The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-29
ENGLAND'S FATHER M'GLYNN.
Father boiling, n Great Radical
Preacher.


Preacher.
In the death of the Rev. Father Doll
ing there has passed away a great
preacher, absolutely unique among his
English brethren. if, indeed, the world
itself holds a parallel He was pastor
of the poor, yet peers were proud to
shake him by the hand. Very much
what Father McGlynn represented to
the poor of New York, Father Dolling
was to the masses of the East End OF
London. To champion their cause in
religion and politics was his life's work
Like his American contemporary, his
radical sympathy and his extreme zeal
often brought down upon him the CEN
sure of his ecclesiastical superiors. He
was typical priest of the church mil
liant, robust in build, caring not a jot
for the opinions of bishops or fellow
clergymen. When he was convinced
his course was right, he went ahead
His practices were often of the
strangest. He had his own view of
the best means to reclaim those who
had fallen away from the church.
During his pastorate in the East End
of London he determined to bridge
over any social distinction between
himself and his flock and adopted
workman's clothes, generally the cos
tune of a sailor. With their clothes
he frequently put on also their style
and manner of speech. To them he
was always Brother Bob" On thu
other hand, in his religious life he was
an extreme ritualist. A Catholic
clergyman who had once attended Fa-
Their Dolling's church smilingly de-
clared afterwards that while the cere-
monial was deeply impressive on the
whole, he preferred his own simple
service.
So many are the stories told Of
Father Dolling's peculiarities that they
would fill a volume, but one or two
will illustrate his sterling character
and quaint methods.
When he was Vicar of ST. Agatha's,
Portsmouth, the most thickly popu-
lated and vicious parish in that city
by the sea. 1t was his custom to share
his meals with any hungry member Of
his congregation. Twice a day, at
breakfast and supper, Fatehr Dolling
took his seat at the head of a long
deal table in bare hall with sand On
the floor. His assistant priests, VOW
ed to poverty and celibacy like him
self, sat on either side, and the long
table rapidly filed up with all sorts
refused admission who had once taken
the communion in his church.
Nothing distressed Father Dolling
more than the temptations which be-
set the youth of his parish. They had
no place of relaxation but the streets,
with their alluring saloons and low
dancing halls. So he built a gymna-
stun, and once or twice a week gave
dances under his own supervision. He
himself played the violin. When re-
monstrated with by other clergymen
of the city as to the advisability of a
priest teaching the young to dance,
his reply was characteristic and 70 the
point:
(which would you have them do"
he asked. dance to my tune or the
DEVILS ffddling?"
After the dancing was over the hall
was turned into a dormitory for his
homeless boys. A similar resting place
was provided for girls in the house of a
sisterhood he had established.
In his sermons, whether in st. Paul's
Cathedral or in some concert hall
turned for the time being into place
OF worship, he never ceased in vigor-
Gus language to denounce what he be-
lieved to be the sins of the age. His
often violent attacks on the upper
classes. SO far from estranging them
from him, seemed only to bring thin
fiocking In greater numbers to his pull
pit. And this is the more remarkable
when it is considered that he generally
referred to the late Queen Victoria in
his preaching as THE Old Lady of Os-
borne and often singled out strangers
in the congregation to illustrate his
text.
On one occasion when the writer was
attending a service at st. Agathas, a
lady, very stylishly dressed and wear
ing handsome Jewelry, had taken
front seat. Father Dolling had evil
IDENTIFY remarked her presence with lit
tie approval, for in the middle of his
sermon he pointed her out, declaring
that, as she had usurped the place OF
some humble member of his congreg1-
ton, probably out of a motive of Curl
osity, he would expect her to pay as
we'll for the entertainment as if she
had gone to a theater. Some people
might have been offended, but the lady
In question. who happened to be a peer
ess. sent Father Dolling a check for
$3.50.
AS in religion. so ip politics, Father
DOlling was a hustler" In the con-
sentative stronghold of Portsmouth his
influence became so great that as long
as he remained in the borough he sent
up two ralical members to Parliament.
More than once he received calls" to
America, and on one of the several oc-
casions when he was in trouble with
his bishop, it was hoped he would take
charge of the Church of st. Mary the
Virgin, San Francisco founded by the
late Mr.. Pixley of the "Argonaut," who
was great admiTer of Father Doll
ing. But England managed to keep her
Brother Bob and England's down
trodden rejoiced.