The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-09
CHURCH WAR
CULMINATES
In the Removal Of Father Mac
MahOn to Another Field.
HAS BEEN A BITTER FIGHT
Factions In the Church Stirred Up by Out
siders who Took Issue with Some
or the Acts OF the
Priest.

Priest.
Alliance, Feb. S.-Rev. Father John
MacMahon, pastor of st. Josephs Ro-
man Catholic church, of this city, has
received orders from Right Rev. Igna-
thus f. Horstmann, d. D., Bishop of
the Cleveland diocese, to within few
days take the pastorate of the church at
Salineville. This action of the bishop
is the elimination of q bitter war be-
tween Rev. Father MacMahon and a
part Of his congregation, for eight of the
fourteen years that he has been pastor
at ST. Joseph's church.
Rev. Father MacMahon's charge here
is one of the best in the diocese, outside
of Cleveland. His congregation num-
bers 800. The town that he is sent to is
mining settlement Of about 1,500 pop
ulation, on the Cleveland & Pittsburg
railroad, near the Pennsylvania line
This church fight has attracted great
deal of interest throughout the eastern
part of the state, where Rev. Father
MacMahon Is we'll known, and has ma
ny friends. He was born at Niles, and
away from home as well as at home he
is widely known. He is an ardent fol-
lower of many sports, and with his erect
figure, heavy black thorn stick and a
fine blooded dog, he is one of the people
seen frequently striding about the
streets. During the pleasant weather
he rides a bicycle and in this way is
widely acquainted with the country
people for miles around. An effort was
made to see him tonight to ascertain
what his action will be, but he was out
of town. 1t is presumed that he will
carry his case to the higher church au-
thorities. The opposing faction, how
ever, claim that this will end the church
difficulties.
The start of the church battle is said
to date back to the early part of the pas
tors work, when difficulties of financial
nature arose. The pastor made the pay
| ing of the pew rental obligatory and
said point blank that if number of
pew holders did not pay the assess
ments against them he would expel them
from the church. At that time the choir
seemed to lack suitable material and
the pastor appointed some non-Catho-
lies to sing. This action was resented
by part of the congregation, while a
larger part, 1t is said, took sides and
agreed with the pastor that a choir OF
| the DeSL VOICES WOuiu tSHu
to increase interest in church work and
attendance. The fight kept on growing
however, from this point, the ones who
were opposed to the pastors action find
ing other things to find fault with.
A number of appeals, it is said, were
sent to the bishop of the diocese, but
he took no action in the matter. Some
weeks ago the Alliance public schools
held an art exhibit in their halls, charg-
| ing an admission fee of ten cents to al
those who were not members of the pub
lie schools. This applied to every one
whose names were not enrolled in the
school register. During the first even
ing a number of children who were
attendants at the parochial schools pre-
sented themselves at the door, when the
keeper charged them. Some Of
them paid the admission, but Others
were aggrieved over the matter anc
went to their pastor. Rev. Father Mac
Mahon gave out an interview, in which
he criticised the action, and defended
the children who had left the exhibi
tion rather than pay the admission. A
lengthy controversy arose between th'
superintendent of the Alliance schools
John e. Morris. and Rev. Mr.. Mac
Mahon This was carried on through
the local papers, with the result tina
church members of the two factions
took part in the matter. The faction
opposed to Mr.. MacMahon finally sen
committee of eight members of thu
congregation to Cleveland to confe
with Bishop Horstmann. After hear
ing the committee the advised them t.
go back to Alliance and there circulate
petition throughout the congrega
tion, to ascertain their feelings on th
!. removal of Rev. Mr.. MacMahon, ant
thus secure more tangible grounds up
: on which to act. The committee upoi
their return framed a petition and wen
among the members Of the congrega
! tion. At once the adherents Of the pas
tor drew up a counter petition, and tn
two were sent to Cleveland about tn
same time. The names OF nearly all tn
members of the congregation appeare'
J on one or the other Of the paprs. TIL
: fight instead of quieting. took on NOR
bitter turn after this, between the tw
factions. Rev. Mr. MacMahon claime
that he has been unJustly dealt with an
: that he will bring forward evidenc
: which will further fortify his position.