Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh

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Capuchin Franciscan Fathers St. Francis of Assisi 1541 GOLDEN GATE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CALIF. PHONE OLYMPIA 1305 September 26, 1940 Very Reverend Father Provincial Church Street, Dublin My dear Father Provincial: This letter is a week late. It seems that in the matter of starting a school, it is just one difficulty after another. No sooner did I get back from Chicago, than I found determined opposition to the school, on the part of the people living around the property at Sierra Madre. There is a zoning law against having a school there. The City Council and the Planning Commission were unanimously in favor of the school. They left me to understand that there would be no difficulty about it. But on my return from Chicago, I heard there was increasing opposition from a number of non-catholics. For the past week I have been working on this. And I do not see my way clear to go ahead. In the meantime I am holding Bishop O'Brien's check for $20,000.00 uncashed. I will let you know at once of developments. I feel the difficulty is not insurmountable. It comes up for hearing October 10. I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letters of August 12 and 23, with: 1. Good wishes, which I heartily reciprocate. It is a source of deep satisfaction to have your good sense and your support. 2. List of appointments. 3. Notice of appointments of Custos and Assistants. 4. Notice of Jubilees. 5. Letter: a. Regarding Father Damian. b. Notice of mistake regarding appointment to offices of Guardian and Master of Novices. c. Reference to hurried request for permission to regotiate for property for Seraphic School. The only matters calling for a reply are contained in number 5. a. Regarding Father Damian, it was always my opinion that he could not be reconciled as easily as the Graymore Fathers suggested. I am very glad to have your letter. I am acting as you suggest. b. Regarding the Wilmington appointment I wrote to you on my return from Chicago. Later, I received your cable appointing Father Cyprian. I am indeed grateful. It is just very difficult to get superiors. When you consider twelve houses to be staffed, and the fact that eight of the men are practically useless, you begin at once to see our difficulties. It is difficult to get twelve men for the offices of superior. For example, the name of a man was suggested for the guardianship at Wilmington, who, the last time he was appointed superior, at once spent every penny he could lay his hands on, antagonised the people, and then resigned. I could not possibly suggest this man for the office, for, this apart, I have heard him say he would resign again if he were appointed. I might go over the list man by man, but I do not think it is necessary. Capuchin Franciscan Fathers St. Francis of Assisi 1541 GOLDEN GATE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CALIF. PHONE OLYMPIA 1305 c. Regarding the school: In obedience to the wishes of the Father General, expressed in his reply to the report of the Visitation for 1938, I did what I could by es…