# Father Matthew Smeesby — Elmer Gantry character guide

> Father Matthew Smeesby in Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Father Smeesby

**First appearance:** 0043-chapter-viii

## Who they are

A Catholic priest who befriends Frank Shallard.

## In the story

### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xxvi)

Catholic priest who declines Elmer's vice-crusade proposal, noting the church can live with sinners.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

Catholic priest who criticizes the alarm over sin and defends the Catholic Church's approach.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/viii)

Assistant pastor at St. Dominic's; a state-university-educated priest who firmly rejects Frank's request for symbolic belief, accusing him of intellectual pride.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/father_matthew_smeesby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters