Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh
Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, revealing the final, unsuccessful outcome of the attempt to purchase the Sierra Madre property for a Seraphic School. Despite Archbishop Cantwell’s support, the Order decided not to accept the property under the restrictions imposed by the local Planning Commission. Fr. Stephen cites ‘very bitter antagonism on the part of local Protestants’ and fears that any future ‘scandal’ in such a hostile environme
Details
- Level of description
- Item
- Date
- 23 Nov. 1940
- Reference
- 20
- Extent and medium
- 1 p; typescript
- Scope and content
- Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, revealing the final, unsuccessful outcome of the attempt to purchase the Sierra Madre property for a Seraphic School. Despite Archbishop Cantwell’s support, the Order decided not to accept the property under the restrictions imposed by the local Planning Commission. Fr. Stephen cites ‘very bitter antagonism on the part of local Protestants’ and fears that any future ‘scandal’ in such a hostile environment would be disastrous for the Order. He affirms that he has returned the check to Bishop O’Brien, who agreed to hold the funds until 1 April while the Order looks for a different location. Fr. Stephen laments the difficulty of raising money, noting that if they had ‘a few good preachers’, fundraising would be much easier. He also acknowledges that World War II (‘extension of war conditions’) means the Order in Ireland will be unlikely to send new teachers or staff for a long time.
- Repository
- Irish Capuchin Archives
- Context
- Irish Capuchin Archives > Papers of the Irish Capuchin Mission in the United States > Missionary Correspondence > Correspondence of Fr. Stephen Murtagh
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Extracted Mentions
People, places, and terms identified via handwriting recognition and named entity recognition.
Sample passages
- 1. I enclose a cutting from the Sierra Madre paper telling of the decision of the Planning Commission. Having considered all angles of restrictions, we decided not to accept the pr…
- I gave Bishop O'Brien back his check, and he said, he would keep it for me until April 1st. In the meantime I am trying to get help, chiefly donations. It may be for the best that…
- I gave Bishop O'Brien back his check, and he said, he would keep it for me until April 1st. In the meantime I am trying to get help, chiefly donations. It may be for the best that…
Full Transcript (OCR, 1 pages)
Machine-generated OCR transcript. Handwritten material may contain recognition errors.
Page 1
Saint Francis of Assist 1541 GOLDEN GATE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CALIF. PHONE OLYMPIA 1305 November 23, 1940 My dear Father Provincial: Your letter and copy of enachments were here when I got back from making the Visitation at Wilmington Wednesday. I am going to the other houses Monday, and before I go I want to let you know how matters stand to date. 1. I enclose a cutting from the Sierra Madre paper telling of the decision of the Planning Commission. Having considered all angles of restrictions, we decided not to accept the property under these restrictions. The following are the chief reasons for our decision.a. It would be impossible to have a play ground on the property.b. The people would appeal even from this decision of the commission.c. There is very bitter antagonism on the part of local protestants, and if any scandal were to be given there, it would be just too bad.d. The Vicar General, who was so opposed at first to our acquiring that or any such property, seems how to think that we are acting sensibly. Father Thomas told me that he said we should have started a school long ago.e. When I went to see the Archbishop about it, he was as usual very kind and said: "Don't worry, you'll get a place."f. It is very difficult to raise the rest of the money.g. The financial condition of Wilmington is not good, and we need the help of every house. If we had a few good preachers it would be easy. But we are trying to get by. I gave Bishop O'Brien back his check, and he said, he would keep it for me until April 1st. In the meantime I am trying to get help, chiefly donations. It may be for the best that we do not rush. Because, owing to conditions, I feel you will not be able to send teachers for a long time. The tendency seems to be towards extension of war conditions. This seems to sum up matters for the present.