The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

The Rev. Patrick j. Grant, Irishman by
birth, American by naturalization. Paulist
priest by profession. once man OF the world,
OF travel and many accomplishments,
IS years Of age. striking in appearance. a
reformer by nature, has instituted a per-
sistent anti-vice crusade In the New
Tenderloin." Folks up that way call him
the Fighting Priest"
Father Grant says the vow to clean out
the wholesale immortality in the Paulist
parish was not an impetuous resolve, but
grew upon him gradually az pitiful stories
Of wrong came to his ear. These circum-
stances aggregated and prepared him for
the final decision. which came one night
when he was forced to action.
young Irish girl was brought to this
country by an English woman to whom she
was lady's maid. The girl was bright and
had the fresh beauty Of her race. She was
living In one Of the crosstown streets near
the Park.
Through misplaced faith she was led
asray Defying the condemnation and
reproaohes which met her, she cast aside
all hope Of responsibility. She was known
as the Irish Rose.
One night about year ago. when Father
Grant was on duty at the Paulist House,
the girl staggered into the hallway Of the
church Office and asked for priest. She
said she wanted to take the pledge. Father
Grant learned something Of her story and
offered to help her II she would lead q better
life.
I'll stop drinking, father" she said.
because that's killing me, but can't stop
the other-not around here. Nobody
could
A few nights after that Father Grant
received sick call. The man who delivered
the message said girl was dying. When
the priest reached the house in West Sixtieth
street, he found the Irish Rose. She had
broken the pledge.
After administering the sacrament
Father Grant went to Roosevelt Hospital
10 procure an ambulance in which to send
the girl to Bellevue. When he returned to
the house the doors were barred and there
were evidences there which aroused his
suspicion. He got the girl out Of the place
and then started an investigation Of the
house.,
He discovered that the man with whom
the Irish Rose had been living was sup
ported there by his two sisters. and further
investigation showed that Of the fifteen
tenants in the house only two were re-
Another tale which stirred the priest to
action was that Of girl who had been led
into an opium joint in West Sixtieth street.
She was little more than q child. and In
nocent. Fearing to go to her parents with
her story, she sought comfort and counsel
of the priest.
Going to the agents for the property.
Father Grant demonstrated. They told
him 1t was useless-to tell his troubles to a
policeman. Then he threatened. They
The priest appealed to Capt. Kerr. who
WAS then at the West Sixty-eighth street
station. At first his complaint was be-
leved to be groundless, but he persisted.
The result was that the house and the one
next to 1t were cleaned out.
Detective Culhane made a canvass Of the
parish and investigated every house under
suspicion. Five places were closed. That
was In the latter part Of June.
About tho middle Of July Father Grant
was called to his fathers home In London.
While In that city one day he passed girl
whose story he had known and whom he
had tried to help. He started to speak
10 her, but she evaded his glance and tried
10 get away.
Father Grant hastened after the young
woman, caught her BY the arm and de-
handed to know what she was doing so
far from homo and, knowing that she had
belonged to an humble family. asked how
she had reached London. He spoke kindly
and his sympathy broke her determination
10 keep silence.
While out with some boys and girls one
night, she said, she had entered saloon
within stones throw Of the church to have
Dutch supper and some beer. She and
her two girl friends were drugged and taken
TO the house in Sixtieth Street. which Father
Grant believed to have been closed.
After that no one, not even her family,
would believe in her. and then some one
had offered to take her away. She had not
known where she was going, she had not
cared until that day when Father Grant
found her in London.
Although the priest had practically no
money one of the rules Of the Paulist order
being that no priest shall have property
Of his own, he procured funds from friend,
TO whom he told the girls story, and
arranged for her return to New York. He
also wrote to some one here to get employ
ment for the girl.
Father Grant resolved to return to the