The New York herald., 1879-02-13
REBUKING THE PASTOR.
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT THE CHURCH OF ST.


EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT THE CHURCH OF ST.
CECILIA.
Two communications addressed to the editor of
the HERALD and signed "Piutarch" recently re-
ceiyed ut this office. The, referred to occurrence
alleged to have taken place at Catholic church up
town rejecting severely its pastor As the
HERALD declines positively TO publish anonymous
communications a representative detailed to as
certain the truth faisity OF the statements made
by "Plutarch." The result OF the investiga-
tion will be found in the subjoined account.
couple of Sundays ago. at the Church of St. Cecilia,
Father Flattery pastor. took place that has
seldom been witnessed in a temple of worship Tho
pastor at the early made certain remarks
fecting severely on young lady or the congrega-
tion and the father os the young lady stood up in
his pew and demonstrated with tho clergyman.
reporter OF the HERALD having called upon the gen
tleman Of the congregation referred to above OBJ
tanned from him the following statement of the
trouble between him and the pastor.
Mr.. Charles Leary, over year ago resided In East
109th street. and was y member of the congregation
OF st. Cecilia Church. Father Fattery called at the
house and expressed q desire that the daughter Of
this gentleman Miss Mary Leary, young lady OF
sixteen years, should become a member OF the So
dality connected with the church. He left SUBJ
scrpton book with her. the collections to be devoted
to the interests of the church. The family subse-
quenty moved out OF the parish into East 16th street.
Third avenue. and Father Flattery expressed .
wish that they should still attend his church. On
Sunday recently the pastor warned the congregation
that he would read from the altar the names OF the
delinquent members Of the Sodality.
"Thcrcupon." said MIR. Leary Il bade my daugh-
ter return her book, as did not wish her to con-
tinue member. opposed to the system of
soliciting subscriptions and we lived at some dis
tance from the church My daughter brought the
book back to Father Flatery and told him that her
faf herr lpr tl Ha ss.1
it. but she insisted upon fulfilling her fathers
wishes. They parted in the most friendly manner.
family went to early mass. My daughter received
holy communion from Father Flattery. Immediately
after he assembled the altar he addressed
cation and made the following remarks:-
ga young lady called upon me last week and acted
sa,lItv hnot % 81 @ Wsre a. anoran nsf
might have done the same. That young lady
Miss Leary, OF 1l6th street. Now. would advise
Miss Leary to keep away from this church. or II
catch her around here will take her by the shoulders
and push her out
"Whereupon got up in my pew and spoke to
Father Flattery as follows s:-'Father Flattery you
need not put yourself to that trouble. 1t was at
eary sd her family kent their pew IN his shnreS
since they moved to l16th street You ought to be
ashamed OF yourself to expect young lady to at
tend your meetings and leave ut such unreasonable
Father Fattery then answered or retaliated upon
me and said. 4 do not know the gentleman he has
II replied to him. knowing the utter falsity Of his
show you my receipts for pew rent and il owe You
anything you know where live and willing at
any time to pay it. ask favors from you, Father
Ffattery, or anybody else.
Then left the church, but my family remained"
Mrs. Leary said that after her husband lett the
church Father Flattery remarked, "rhat gentleman
just now going out of the church never before
i'll my life, and never put my foot ill his house."
Mr.. Leary continued his story by stating that on
the following Sunday january 26 he went to Father
Flattery's house to pay his pew rent. Notices had
been previously put at the portals OF the church
warning pewhoders to pay their rent.
II went to Father Fiattery's." said Mr. Leary, eat
half-past nine O'Clock that Sunday morning.
servant asked me for my name. l gave it, stating
that had come to pay my pew rent. Father Flat
terry sent out word that he would not aud
that he didn't want my pew rent. told the servant
that would see father QUINN the Vicar Gen.
eral. the next, ln9rning. aud he might regu-
late the matter. At the next mass, on the
same day, Father Fqattery spoke of indirectly
ecoundrol aud lepcr lone who waslheid up IS
peer among the people OF the congregation aud yet
One who stock up IN his pew and misrepresentcd his
priest. was not there, but my son. who was pres
en told me all about it. do not want to make this
unfortunate circumstance public. / would rather
avoid publicity, but cannot allow any Sian.
der o member of my family"
Mrs. Leary with tears in her eyes. said that it
very hard tor young viruous girl just after recev.
ing Holy Communion 70 be spoken OF from the altar
III such manner.
The young lady in question is a modest. quiet un.
assuming GIRL the pride of her parents and esteemed
by all her acquain tanSes.