New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-12
FATHER DOLLING.
The Life and Lqbors Of a Good Nan.

ful and most believed 81 lstter-day mission
priests Pre-eminently 2 refcrrner. his was no
mere theoretical. visionary scheme OF soolai
regeneration. He went straight 10 the hea-'
OF things was above all practical and Yet COM
bined with sound business sense q broad sym
pathy that wen to him and to the Anglican
Church many who had hitherto been Indifferent
10 religion Necessarily he was individualistc
and this TO say nothing OF his socialisuc ten
denotes ernbroned him time and again with the
ecclesiastical authorities. Placed by genera
opinion and correctly. it would appear. with
the high ritualistic party. his reverence Tor
ceremonial LEO 20 the charge that he was en-
desvoring to "Rornanize" the Church. on the
either hand his broad liberality OF opinion and
conduct shocked other than Low Church An
glicans That he was power for good nobody
could gainsay and that HIS constant attacks
on what he regarded as the Indifference OF the
Church to the spiritual and physical welfare Of
the masses were from honest conviction and
not from a desire for the sensational must be
patent 70 al who read this book
Mr. Osborne does not conceal his admiration
for DoIling nor his conviction that those who
sought TO curb the enthusiastic missioner were
IN the wrong. but he succeeds. nevertheless In
avoiding too controversial tone. What he has
done is 70 record the facts OF Doilng's career
and to show to US the remarkable results at
chosen work Of his life. Father Douing was
born in County Down on February 10, 1851, and
spent HIS early days in g quiet remote country
village where he developed strong religious IN
stincts and noticeable UnselnshneSs- II was
years after he reached manhood before he en-
tered the Church. but even in his youth and IN
the 0ays Of his service as a land agent he did
much to benefit the younger men and women
about him. He always FRIEND OF the
young. and those who knew him were little
surprised when. in ISIS he accepted the war
denship q one % the houses connected with
ST. Martins Postmen's League which had been
started by Father stanton, Of st. Adams. Lon
don. These league houses were intended TO pro-
vide for roetrnen a social club with a deep.
underlying spirit q devotion" and into this
work Dolling threw himself heart and soul
From the outset he popular, and soon be-
came known 10 all the postnen as Brother
Bob"
The transition TO holy orders but logical
in one OF his nature. He was made deacon IN
1883. and two years later was ordained 10 the
priesthood. Soon thereafter he entered upon
the most noteworthy task Of his life-the re-
oemptlon OF the slUms Of Portsmouth-and FOR
ten years he labo-ed increasingly at the Win
chester COLLEGE Mission o. 81. Agathas. Z was
while he was al this mission that Mr. Osborne
became associated with him. and his b'og-
rRpher's account 81 the regeneration OF the sluTn
people win be found to supplement admirably
Father Dolling's own narrative in Ten Years
in a Portsmouth Sum- lie did not labor only
among the dear street corner. out Of work
people" Portsmouth is famous port Of
call" for sailors end soldiers. and these were
his especial proteges. A firm believer in the
principle that a healthy mind can exist only
IN a healthy body Father DollinE established
lzef,fv and Z
one stroke won the hearts OF soldiers, sailors
and Stun people alike Then too. it was his
custom to make up theatre parties. and, az
friend once wrote. nobody enjoyed the play
more than did Brother Bob whose hearty
laugh could be heard above all others AS may
be ina ined. this sort OF thing speedily made
him trouble. but he managed not only to steer
his bark safely through the seas Of controversy,
but also 10 secure. even from those opposed TO
his methods remarkably large contributions IN
support Of the mission.
Finally. the time came when 81. AEatha's out
grew its original quarters and new home had
TO be found. This ecclesiastical Cecil Rhodes.
as Father Doling has not inaptly been termed.
started with indomitable energy TO secure funds.
and before long handsome church was built
Then came a complication that proved the last
straw in the eyes OF his Bishop. Father Dolling
believed in prayers for the rePose Of the souls
OF the dead. and was accustomed to celebrate
requiem masses at a certain small altar. This
altar he transferred to the new church. but
the Bishop. ascertaining its purpose, refused 20
issue a license until the cause OF offence" was
removed. one word led to another, and Father
DoIling ultimately resigned. Fer this action
he has been severely criticised. but Mr.. Os-
borne defends him stoutly. on the ground that
the questions involved were not much mat
tere OF discipline as OF conscience. and that
he could not conscient0usly have acted other
wise However that may be, he was now with
out church. Fer some time he travelled from
town TO town. preaching and lecturing, until, IN
1897 he crossed the Atlantic 10 make tour
OF the United States. While in this country he
conducted retreats preached many sermons.
delivered lectures and continued his research
into social ouestiens Chicago especially inter
ested him. and Mr.. Osborne informs US that
there is no doubt Father Doning would have
permanently settled there had not the offer OF
church been made Just too late-a few hours
after he had cabled his acceptance OF the charge
OF St Savior's. IN the East End Of London.
At St Savi0r's ne labored until worn out with
work ana worry, and hesrtsck at the callousness
and lethargy OF the London poor. he passed
away, in his nfty-second year.
The secret OF DoIling's success was undoubt-
esly his intense love for mankind Every poor.
ragged wretch was his brother. and he believed
Il his boundeE duty 20 dispel the sorrow gloom
and care that haunted the tatterdemalions with
whom he came into contact. The basic principle
OF his religion. indeed. was the text from the
first chapter OF Genesis: And Coo created man
IN bis own image: in the image OF Cod created
lie him" Dolling could not stand idly by and
see Gods image" denled by vilfulness, neglect
or indifference. Hence his apparent fconoclasrl
lie would strike down. but II 10 rebuild