Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-15
FATHER P, F, MCCARTHY DEAD
Continued from Page ons.)

Kind The story OF his activities. his
strugeles and hardship IN the early mission
field. his experience with various shades
- consftions OF humanity, and the joys
and sorrows with which a clergyman
comes IN contact. would make a rare vol
ure OF romance and reality; OF pathos,
adventure and tragedy. Until rev
vnonths before hls ordination, Father Nc
earthly had not settled on his field of
work. He discussed the matter frequently
,.1,b his student chums, several Of whom
wsre from Pittsburg. In the fall OF the
,,re,tous year, Rt Rev James OConnor
was installed as bishop Of the vcarate
Of Nebraska HIS brother was bishop OF
Pittsburg Knowing the brother bishop
ana the greater opportunities for work In
new diocese very naturally the PittsourE
students suggested and urged Nebraska
Father Mccarthy was agreeable his ser
vices were rendered and accepted and thus,
nv a colncident. Nebraska became the field
Of his Iabors for a third OF century.
An unfaulnE store OF humor. coupled
With the optimistic disposition Of tho
youth saved him from desertion at the
outaet He landed In Omaha in the height
OF a summer dust storm, 30 thick ano
binding that he could not SEQ the spire
Of ST. Philomena'B as he drove by the
bishops residence Ninth street. Cabby
turned him into the Metropolitan, with the
remark that II was the best hotel In town.
Next day he presented his credentials to
Bishop OConnor
ct was wonderfully arrayed for tho
,nestinG.'' the father with many a chuclle,
Sftsn related, as he described q combina-
Zion Of light olored trousers, coat, cut
aeymour fashion; striped necktie and a
soft hat to match. The austere bishop
Viewed the spectacle Ior minute or two
In mute astonishment and burst into
daughter as the innocence Of the newcomer
became manifest. In the years thaI fol-
lowed the introduction, as each had OPP
portunites for measuring the worth OF the
bthar. bishop and priest became DEVOTED
er,snds.j and none was more devoteda teai-'
bus and loyal than he whose first salute
shattered the severe line OF episcopal care
Trinls In the Mission Field.
Father Mccarthy's mission fold sm-
Traced various stations from TecuInseh.
johnson county, 10 spalding. Greeley
rounty, being shifted from one to the other
nH the needs Of the service required, dur
ing his five years In the country. Life on
the missions thirty years ago was q thor
ouRh tsst OF the phyHicih and mental
stamina OF a soldier of the GROSS. Fami-
lies were few and widely scattered, reqJir-
ing much travel. Hard times held the
country in lee grip and poverty was the
rule.
Il recall one instance Of the hArdships
farmers struggled against in those days
said tad father IN relating his experienced
zone OF my farmer friends drove into
RulO richardson county, with q load OF
corn dHEtnG the holiday season OF ISIS and
sold it for enough to buy a pair Of boots
9or his boy
As might b expected in the conditions
prevailing Accommodations were OF the
primitive sort. but such as they were the
priest Yves always welcome. To one fresh
from college ana reared in a city the
transitiOn TO 'roughing IT in the new west
was crucial test He was not long how
ever. in imbibipg the pioneer spirit. and
the hardships OF yesterday were softsnsd
by faith IN, the rewards of tomorrow.
Father Mccarthy entered into the spirit
Of the strugsls with ardor and hopeful
meas. SncouFagins and cheering those with
whom he mingled. sharing their Joys and
assuaging their sorrows. No matter what
the distance or the weather. winter or sum
mer call from the sick never went I'M
answered. Regardless OF other engage
ments such CATS ne considered the first OF
all duties. and invariably found him where
needed as quickly possible. winter
storm In Johnson county or the cyclone
which wrecked the church building In
o'COnnor, Greeley county, sending a beam
through the building within few feet Of
where he Was standing. had no more ter
rors Tor him than trip to the Douglas
county pest house 10 minister to the dying.
Crisis in His Life.
No one Of the many positions held by
Father Mccarthy secured as strong a hold
on his affections as the old st. Philomena's s
cathedral and parish. From the fall OF
1Ss5 70 mldsumtper 1898, years OF the boom
and tbs recession. he managed is affairs.
He became veUy much attached TO the peo-
pie, and the people reciprocated with at
feCtionats sood will When. therefore.
Bishop scanneu removed him from the
pastorats' on July l. 1883 the unexpected
blow wounded him 10 the heart pastor
ate OF equal merit was assured him and
declined, He contended that Whila the
bishop was within his rights In removing
cathedral pastor at will. he protested
against the manner Of removal as degrad-
ms 70 his character as priest On this
issue Father Mccarthy appealed to Arch
bishop Satolh, apostolic delegate az Wash
ington PENDING action on the appeaL
Rather Mccarthy went 10 his home in New
Jersey, aud was offered a place there
but the ozone Of the west was in l,s
blood and would not mix with salt sea air.
one raw evening IN the fall Of 1894 he
called at the home u a friend in Omaha.
In state OF aeute mental depression. The
appeal to the Apostolic delegate had been
rejected. He Wished 20 consult about The
publication Of a letter he had written. I'M
ta.s letter lie rePewei the grievances
eroWins out ot his removal from the
cathsdrah aud pGid his respects 20 all per-
sons concerned IN mis- removal The letter
vas a tareWeh 10 ms profession IL WAS
read over carefully ana repeatedly. every
sentence caietully Weighed ana the prob
able sttect tm me future Of the author dis
.assed tor h0Ws. "a the conclusion of ths
-;scussiUn ta,i isttsF was thrown into th.
SIe. The foiiovine day the condition OF