The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FATHER JAMES E. CoYLE

ventional modes of communication become almost grotesquely made. quate.
 Father Coyle's Life Story" was the headline borne by short article In Fridays Age-Herald-a short article mainly chronological and of the usual obituary type. The paragraphs tell us that he was born and edu- cated: that he came to America, and to Birmingham; that he belonged to the Country club and the Roebuck Springs club, and other matters of equal relevance.
 It Is the sort of thing supplied to the reporter, and we usually make use of it by supplying the ellipses as we read, recreating the full stature of the man as we knew him, with all the facts there. We take into account the life influences which shaped him into. the manner of man he was; we look for the central idea in his life; i; for the hidden motives which werA the handspring of his actions; for the inner light by which he walked. or for lack of which he stumbled.
 We begin to estimate whether or not the essential personality was rec tified or unrectified, whether the life as whole was determined for right eousness or unrighteousness
 The lftt~ things that we have ob- served take on importance as we try to tell to our own hearts the life story of a fellow pilgrim behind whom the shadowy curtain is still rustlng.
 I am not going to try to tell the Life Story of Father Coyle" It would take volume which | have i r1 all I4 would need to- begin farther back than March 23. 1873. It would begin | when an Irish woman began to dream the great dream; when she began to cherish supreme ambition of the de- Vout Irish mother, the ambition to give son to God.
 l would need to come upon the fun-lovfng boy in his more serious moments; in that one, for example, when he took as an expression of the purpose of his life the words of the Psalmist T will go in unto the altar Of God; unto God who giveth joy to my youth.''
 It would be pleasant to follow the keen intellectual youth through school and college, and to live with him the great day of his ordination, 1 when he faced the prospect of serving God in great, glorious America America the free, where there was fair play for everybody, where one could worship God according to the l dictates of his own conscience. That the leaving of home might not be too poignant, a favorite little blue-eyed sister was allowed to come with him and their attitude to each other reveals the deep, beautiful family loyalty and affection which was one of Father Coyle's most dis tlnctlve traits. His love of Ireland was its logical outcrop.
 Ills life among us was an open book. His day began at in the morning unless there had been a night call to sick bed, and then 1t l was earlier. At he was in the church ready for any who might wish to go to confession, before the early mass. He took itas a matter of course. Father Coyle was always ready for any function of his priestly office and always so simply sincere and reverent about 1t. All day he was about his Fathers business" as the poor and sick, the troubled and oppressed of this city can today tes- | tify.
 He lived in the utmost simplicity, never wanting anything for himself. When his cassock became so shabby l PSi ii1PS d lIienu sent hlm q new one. 1t was not that he made a con- sctous, painful effort to deny him self. He was just swallowed iup by ] his calling, wkich was following as literally as possible in the divine footsteps. That was the central idea In Father Coyles life, the only oec by which 1t is possible to interpret him.
 It will be comforting thing to fhe parish that this last year was probably his happiest among us I Before he left for his vacation last year we gave him a surprise party, a bon voyage" and hope for a safe return. The little purse which was the material evIaence of sooS- will was handed to him with the s.c- mission that the motive was selfish and sinister. These very words were spoken:
 We want you to come back re- newed and ready again to spend yourself for us and for our children. | We are not so dull as not to realize what an inert mass we are. but the prayers of a good man availeth much i; so kep on working and praying for uss and we may surprise you yet. We know with what an atmosphere your life in Birmingham is surround ed, and yet if you are being fitted
 
 martyrs why not go in for com mission. Do not be content with just 1 earning the position of private in that radiant host. Be a captain or something, come back and fight it out. Take this and spend it in rest. ing. Let it help you to stay in the church militant. We want to keep you out of heaven just as lopg as we | can"
 We all remember the response, the glow of genuine happiness at the af- 1 fectionate spirit of human kindness in the gift. From Ireland came let ters to friends. to more than one friend T shall come home gladly. It is home. I find I love St. Pauls. and I am coming back to give my l life and its poor heart to Birming- ham,"
 I When he came home there was a new car waiting for him at the sta- Ition. and on the occasion of his twen- ty-Nfth anniversary as a priest he was handed by his parishioners $25,- 900 in cash for new rectory, plans l for which have just been completed To tell Father Coyle's life story one would need to know his real reaction to these episodes in his life. They filled him with great peace and joy because he seemed to find in them an expression of a wondrous kindness and beauty in the hearts of his peo- pie That made their value to him and not their intrinsic worth Some lhow, Father Coyle seemed to have nothing about him to which the wealth of this world could stick
 He left monument at St. Pauls, but to see it you would have to go to the early Sunday morning mass, kl- X,t,, .,l, rr.x lflled. You would have to see almost the entire congregation approaching