New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04
"FATHERr MACKO NOCHTE.
HOW THE NOTED VICAR LIVES AND WORKS
Frofa The London Wsrld

Prom The London Wsyd.
Admitted Mt q side door in the cloistcr md mount.
ing a narrow stone Staircase find rsel yes In
little room. the prevailing element of winch 10
books: table that fills half the rooIu. reading
desk to stand at, few fern, and other plants IN
the window. and three four PLAIN chairs com.
plete the furniture OF the chamber. The owner OF
this apartment is tail spare man Of some lifty.fys
years. with penetrating but kindly eye and fea-
lures which even to the merest tyTO IN physiog-
nomy betray the presence Of an unbendiDg viii.
But for the fact of its being writ thus large upon
meeting this characteristic. for Father Macko.
nocble, as his people call INN. ~ gentleness itself.
Bright and CHEEKY III conversation. with great
turn for anecdoe and all interesting way OF telling
a story he - surprise to those who come 20 him
with their ideal ready made.
There is 10 sign of beng busy or prcoccupIed
about him. and yet he gets through an amount of
work. mental and physical that would break most
people down. and that too under conditions which
but few people would care TO face. People may dit
fer to the value of fasting: but there be
two opinions as TO tie labor involved In often con-
ducting services from early morning till late after
noon without feeding the bodily furnace. Any
stitutoD less wiry than his could hardly fail to
break down under the repeated aud continued
STRAIN Nor does he spare himself IN the matter IT
walking. Once even twice week walk of
some six miles before breakfast. a visitation to
community OF Sisters, is no hight matter, especially
it to be followed later IN the day by walk back
Yet no caught Mr. MackOnOchie In cab or
omnibus on these excursions nor indeed on other
journey in which walking was possible. Bat come
to him after one of these tnng days and open
are in need of MIN, and that he can help you-aDd
III one minute you will suppose that you and your
case are the only possible subjects of interest 10
him, and that the whole day has been nothing hut
preparation for you. Well, perhaps 1t has. Who
knOwsf
The most amusing thing, perhaps is to hear him
speak of the litigation IN which he 5 involved. II
you have read the daily papers the chances that
you know much about what Is going he
does. You casually mention that YOU have seen
such-and-such "A paragraph IN The Pail Mall Gazette
" All, yes i was told they would very likely make
some move of the kind: have you the paper with
your The truth is that twelve years of Incessant
prosecutions leading TO nothing have entirely dead
ened that keen interest which we may suppose nIm
TO have felt in them once upon a time There ~
to all appearance little more than languid Gu
riosity as TO what may be the next move on the
part of friend foe. For the rest he quite con-
tent to know that his cause Is in good hands, and
allows himself to be wholly engrossed in his parish
work. And what the parish work is that centres
round him. few have any notion bat those who take
the trouble to Investigate: The district bounced
the north by Theobld's-road, on the east by
Leatber-lane, on the south by HolDorn, and on the
west by Gray's Inn having the delightful locality
known a. Baldwin's Gardens for its centre, i. or
rather was, one of the worst IN London. Mr.. Mack.
onochIe relates with SEINE gee the story of visitor
to St. Adams who. on turning down Brooke-st was
accosted by policeman. DO you know, sir" said
the guardian of the public peace, where YOU are
goingP The visitor thought he did. on, very
well, sir; If you know, of course it's all right; but
you are going to the worst den of thieves in all
London" AS matter of fact the former site OF the
church was horrible bed OF inlqulty; and the font
kitchen The change from all thus is marvellous.
1t is a characteristic of Mr. Mackouochie that
although he the centre of all the works. he never
speaks as If he had any part or lot In them. lie
will tell You how A. does tins, and Is. after
that while the Sisters manage the other; but OF bs
own relationship 20 the whole ne seems genuinely
unconscious. To say that Mr.. Mackonochie Is popn-
lar with the poor amongst whom lie lives Is not to
use the right word. 1t is not 80 much admiration
or reverence that they feel for him personal
affection. This affection is strong among a good
many who never find their way inside the chu ch.
On the last occasion when there was rumor thai
forclble expulsion from the place was likely 10 he
tried in the of their pastor, some hundreds of
these men filled the church. determined that there
should be OF two things SAID on the other side Of
that question.
1t is curious life, that which is led by these St.
Adams clergy Recreation. in the usual seuse of
the term they have almost none, If we may except
the conversation at their common meals. Books and
newspapers rare luxurIes, and little lone II
available tor indulgence in them. At their work
you are always sure to be able TO fluid them. In
society they are seldom, If ever. visible. With the
exception of Il very brief holiday. which he gener-
ally spends amongst his own relations. the Wear OF
st. Adams is always " at home" One word more
Ii is commonly said, and no doubt with some truth
that one certain test of mans goodness is the
readiness with which children accept him. Chill
dren and dogs are believed never to make mistakes
about strangers However that may be, If you
wish this ecclesiastical outlaw at his best by
all means try and see him in the company OF chill
dren as merry and wise playmate child
could desire.