the children as Confirmation is so near, October 29, as I went to great expense buying clothes for Rose, who is 12 years old, and Joseph, who is 13. They both know their catechism very well, but Father Earley sent them home today and told them they could not be confirmed. He is just angry because I took them away from the Catholic School. I had a note from him yesterday saying he would take our name off our pew in church. Now, Reverend Father, I know mothers who go to Tarrytown and Dobbs Ferry churches. They simply can't stand Father Earley. Well, I can't afford to pay car­ fare to go to church, so I must stay home in the future. Now Rev. Father, please let me know if my children are to be confirmed, as I do not wish any dealing with Father Earley. Every time the children went to instructions our pastor sent them home, and he is never done hounding at me and mine. I am thor­oughly disgusted and very much annoyed'.'

This outspoken letter drew quick action. Three days later, a priest in the Chancery sent the letter to the Archbishop along with a handwritten memo which said that Father Earley had been phoned about the matter and that the Irvington pastor denied having forbidden the children to be confirmed because they attended public school - they were simply unprepared." But;' said the aide to the Archbishop in his memo, "this letter speaking of the threat to take the family pew seems to show so clearly Father Earley's special weaknesses that it seemed proper I lay the letter before you, and have you deter­mine what should be done.” Archbishop Hayes quickly decided what should be done. On October 27, 1919, he wrote Father Earley a letter: "So many com­plaints have come into me during the past week about the Confirmation Candidates at Irvington that I have decided to examine all the children who are of age and who have been rejected. Please have these children on hand when I come to your place on Wednesday ready for Confirmation. I shall determine then whether they are ready or not for the reception of the sacrament. This, I trust, will solve the difficulty.” Apparently it did, for no more came from the incident.
 
On February 20, 1920, Father Donlon wrote Archbishop Hayes to say that Father Earley had not been as vigorous as usual for some time, and that the pastor suffered from an inoperable cancer of the bladder. Father Earley managed to stay active in parish af­fairs for some months after that, keeping track of the financial records with all of his customary zeal. But gradually he weakened, and died on March 18, 1921. It was his 19^th year in Irvington.