The San Francisco call., 1899-12-11
GRANT
DEFENDED HIS
ABSENT FR|EN Nd
Openly Criticized the
Monitor.
CONGREGATION is SURPRISED

Rev. Father James A. Grant, assistant
pastor of st. Peters Church, which is
now presided over by Rev. Father Yorke,
has taken umbrage at an editorial which
appeared in the last issue of the Monitor.
II was entitled "A New Head for the
Church," and reflected on his friend. Rev.
Father w. d. Mckinnon, chaplain in the
United States army. Father Grant took
occasion TO make a statement to his con-
gregation before delivering his sermon at
the 10:30 o'clock mass yesterday, declar-
ing in unmistakable terms that the ed-
torial was such that 1t called for an en-
phatic repudiation. His remarks created
a mild sensation among the parishioners.
In explanation Of his action in criticiz-
ing the editor OF the leading Catholic
organ of this city, Father Grant informed
his auditors that some time ago the
priests of the archdiocese were asked to
engage the people to subscribe to the
Monitor, and, in doing SO, engaged them
selves TO a certain extent to accept opin-
the priests might therefore be supposed
to indorse what had been said editorially
concerning Father McKinnon. Father
Grant then stated that the editorial which
appeared in last Saturdays issue was
particularly offensive TO the friends OF
the absent army chaplain. He said
further that, although Father McKin-
mons name was not mentioned, the edi-
torial was a comment on a dispatch
printed lately in the San Francvisco
papers, purporting to have come from the
of Manila. He then read the alleged dis
patch and part of the editorial accom-
panying It:
About the middle of last month the fol-
lowing cable message was received at Ma
Mia and published in the local newspapers
there:
appointing me as coadjutor under you. I'm
pressions are false. My letters will precede
me and come direct from Rome to you.
Archbishop Ireland indorsed the same.
President Mckinley knows OF the present
steps being now taken by the hierarchy OF
The message was read by the direction OF
the Archbishop of Manila. 10 whom II was
directed in the form OF an encyclical. and
10 remain in his place in Manila, unless
silenced. He expressed longing for an
ending of the rebellion.
Father Grant continued, stating, that
the editor OF the Monitor made a protest
against State interference in the appoint
ment OF Catholic prelates. AS the dis
patch. he said. was supposed to have
upon the reader the impression that
President Mckinley had interfered in the
supposed appointment OF the popular
spiritual adviser of the California Volun-
teers as coadjutor of Manila.
LAS there is no possible reason to sup
pose the dispatch is true" said Father
Grant, and as there never was ques-
llOn OF DclLS dppOlHl-
ed coadjutor TO the Archbishop of Manila,
and as the article leaves upon the reader
the impression that Father McKinnon
consented 10 State Interference in this
supposed appointment think great IN
justice has been done him.
In concluding his remarks Father Grant
said that, as an old friend of the absent
priest, he wished TO state that this opIn-
Ion expressed in the Monitor was such as
called for an emphatic reputation. Hav-
ing delivered himself Of the foregoing re-
marks. the speaker proceeded to preach
on the gospel OF the day.