The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-22
Father Mcmahon Not DaunIHd
by RiVss' Threat to Arrest.
WILL BUILD CATHOLIC CHURCH.
OTposlilc, Of Adjoining Property Owners
and Of CapMstIon Counsel Will Not De-
ter Him From earring Out His Project

New York, April 22--It may be that an
injunction, sought by persons who do not
want Catholic church and school in
their neighborhood, will stop the building
OF the new Church OF Our Lady of Lour-
des. az li2d street and Convent avenue,
but whether IL is built or not Corpora
ton Counsel Rives. who has been brought
into the fight has discovered he is cross
ing swords with determined member of
the church militant
Father Mcmahon has challenged the
corporation counsel to carry out his
threat to arrest and prosecute him crimi-
nally. The priests reply to Rives' threat
was a stinging arraignment of his con-
duct of office and a general defiance.
Father Mcmahon says he has been per-
secuted in almost every conceivable way
by residents of Hamilton Grange, who
object 10 having a Catholic church in that
historic portion of the city. These per-
sons. he says. have used their influence
with city officials TO embarass him in
every possible manner.
Mr.. Rives, I'm threatening 10 have the
priest arrested has drawn the fire OF the
priest and all Catholics in the congrega-
tion and he Is looked upon as the real
leader in the fight on the church.
Next TO where the excavations are being
made for the foundations OF the church
lives Joseph McGay. lie complained. but
not to Father McMahon. that his house
was being damaged and that water was
getting into his cellar He went, so Fa
AA.l, 10 ha hna rd
the building department and the corpora
ton counsel. Father McMahon heard OF
IL from the city officials.
II had an examination made" Father
McMahon said yesterday, 'and there was
no water in the cellar of Mr.. McGay's
house. The water that was in he exca-
vation was some distance below his cellar,
in his place.
II had some correspondence with the
corporation counsel, and 1 received a
letter telling me to remedy this matter
or ne would prosecute me criminally.
defied him 10 prosecute me, and 1 told
him the only aarong conditions | knew
were those which were not remedied be-
cause OF his own inefficiency in office.
i cannot recall the exact words. but
pointed out many OF his official short
comings. have not received reply"
Father Mcmahon is of the st. Patrick's
Cathedral staff. and some months ago was
designated to found a new parish on the
upper west side. He selected site in the
Hamilton Grange district and purchased
property at l42d street and Convent ave
nue. on which 10 build the new Church of
Our Lady OF Lourdes.
After the purchase of the property, the
title 20 which was insured by the Title
Guarantee and Trust company, some per-
sons who lived or owned property near
~ nnt ri IN Ia
not 10 build on that block. Then they
engaged a lawyer 10 fight him, and this
man went TO the Title Guarantee and
Trust company. so Father Mcmahon says,
and told them IL was a Protestant neigh
borhood and the effort TO establish a
Catholic church there was an intrusion
and would be resented.
n have been served with a notice re-
straining me from continuing 10 build
the church" said Father Mcmahon. '''rhe
motion WAS made in he name of Renia-
min Fox. enc OF the property. owners
This motion for AN Injunction Will he ar
gued In the supreme court. have told
them that Just so sure as the law allows
that church will be built there. We won't
scll We will stay right here.
'''They waited 10 bring this suit until
we had started 20 build. ana they are act
Ing as II Catholic church was pesti-
lence. They say we are violating certain
RESTRICTIONS as 10 Dulldlng on the prop
erty We are not doing anything OF the
kind. and the whole matter Is that they
are lighting the establishment of Cath
olic church here
It Is asserted by those who are opposed
20 the church that the property Is under
restriction. and that only dwelling houses
and Protestant churches. built OF brick
or stone. may be built on IT, Father Nc
Mahon declares the title company saws
no denomination Is excepted. schools
are forbidden. but Our Lady of Lourdcs
church docs not proDose 10 build
school. Az least until the term of rcstric-
lion on the property expires
The lot In dispute is on the same plot
~ ground where Alexander Hamilton
planted the i3 trees representing the states
of the Union. Eleven of these trees arc
standing. and their destruction or injury
Is also part OF the dispute According 10
The pians the church building will cost
10000.