The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-19
A PRIEST WITHOUT FEAR.
From the New York Trlbune.

From the New York Tribune.
Father II. II. O'Rielly, of the Church OF
the Annunclatlon, Is at present the most
talked of priest In the anthracite coal
regions, owing to his vigorous denuncia-
tion of the miners union and Its leaders
He has made attacks from the pulpit on
each Of the last two Sundays calling the
ticians. and begging his people who are
members of the union to give IL up.
In the midst of a mining community
where 90 per cent. of the residents are
members of the union. 1t takes courage
to say what Father O'Reilly said. Bank
ers and business men and lawyers of the
town did not even have the spirit to re-
fuse their signature TO n petition asking
for the withdrawal of the troops, which
was circulated the first day OF the troops
arrival. Father O'Reiily thinks 1t re-
quires no courage to speak what lie be-
lieves Is the truth but as matter of fact
he is man who does not know the mean
ing of fear Over six feet tall, broad,
massive and with strength which the
weight of his years has little decreased,
he has the physical force to back any de-
fiance he utters, and this Is exemplifed
In an Incident of his life at a time when
terror reigned throughout the region aud
no man could call his life his own.
1t was In the time of the notorious Molly
Maguires, when murders were being COM
mitted daily and no man was safe from
the attacks Of the infamous secret So
ciety. Shenandoah was the hotbed of the
"Mollies" and the headquarters of many
of the leaders. some of whom were regu-
lar attendants at Father OReillys
church. Men whom the "Mollies" OPP
posed were killed within the town limits,
the police were terrified. some of them
who had arrested ''Mollies'' for trivial Of
AN.r ,,1trr re
terror and lawlessness was such that the
region was stricken as with the blight.
One of the few men who had the courage
to denounce the "Mollies'' and their
crimes was Father O'Reilly. Sunday af-
ter Sunday from his pulpit he arraigned
them, attacking their known leaders. con-
demning their acts and calling upon all
good people to stand together for law and
order," arrest and punish the leaders and
crush the organization.
One night at his home there came a
knock at the door. He was alone. In
walked committee of the "Mollies." and
In a very few sharp words warned Fa
ther O'Reilly that unless he stopped de-
nouncing them something would happen.
Now, what will you do?" they asked.
Father O'Reilly arose. keeping his eye
on the biggest man of the committee,
and, still watching. him. he walked to the
door and opened it. Then he walked up
to the man.
you co." he said. and his friends say
he smiled as he spoke. "you go. and go
fast-or-I'll do something to accelerate
your speed"
The man went with ungraceful haste.
you may also co." said Father O'Reil-
ly to the others. They went
Then each Sunday he continued his at
tacks until there came the time when a
wiry, red-haired man with a coon skin
cap, whom he had believed to be the
worst of all the "Mollies," turned out at
a trial of the leaders to be the famous
James McPartlin. the Pinkerton detec-
tive. who exposed them. Twenty
were hanged.
Father O'Reilly has been in the same
church ever since: he has passed through
all the labor agitations of the miners and
he still believes they would be better off
without the union.