Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-10
FATHER McDERMOTT MAY
EXPOSE A. o. Fl. SECRETS

Continued from Page Ono
upon which the pledge of secrecy does not
apply.
II is from these documents and their
revelations of the inner workings OF the
A. o. II. and its members that Father
McDermott intimates he Will enlghten the
public further upon his causes for condemn
ing the A. O. II. II was on account or MS
roossession of this knowledge, obtained In
many instances at first hand from members
themselves that made Father McDermott
80 obnoxious to the "Mollles or the coal
regions that his transfer to remote
pastorate was effected soon after the eNecu-
tion OF the ringleaders.
The disclosures obtained apart from the
confessional, II is held, are not within the
control OF the Church authorities, should
Father McDermott choose to make them
public and this he hints he is likely to do II
he deems il warranted by the subsequent
cCurEe Of events
In the meantime. the parishioners OF st
Mnry's Church have not recovered from
their astonishment at the resignation of their
rector after 81 years of labor among them
'I have no intention OF either quitting
the priesthood or the Catholic Church, but
will not withdraw my resignation and |
will let the whole truth be known. / Will
snare no one. cannot. / feel II Is my
duty to protect the Catholic YOUTH the
priest said at Mount Airy For many
years 1 have been opposed to the Ancient
order of Hibernians. and my decision to
resign from the church was made only after
Il became apparent that the Pottsvllle con-
yentIon is to be opened with a mass"
Father McDermott mas protested against
the use of the mass In opening the con-
yention when II Is we'll known IL is not
piety, but desire to invelgle Catholic
youth into It's ranks that leads the Ancient
order OF Hibernians to make use of the
mass"
Father McDermott's resignation was sent
10 Archbishop Prendergast last Monday,
and he does not yet know whether 1t has
been accepted. The resignation caused n
sensation among the Catholic clergy as II
Is rare. indeed, that a priest resigns his
charge under such circumstances.
Father McDsrmott has long had a repu-
tation for independence He has been called
the stormy petrol" OF the Archdiocese, and
a prominent cfficial at the Cathedral ex-
pressed the views of many OF the Catholic
clergy yesterday when he said. "One Is
hardly surprised at anything Father Nc
DermOtt does"
In his determination to prevent the church
from giving recognition to the Ancient Order
OF Hibernian3 at its services, Father Nc
Dermott has prepared a EtRtement contain
ing a series OF charges against that organi-
Eation, some of which arc said TO be OF a
sensational nature. The statement which
covers some ~ foolscap pages, was sent
TO Archbishop Prendergast on July 81.
At the request OF friends, he prepared a
memorial to the Third Plenary Council at
Baltimore. In 1854. asking the Church TO
put its ban upon the A. o. II. The me-
mortal was suppressed after Il had been
received by the Catholic authorities,
Father AicDeTmott Is opposed to having
the Ancient order OF Hibernians meet in
Pottsville, the former scene Of the Molly
1Iaguires' reign OF terror, and erect a court
OF honor In the streets near the jail where
some OF the "Mollies" went TO the scaffold.
He deeply regrets that the Rev. Francis
BeGoverns rector OF Sc. Patrick's Church,
Pottsville. has consented TO have solemn
high mass for the A o. II. In that church.
.It looks like a brazen piece OF i'm
pertinence for the A. o. H 10 hold their
convention In Pottsyille." said Father Nc
DeFmott last evening. Il am grieyed that
Father McGoYern has consented TO have
them az ST. Patrick's Church. l have no
personal feeling against Archbishop Prem
aergsst or against any member OF the A
y. n, but am unalterably opposed 70 haV-
ing this organization. which Is endeayoring
10 recruit Catholic boys OF II ana ls inso
It's ranks under false pretsnses. go to Potts
vile in that brazen style"
A. o. H. OFFICERS SILENT,
Joseph Mclaughlin. national president
Of the Ancient Order OF Hihernians, who
lives At Fifteenth and Callowbin streets,
ana JOAN O'Dsa, state secretary, who lives
Il is22 North Eighteenth street. Eere eaeh
asked for an expression on the resignation
q Father AeDermott
Il have n0thins 70 say said Mr.. Nc
Eaushlin-
4 think Il would be iBdiscrest for me
4 sneak 70 you" was Mr.. 0'Dsa's reply
Archbishop Prendersast and bis secFs-
earv the Rev. ". J. walsh, .era cut oi
foan xssterday, ana Ia their absence no
90 Il fhe Cathedral sould comment 81
Father MeDennotts reslsnati2p- y ~
-s14 ihaf lie Archhishop may return g
- str toznoTroas