, 1879-08-10
He Denied that He Left on Ac-
count Of q Woman.
he Gould Not Swallow the 0diouB Doc
trine Of Papal 1nfallibility.
The Efforts Made to Vim Him Back to
Mother Church.
They Prove Successful, and He Is Lost
to Our View.
The Episcopalians Take It Very
Philosophically.

published in The TRIBUNE Yesterday, that 8
woman was responsible for the s'apostacy " o1
Father Van de Moortcl, is pretty generally be.
Ieyed by the Catholics Of this city, who arc
unable to account for his abandonment OF the
Jesuits and Of the Church on any other ground
Some of the most laughablc stories are adoat
concerning him. For instance, that he Is tc
marry o7ae OF Canon Knowles daughters Epls'
copalians who know the Canon will appreciate
this, For the information Of those who don't
know him, it may be stated that the Canon Waa
never married. and Goes not intend to marry.
Another rumor is that the young lady is 9
clerggman's dauehter-no name given.
third, that be has been seen riding about the
CITY with ladies. ono, or perhaps all OF whom
were his *tiptendeds.''
To find out the truth, reporter called On =.
CANON KNOWLES
Yesterday, and asked him what he knew about
She lady.
"Iknow nothing whatever,'' said be, ttand
10 not believe the report. When Father Van
Dc Moortel first saw me, I put the question
plainly to him whether he would be willing to
keep bis VOW Of celibacy in the Episcopal Church,
and hoped he was not moved by the motive
shich prompts SO many Roman clergy to leave
LUe1l EGt1CSIAS&4NS4 ACAAL4UoSs 3 N@o@A~ AVA
wife. He gave me to understand that the
woman question had no influence in Ills case"
"But Father Higgins says be kaaotes there is a
xoman in the casea"
sFhat is the first thing that enters their
nina.'
lis it true that YOU labored with him?'
tNo. Inever spoke word controyersialls
to Father Van de- Moortel or any other Jesuit in
my l1fe."
What was the object Of
TOUR VISITS TO TIE JESUIT CHURCH AID TEE
RETREATS!"
,"Durlng the twelve years or more Of my res
ideuce ia Chicago hare visited the Jesuit
Church not more than three or four times, and
then merely to see the church. OF to show it to
some friends visiting me. never at
tended a retreat or course Of lectures;
heard but two sermons there,-one OF them
gery poor and one very good,-and I never
met Father Van de Moorte1 until be sought an
interview rith me at the Cathedral OF Saints
had made up his mind to enter the Anglican
Communion, he was then on his way to Du-
buque to give retreat TO some nuns"
''Did be say how long ho had been consider
mg the matter!"
through the arguments that he had to bring
forward in view OF the modern teuets OF Ro-
manism."
For five or sir years, suppose,-Wh1le ne
was lccturing.'
TWAS HE DISSATISFIED
Mt the ray In which he was treated at the col
II think not, except so far rs the methods
and motives Of the Order itself became repui-
sire to him. He has nothing but kind words for
his recent coufrcres."
aRenressiop Of individuality WAS at the bot
tom OF it!''
"He said that the acceptance Of the infalli-
bilitv of one man in place OF the infal1ibllity
Of the Church was eramping to the Tree action
Of the iutsilect.'
.tHe is sincere2''
II believe 50, and honest He is man Of
bri!ltnncy and mark!''
land will be heard Of in the church!''
II think SO, decidedly"
lie visits his old parishioners, does he not!'
lie comes and goes, as ne p!eases! We do
not Tatch him."
s.What can be bis objcct!"
ITO continue The personal friendships which
he made during his long ministry at the Jesuit
Church,
"uAvE MANY CALLED TO SEE uIM?'
"Ot. yes. Not many when you consider that
there are 10000 in the parish; but still sut1l-
cient number to show great affection and r.
gaxd.''
Have they demonstrated with hima"
sCertainly,''
uAre any OF them bittert'
'One lady said she had brother who Was
priest, and If he left the Church as Father
Moortel did she would kill him."
rs the Father calm and satis6eda'
HPerfeci1y.n
'sHayc you heard that any of the Fathers in
tend leaving the Society7''
VI have not, e1ccpt through the newspapers.
I think it doubtful, as it requires much cournge,
great self-denial. and combination Of circun-
stances not often at the command Of priests With
out property or friends"
Later in the day the reporter
SAW FATHER VAN DE AooarEl
binself. He DIDN'T like the tfuss u which was
3eing made about his abaudonment Of the
Jesuits. he Intending TO do it quietly, without
the pnhiiS knoTn: aa angtans about It. But
papers, he supposed be would hare to submit
to HI interview.
He first took up the statements of Father
Higgins to reporter OF tue ST. Louis Post-Dls-
Had you any reason to anticipate this
stept'
- None whaterer:' Mark that,' said Father
Van dc aloorteI.
..4To Whist do you attribute his apostasys'
That Is the same question as the other. Now
".The real trouble is that there is woman
in the case-' he had no reason whatever Tor
anticipating the step, ret the real trouble wns
woman. How contradictory! And he
knows this from statements madc,'
but he doesn't say whether those statements
were founded on fact. He doesn't wish to be
responsible for his assertions and SAYS III Van
de Moorte1 has not entangled himself with
woman he may come back II be Is reported
correctly you can see how be contradfcts him
self" =
rs THERE w0MAN IN THE cAsE2'
mo" said the Father emphaticaily. And
then he spoke Of the ru1nors referred to above
aud TO others-tllat be bad preached at the
thrown of his vcs:meDts and
1rampled them under foot-a!l Of which he said
were false. d!
s'What we're your reasons for leaving the
Jcsuits and tie Chuich!"
&'1he absoIutissn OF the Society-What might
be called the tyranny Of the Order, which is
not only over the body, but over the
soul, especially on the Will aud Intellect; and
thought, as the Jesuit Order was the main prop
.. tie Catholic cChurch,-Cathoitcity centres il
it,-that had to be a Jesuit. or leave the
Church."
81 now LONG had 1ou THOUGHT OF LEAv1xGl'
~ have been ten years among the Jesuits,
and now and then, especially when Studying
philosophy, glcam came to nc that It was not
Ill rtght,-that this bonding Of the intellect !
1as asninst reason aud below the nobility Of +!
man,-that mnn ought to assert his own free |
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