The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-11-18
Martin |. j. Griffin, Veteran Catholic
Editor and Historian, Dies
in Philadelphia
Was Leading Authority on Catholic
History in America on Which
He Wrote Much.
The Greater Part OF His Life Spent
Pursuing Catholic Historical
Research Work.

Research Work.
The sudden death at his home In
Philadelphia Of Martin l. J. Griffin, cdl-
tor of American Catholic Historical
Researches and a leading authority on
Catholic history in America, on Fri
day, November 10, comes as shock
to the thousands of friends OF the vet
eran journalist who knew him either
personally or through his writings. On
the Tuesday morning preceding his
death Mr.. Griffin was apparently In
his usual health. That evening he
suffered a stroke of paralysis which
resulted fatally three days later. He
was spared long enough to allow his
son, Rev. Martin I. ]. Griffin, secre-
tary of the College of st. Thomas, st.
Paul, time to reach his bedside before
he passed away. Father Griffin reach
ed Philadelphia on Friday morning
and on the evening OF the same day
his distinguished parent breathed his
last.
Martin l. J. Griffin was 60 years Of
age, having been born in the city of
Philadelphia October %, 1912. He was
the son of Terrence j. Griffin and
Elizabeth Doyls;, Of County Wicklow,
Ireland. Hc studied in the private and
parochial schools of Philadelphia and
began life as a hookkeeper. While
still a young man he became the cor
respondent OF the Catholic Mirror, Of
Baltimore, and the Spectator, of Wash
ington.
This was the beginning of his liter
ary work. He became associated with
the New York Tablet and the Catholic
Universe, of Philadelphia; a contrib
utor to the Catholic Herald, and soon
established reputation in Catholic
journalistic circles
In the establishment of the Catholic
Standard he was selected rs the city
reporter of the paper. He worked
there for some time, and then became
part owner and editor of the Guardian
Angel, a Sunday school paper. This
was in 1867. He remained in that ca
sstant editor of the Catholic Stand
ard, now the Catholic Standard and
| Times.
In the same year he founded the
Diocesan Union of Philadelphia, Of
which he was the sole survivor. He
worked 80 diligently for the success Of
the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union
after having been chosen secretary that
the strain caused a physical break
down, and he was compelled to cease
J working for a period Of about six
months.
! Mr.. Griffin spent the greater part of
his life in research work writing num-
crous books on the Church in Amer
lea. He was without a doubt the
! greatest authority on Catholic history
IN this country.
He was widely known as a historian
and was one of the founders of the
American Catholic Historical Society.
Mr.. Griffin is survived by two sons
and two daughters, the Rev. Martin T.
J. Griffin, DR.. William L. J. Griffin,
Miss Philomena Griffin and Sister
DorOthca, nun.
The funeral took place Tuesday
morning from the home Of the de-
ceased. His son, Rev. Father Griffin
celebrated the solemn Requiem Mass
in the Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Many prominent clergymen and lay.
men were in attendance.
Mr.. Griffin visited Minneapolis and
st. Paul last August when he spent a
few days visiting his son, Father Grif.
fin.