The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-14
FATHER FLDELIS OF THE ORDER OF
PASSIONISTS.
MISTAKE THAT THE FIRST PRoTRsTANHs
MADE ABOUT HE'LL.
Now York World.

For the last ten days or two weeks SO
mission, has been in progress at st. James
Church in New York. Eight priests of the
order of Passionists, from various parts OF
the country, have conducted the services,
and among these has been Father Fidelis,
who last teHening-it being the close of the
mission services for women of the congre-
gatiou-delivered lecture upon hell to an
audience that filed the Church to over
flowing.
Father Fidelis, a convert to Catholicism
from the Church of England, is the Rev.
Jas. Kent Stone, q son of the Rev. j. s.
Stone, formerly Dean of and now emeritus
professor in tue Episcopal Theological
School of Combridge, Macs, and the
grandson of Chancellor Kent. Mr. Stone
graduated from Harvard College in 1861, (,
and in 1869 joined the army as q private in
the Second Massachusetts, Regiment. He
subsequently rose to the rank of lieu
tenant. In 1863 he left the army and be-
cume q professor in Kenyon College at
Gambler, O., Eventually he became the
| President of that institution. Here he be-
gan to study in the theological branch of
was ordained priest in 1866 by Bishop
McIlvaine of the Diocese of Ohio. He
adopted High Church views and at the out
set became involved with the Bishop in q
long and bitter controversy that ultimately y
led to his entering the Catholic Church.
This did not occur Immediately, however.
Kenyon College was Low Church institu-
ton and Mr.. Stone being pronouncedly
High Church in his views, the Bishop OBJ
jected that he was using his influence to
make the college ritualstic. The con-
troverey, which reused great deal of ex
citement among the laity as we'll as the
clergy and created bitter enmities on both
sides, took the form of newspaper articles
pamphlets and oral discussions in public
Bishop McIlvaine wrote long episcopal
letter, in which he accused Mr.. Stone o.
holding "RomaniZing views" 'And,
said Father FIdelis, ia conversation lately
J "I suppose he was right, though could no
} this letter in public address aud after
; wards wrote pamphlet on the subject en-
titled moderation and federation in The
, ology." The controversy led to Mr.. Stone
being called to the Presidency of Hobar
> College, in Geneva, in this State, in 1855
and shortly afterwards he received tn
degree of Doctor of Divinity from Racin
College, Wisconsin. 1t was about yea
after his going to Hobart College that b
decided to become q Roman Catholic. tn
t principal argument which urged him
d that step WAS, he afterwards told frient
Q the necessity of unity and authority in tn
!, Church. These essentials he thought weT
d lacking in the Episcopal Church, while i
t the Papacy the Church embodied them i
v the highest form. After deciding to bC
i come Cstholic he came to the Paulist Co
}. iege, in Fifty ninth street in this city,
}. study for the priesthood, and was finsll
d ordained priest, He remained with tt
Il Paulists altogether six years, but sfte
IT wards went over to the Passionate. Th
IL elder Mr.. Stone is noted for his Low ChurC
9 views, but has, it is said, become recoI
10 ciled to his sons course. Father Fidel
sr now Visits him whenever he can escaI
q from his priestiy duties at Cincinnati, o.
" without an introduction aud with l
of preliminary services, Father Fidelis, who
y young man Of thirty-seven, tall 81