New-York tribune., 1918-05-22
CardinalPuts
BanonPriiests
AsAgitators
Head of New York Arch
diocese Issues Threat
of Banishment
Must Not Preside at
Political Meetings
Warns Father Magennis,
Who Acted as Chairman
for Friends of Ireland

three American citizens, expulsion from
the Archdiocese of New York is the
penalty Cardinal Farley now holds out
to Roman Catholic clergymen who par
ticipate in incendiary meetings here.
Assurances to this effect were con-
veyed to Mrs. Francis C. Barlow yes
terday through Monsignor Thomas G.
Carroll. secretary to His Eminence.
Later, at the Cardinals residence, it
was learned that the Rev. Peter E.
Magennis, the priest who by acting as
chairman of the Irish meeting at Mad
ison Square Garden on May first
called forth the loyalsts' objections,
was specially summoned to St. Pat
rick's Cathedral rectory early last
week, where the whole subject of the
clergy's relations to mass meetings was
exhaustively set forth to him by the
Cardinal himself
Father Carroll's Letter
Monsignor Carroll's letter to Mrs.
Barlow, which is dated May II from
the Cardinals residence, reads as fol-
lows:
Dear Madam:
His Eminence Cardinal Farley, Arch
protest. signed by number of ladies
and gentlemen of this city, regarding
the meeting held in Madison Square
Garden on the evening of May a. His
Eminence desires me to state that this
meeting was not held under the aus
pices of the Catholic Church, and that
he did not believe the notices pub
lshed that the Rev. Peter f. Magennis
would preside. The fact that Father
horra IL r
the meeting surprised his Eminence,
who has since informed the Father that
he will not be permitted to remain in
the Archdiocese of New York if he at
tempts to preside at such meetings..
Father Magennis is a member of the
Carmelite Order, and does not belong
to the diocesan clergy of New York.
His Eminence, however, as the local
bishop, has control Of his local activi-
ties. Z
every sincerely yours,
"THOMAS G. CARROLL"
Mrs. Barlow expressed herself as
highly gratified at this reply, and it is ..
the belief of the committee she repre-
sents that it will exert noticeable in
fuence on such gatherings in, the, fut-
ure. S:sSs 55sss,s. s
At the same time in Catholic eifc1es
considerable doubt was voiced as to the
precise scope the Cardinals announce
ment proposes to cover. It was pointed
out that it was a priest-albeit one
from without this archdiocese-who,
subsequent to the date of Cardinal
Farley's letter, presided over the two
day session of the Friends of Irish
Freedom at the Central Opera House.
Much emphasis was also. laid on the
fact that after his warning from the
Cardinal the Rev Peter e. Magennis
was elected to the permanent presi-
dency of the Friends of Irish Freedom,
whose recent anti-British utterances
are now being scrutinized by the De-
partment of Justice.
Discussing this phase of the matter
last night, Monsignor Carroll said:
1T was in no sense the intention of
the Cardinal, in making his announce
ment, to pass judgment one way or an
other on the Irish question. Neither
was it his intention, nor is it, to attempt
to influence in any way priests pri-
vate political opinions. Those are
every mans own personal concern. But
the Church does not countenance it's
clergy mixing in political meetings.
This was all that Cardinal Farley
forbade Father Magennis to do. Faith
eer Magennis, on his side, agreed that
ne would refrain from such participa-
tion in the future. This agreement he
has so far lived up to. 1t is true that
he has been elected to the presidency
of the Friends of Irish Freedom That,
though, is an entirely different matter
Holding an Office is not participating
in meeting. So far as the propriety
of the activities of the Friends Of
Irish Freedom goes, that is a question
the Church, to decide.''
=. Paying strong tribute to Father
Magennis as a man, Monsignor Carroll
added that it is his belief the new
permanent president of the nationwide
Irish organization is not an American
citizen, but a British subject, which.
ne pointed out, might have an impor-
tant bearing on the case. The Cardi-
NAILS secretary also wished it brought
out that, although the letter to Mrs.
Barlow was not mailed until Monday.
action was taken in the matter long
before any publicity had been given to
the loyalists' protest.
Asked If he believed the Cardinal
would enter any objection to Father
MMa;gennls's Ms; serving as, head of the
Friends Of Irish Freedom while they
are avowedly engaged on an Irish "self,
determir alton" drive, Monsignor Car
roll replied that he did not believe he
would. ''N
However" said he, "that is oues-
tton to be taken up when we get to it.
So far as | know, Father Magennis has
not yet officially accepted the Office.
Father Magennis himself could not
be reached yesterday. At the priorv of
teh Carmelite Order, on East Twenty
ninth Street, it was said that he had
peen absent on a mission since week
ago Sunday, and will not return till
next Monday.
On her side, while repeating that she
Is entirely satisfied with the Cardinals
response, Mrs. Barlow declared that, if
! this Is not sufficient to curtail the DO
litical agitations of the Catholic cler-
gy' her committee would carry the
matter to Monscignor John Bonzano,
1he Apostolic Delegate at Washington.
Meanwhile. with advices from Wash
lsnington speaking more and more en-
phatically of evidences of Irish collu-
SION with Germany discovered here,
lrlsh leaders in this city were inclined
10 Jay low yesterday. They declared.
however, that these reports would in
no way influence their determination
70 send committee to the President
ana demand statement of this coun-
try's official attitude on the subject of
Irish nationality
| Let the government produce it's evil
dence il it has any," demanded Dr. Pat
rick McCartan, one of the two indicted
Slnn Feincrs still at large, when
irioune representative saw him Just
| before he left this city for Philadel-
pHla. II know nf evrrvfh;no %hot Le.