The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-24
DOCTOR ncGLYNN.
Something About the Famous New
York Priest.


Six years ago the name of Father Nc
Glynn was one to eOnjuIe by in New York.
Among the Catholic clergy. so numerous in
the metropolis of the natio n, there was none
more popular than he. By those of his cloth
he was esteemed as man of wide learning.
as preacher OF surprising power and as an
exemplary man. Among the poor he was
beloved for his ardent sympathy in their
miseries and for his widespread charities
and benefactioDs. Many years before. upon
entering upon his duties as pastor Of ST.
Stephens, he had found the congregation
small and the church poor. In short
time the power Of his preaching had gath
cred before the altar OF st. Stephens one of
the largest congre cations i0 the great arch
diocese of New York. and raised the church
from among the most l0wly to place of
great influence among the fanes Of New
York.
For some years the pastor of ST. Stephens
continued to grow in favor and popularity.
The duties of his pastorate brought him
continually among the poor of the tene-
monts of whom his congregation was prin-
cipslly composed, and the seeming hope
lessness of their condition set him thinking
on social problems. In this state of mind
he ran across Henry Georges famous book,
Progress and Poverty" and he seized upon
the remedy therein proposed with eager
ness and in a short time was counted
among the foremost of Georges adherents.
Father McGlynn's mind was so con-
structed that, having once become convinced
of the truth of a proposition. he would
never cease TO push the propaganda of it.
Accordingly be began the preaching of the
slngle-tax crusade, and when George was
n0Hi n a 1s N fndannpd pdfdafo
the mayoralty of New York McGIynn es.
Doused his candidacy aud appeared several
times on the roStrum. His advocacy Of the
single tax and especially his speeches from
the platform of Cooper:s Union, which at
traeted great attention, seriously displeased
Archbishop Corrlgan, who, after several
remonstrances. called upon DR.. McGlynn to
sunder his political connection with George
Tho doctor declined to observe the Arch
bishops injunction. Mutual friends of
Archbishop Corrigan and of Father Nc
Glynn tried to heal the dispute, but the
Archbishop declined to reconsider his order
and the doctor refused to abide by it. The
upshot of it all was that McGlynn was first
silenced and then removed from the pas
torate.
The matter made such a stir in clerical
circles that the Vatican was finally called
upon to adjust the differences of priest and
hierarch, and McGlynn was summoned to
Rome. He refused to go. declaring that he
had committed no offense which called for
such procedure and in the end was cut off
from the communion of the Catholic church
for his contumacy.
Since then he has preached the anti
poverty crusade in New York, and, though
under the ban Of the Pope, so great was his
hold on the parishioners of ST. Stephens
that, despite ecclesiastical commands and
threats, they focked weekly to hear the
Sunday night sermons of the unfroeked
priest. Between McGlynn and George differ
ences arose soon after the doctors troubles
with the head of the church in New York,
and. though he continued his advocacy of
the doctrine. lie cut himself loose from the
man.
His return to the church Is not surprise.
lie was gooo man and had been valuable
servant, and at different times rumors have
been current of his approaching rehabilita-
ten.