MUCH BELOVED PRIEST

Evening Star, Issue 21493, 18 August 1933, Page 12

MUCH BELOVED PRIEST

“ REAL FATHER O’FLYNH " ’ s END OF LIFE’S GREAT WORK. - In a London nursing homo which bo himself had founded there died on July J the man who has been known for nearly half a century as “ The Saint of Bermondsey,’’ Deceased was Canon Edward Alurnane, late renter of the Dockhcad Homan Catholic Church, known and loved by every man, woman, and child in the squalid area where lie bad lived and worked. Ho was eighty-one years of age. • , . . Long ago (wiites an ‘ Evening News ’ representative) the children invented their own version of ‘ Father O’Flynu and dedicated it to their beloved Father Alurnauc. It wont like this:—

“ . . . powerful lest preacher and tindorest teacher and kindliest creature in all Bermondsey. . . And for

his unfailing sense of humour and goodfellowship he was known in every Roman Catholic community in the land as the Father O’Fly no of real life.

Although Father Murnane was ascetic, almost monastic, in his own life, ho had ever a ready, appreciation of the creature needs of others. Money to him meant everything—-and nothing. Nothing at all so far as himself was concerned, everything when it came to helping others. Apart from the very barest necessities of life, he spent nothing on himself; every penny went to helping some unfortunate along the road of life. In Dockhead, as the news of Father Muniane’s death gradually spread, there was little sadness. For them he died some three years ago when his mind came under a cloud and he knew them no more. For these years ho had lain in darkness, tended hy the sisters at the Southwark Nursing Homo, which was one of his early inspirations. At the homo there was a long stream of those who knew and loved him bearing flowers. Talcs of Father Murnane would 1111 a volume. For his self-sacrifioing work among the courts and alloys of Dockhead lie was made a canon, hut he used his title only once a year, when the bishop came to his parish, and with it the scarlet and ermine of his ran!:. For the rest e.f the year he railed himself and asked to ho called —just Father Mnnianc.

The roughest customers of Dockhead deceased could fame with a glance, and there are stories to-day in the district of his almost uncanny influence in preventing strife and bloodshed. To shout “ Police!’’ was often worse than useless iu Dockhead. To whisper ‘‘ .Here comes Father -Murnane ” was magic.