New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-18
pI.u,;roJ,Ies' Lex. to Sd Ave, 59th to 60th ST.

,,ossiI,lv Irish ancestry. Coming here
when a boy he was taken up by the su-
parior OF the Fathers of Mercy. who sent
him % Baltimore 70 he educated FOR me
priesthood After completing his course ne
was pastor for six months Of our Lazy OF
Victory Al Paterson. and for year OF ~.
Francis De Sales in Brooklyn. In lSHh nc
was called 20 Manhattan as assistant ot
tho Church OF It Vincent dc Paul For
fifteen years he shared IN the ministry OF
these French fathers IN the very heart OF
tho shopping district. and for twelve or
those years ne was In the service Of the
city az fire chaplain. He suffered
Daralytic stroke seven years ago, which
some Of his friends think was the result OF
exposure ~ fires. Certainly he had never
spared himself. ,tarbattau
AIR Knapp, the surEl.inS ' 10 Onto
chaplain Is native Of Berg 0hldlile, - "a
md "a graduate of Hobart College anu W
G,nsraI Theological Seminary flniSiihs
his studies in 1902. he was a parish WQr
in Buffalo for two years. allet MN MN ~
was employed 10y the New ork ny ",
sion society 10 take charge or the itailah
Church in BrOrme street Ilere ne MN
istcred 20 an Italian Protestant couSresa,
lion of several hundred souls ana leaiheu
the language. an arqui@lllon Inal M" ~ .,'c-
~ lis. 10 him in his chaplancy. he sue
oeeded Mr. Acklev as the Poytestant chap
lain Of the Fire Department in If1, shu
last wear Inc gave up his Italian MISSION
10 60 uptown 10 the Church OF the lncar-
Hbout 70 per cent OF the firemen are
Catholics. the remaining 80 per cent belns
chiefly Protestants, together win a. COM
paratively small number Of Jews. To the
above fact. along with the excellent prac-
lice of the Roman Church in keeping one
priest steadily on the JOB instead OF shlft-
irg apDointments. Is due the wide influence
that the Catholic chaplain has welded
Moreover. Father Smith was man AMONG
ten thousand lie WAS great character
IT hero OF play or novel, ana II VIII De
Years before his successor, whoever he NAV
q htNld an nl
Father Smith had
In the Church or St Vincent de Paul
where he officiated. one can step any day
and see the women shoppers from SlNth
avenue worshippiug sans priest, sans book,
sans bell but not by any means sans can
ale. The candles are marked IN pam NJ
ures and TO. The woman Worshlpper de-
ufslts in a slot the nlCked or the dime re-
auired hicks up the appropriate candle
lights IL and places II IN cleft OF the
Candida Drum. At the altar and the rear or
the church are other onerIory receptaCles
from which the chink OF silver IL heard a.
the good churchWomen make the round OF
the holy pictures and the painted and
sculuttIred Passion. For many minutes to-
Cether not a priest is in sight. Finally an
attendant comes forth and snuifs out the
candles. The women who have knelt and
uraved depart one by one, and another
throng from busy Sixth avenue takes their
Worshipping sans priest Of the visible Office
Of the Church.
Since this article was written the new
Fire Commissioner, Joseph Johnson, has
anpointed Father Vincent de Paul Mclean.
assistant rector of the Church OF our Lady
Of Good Counsel. 20 I'LL the vacancy left by
the death OF the Rev. ST. Elmo Smith.
Father Mclean was born in New York
civ about thrty-hye years ago. His
father was John J. Mclean. member OF
a, old family OF that name OF Downpat-
rick. County Down. Ireland.
The new fire chaplain was educated at
81 Marv's Parochlal School and was grad
mated from the University OF Niagara In
1893 He was adopted by the late Arch
bishop Michael A. Corrigan during the
summer OF 1893 for the archdiocese OF New
York In September OF the same year he
entered ST. Joseph's Seminary. at Dun
woodie. y. Y. where ne spent the follow
ing six years. on June II. 1895. he was
ordained TO. the priesthood by the Most
Rev. John NJ Farley at ST. Patricks ca
thedral
ON June 20. 1875. Father Mclean was sent
bv the present Archbishop % ST. Gabriel )
Church. in East 37th street. where he re-
manned for one year. During that time he
won the respect and affection OF thousands.
especially OF the men, who presented him
Win = testimonial of affection on his de
rsrt;re. ON June .. 1891. Father Mclean
VA promoted 10 the Church of our lady
of Good Counsel IN East 9th street. where
he Is sim stationed. All Norkville know
Father McGcsCr-not only those OF hts
faith, but thVus M1s outside the Church.