The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-01
PRAYER STARTS DISCoRD.
OFFERED BY A PROTESTANT AT
A SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT. 3,


Catholic Priest Sustained BY His Bishop
in 0bjeoting 10 It-Sysacuse Preacher
aotort same Pricst barred Fla
From Church-'NigseR' and Catholic.
SYRACUSE, Juns so.-Bishop p. A, Ludden
Of the Roman Catholic diocese OF Central
New York has started q controversy, rather
bitter In ite character, by his action IN up
holding n Of his priests who, opposed the
reading Of prayers at tho opening Of the
commencement exercises In b public
schools In the diocese, b,
This priest was the Rev. j. McGrath,
pastor Of the church In Baldwinsville. q
suburb Of Syracuse. He declined an invita-
ton sent him by the Board of Education Of
the village to attend the graduating exer-
discs Of the high school, and followed this
action by up publicly stating that he would
withdraw the Catholic graduates from tho
exercises II the board persisted In having
prayer offered by a Baptist minister.
The board disregarded his threat and
two OF the graduates attended the exercises
In spite Of his prohibition. Bishop Ludden
upheld Father Moarath's action.
In consequence tho Rev. F. W. Betts, q
Universalist minister In this city, publicly
called Bishop Ludden q "bigot Of tho mar
rowest kind The president Of tho Bald
winsvilie school board, H. suydam, de-
clared that Father MoGrath may know q
lot about books. but he knows little else
"Father MoGrath, continued Mr.. Suydam,
went to Rome to study church law, and he
comes to Baldwinsville to put II in force.
We'll, he may do In Rome as the Romans
do. but he oannot run this village. His pred
soessor. Father Beeoham, was a gentleman,
n always attended our school exercises.
Catholics and Protestants have never
had q word Of controversy In This town, aud
We do not intend to let this young man
create enmity.'
Since the appointment of Father McGrath
as pastor in Baldwinsville less than q year
ago be has been in moro or less hot water.
His first act to arous adverse criticism was
In prohibiting the carrying Of the American
flag into the church at the funeral Of a vet
eran. The Grand Army Of the Republic post
as Baldwfnsville complained to the Bishop,
WHO reproved the priest.
Immediately after approving the action Of
Father McGrath in protesting against the
Offering of Protestant prayers at the Bald
winsville commencement exercises Bishop
Ludden publicly rebuked one Of his priests;
the Rev. j. MoLoghlin Of Cortland for Offer
ing the opening prayer at the State Normal
School exercises. The Bishop said:
Il know Father McLoghlin and I know
! that he was not prompted either by zeal or
piety to pray. He has no chool Of his W
and not much of a church."
Some people Of Cortland were Indignant
at this rebuke. One ofthem told THE Sun
Correspondent this week that the uncle Of
Father MoLoghlin was. during his lifetime,
one- Of khes most snuuntAeeAt V~0aeat6tft6fs 81
money for Church purposes to Bishop Lud-
den 3 gave him enormous sums Of money
Father Moarath b fond Of studying canon
law. He went to Rome at the expense Of an
undertaken, now dead, and remained there
a couple Of years pursuing his studies. 40
oompanying him was q close friend. the
Rev. p. MacAyoy, REG ently. made Vicar
General Of the diocese by, Bishop Ludden.
Upon his return Father McGrath was
Immediately appointed to Baldwinsville as
pastor. he had not been there long before
the flag episode occurred. Then Q Catholic
| young woman, Miss Renaud, was discharged
as organist Of his church because she re-
fused to break her engagement to a Protes.
tant young man. He has also prohibited
the placing Of flowers on the graves In the
The late Father Beeoham, Father
McGrath's predecessor, was very popular.
| He left In his will 5000 for the erection Of q
paroohial school In Baldwinsville. He was
q gentleman Of the old school, with q big
| heart and q oourtly manner. Here Is one
| story they tell to show his character:
On one occasion he is said to have met O
| little colored girl aged 10 years. It was on
q Sunday afternoon about Sunday school
hour.
her II abe attended any Sunday school.
| She replied that she did not.
'Then,' eaid the priest. why not come
| to my Sunday sohoolp' .
SITS bad enough to be a niger without
| being q Catholic. replied the girl.
afterward.