American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-10-30
Rrospeetus.
THE AMERICAH CITIzEp

Thy brother, equal in piety to thee,
perhaps superior, may see but the
faint starlight. But if the all-power-
ful love Of God dwells in him, that
divine treemasonry Of souls, he is
one with thee in that bond oil union
which recognizes common need
and a common source of supply" A
bishop who heard that sermon said
to me, "The natural sequence of
that thought is that Protestants arc
as bold as ourselves" 1t is certain
Father Hyacinthe regards doctlinal
differences as of less Importance,
provided they are not fundamental,
than unanimous action in defense OF
the dignity of the soul against So
cinianism and infidelIty. A very
gifted clergyman OF the French Re-
form Church said to him, 81 know
he thinks me an Arian, but | know
him to be "a Christain." He believes
that priests should learn to present
Catholicism i'll its most attractive
guise.- If bonhommie, literary taste,
and gentlemanly bIee,ling will win
one soul, he deems those things as
worth life's effort.
He has said, If priest could
endure the tOrtures of crIcIfiXiOn
every day for his whole life, and be
sure of gaining one soul, he should
esteem it his greatest joy"
| personally met Pere Hyacinthe
twice. The first time ! WAS myself
devoted to the Roman Church, the
second, after great mental disquiet-
ude, had resigned its dignities and
adopted the Protestant faith. In
this second interview naturally ex-
pected little sympathy from the
great preacher. But | was mistak-
en-. With a genial smile Pere Hya-
cInthe exclaimed, II can imagine
you had grave struggles, but we
come out safely if the intention is
right. Our minds, look you, are not
under our own direction always; let
us hope in such step as yours, they
may be under a higher care than
ours"
When I frequently heard of him
at Paris, as beloved by children,
chatting most amiably with the
wives Of Protestant clergymen, and
at all times avoiding with instructive
.lelicacy, all THAT might offend { the
surest indication of a gentleman },
my remark was, 4" He is too large
hearted for a Carmelite monk" re-
member Cardinal Lambruschini say
ing of such another generous and
diSinterested character, The mans
an arrant fool, he hasn't even learn
ed the first axiom of modern life, to
be selfsh.'
The marvellous power of Pere Hya-
cinthe i'll the pulpit of Notre Dame is
owing to something more than ora
tory. Earnestness carries weight
but there must be an adequate mo.
five for it ere it affects the beholder.
The deep conviction of lru h, q thor.
ough knowledge of human nature,
ineifable pity and tenderness for the
repentant, scathing irony and scorll
for the guilty and proud-these are
some of the characteristics of his
preaching. l heard him during Lent
two years ago. The audience was
, immense, and included some of the
most distinguished Hterati and saU
ans. In appearance he was greatly
changed. There was the same tall
stately figure, the classic head ant
cspacious forehead, and the lofty
grandeur of department.; but til,
lines of thought and suffering wer'
, deeper, and his ey. S, SO full of pas
,, sionate expression n and chanSefu
light, were sunken and wearied
Tie rich, melodious voice rang
. through the glorious nave, audible
4 in every part Of the cathedral. Th
. subject was the difficulty of til
, Christians life in the world. I'll
Il pictured scenes of heart-rending tri
0 al and temptation familiar to grea
i cities. lie sought TO convey a tru
1 idea Of HE heavenly life, the noble
ness of self denial, the degradatio
y of sin. His depletion of the Agon
$ was awful and pathetic. His Ian
e guage never halted, and was alway
u choice, picturesqe and thoughtfu
IL His arguments rose one after anOtl
e er, with great logical precision. Iii
II gestures were rapid, but elegan
e and remarkably apropcs. hay
l. heard the grandest of dominican o
T. ators at Rome, the most eloquent (
J. Jesuits and Franciscans, but theI
u was always some exception to be tai
L Ell to their style of reasonin!
IS Here tie reasoning was that
&c Apostles and great Fathers of IL
Ie Church, tie style faultlessly natura
~ The silence with which the congr
II CATION departed was their highe:
y need of praise.