The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-04-17
The Mystery Surrounding the Mis-.
sion of Monsignor Capol
in America.
Refuses to Reveal What He is Dom,
Under the Plea Of "Profes-
sional Secrets"
But the Widow Hamersley's Accumu.
lated Wealth VIII Go TO the
Church Of Rome.

NEW lORk, Aprll lG,-MuCl excitement
exists in fashionable circles over The
rumor that the wealthy widow of the late
millionaire, Louis IIamersly, whose will
is now being contested had been received
recently into the Roman Catholic Church
The conversion Is said to have been eff
iected through the ctangelizing influence
OF the eminent Monsgnor Capcl Itmay
may now be accepted AZ a fact that the
conversion has taken place, although
reverend gentlemen OF that church
IN this city are very reticcnt con.
corning the matter MOnsignor Cape.
was seen by a correspondent at Mrs
Louis Havemeycr's residence at Thirty.
eighth street and Madison avenue last
evening Without denying the rumor
Monsignor Capcl stated that he regarded
the matter professional secret, ana
that conversions come entirely from
Cod and priest being merely
the instrument, he considered any dj>.
cussion Of them 4 sin OF as great
enormity as the Sin of David a.
numbering his people. lie continued;
"When Icame to this country | came
armed with an extended acquaintance,
persons whom | had known or met at
home. Some were Americans who were
In England or travelling on the Continent.
Others were fellow, who read with me
quite regardless Of distinction in religion.
Now suppose IN going about in society it
became known that was secretly
proselytizing converts, the doors Of
NY PROTESTANT FRIENDS
would be closed against me. Nothing in
my life 50 angered me Is the circulation
OF the story some time ago That | was iu.
strumental In the conversion Oi 'Ouida.'
Why it is simply pcering into a persons
privacy. one might as well circulate
your ways Of liyingor the little priyacics
Of your home life, and besides, the circu-
iatiou Of a conversion is very often too
premature. Conversion must be brought
about bv conviction, and if it is referred
to before that conviction is fixed the re-
suit Is often the collapse Of the whole
thing
The right reverend gentleman driited
into general discussion Of the phiIoSo-
ply Of prosclytiziug and converting. He
said that through his !abors in Italy,
France and England, thousands of con.
yerts had been drawn into tn, church,
but that he never spoke OF them. lie ha,
also effected several conversions in this
country. About ten years ago a move
mcnt was instituted in Catholic circles
in England for the publication Of list Of
prominent cOuN erts, but he strcuuousy
opposed it from the pulpit.
"Ihe conversion OF person In any
circle of life he said generally in
wolves a complete upset Of his social
re atoms and the clergy should leave
~he adjustment OF those relations en-
tircly tD the convert and not throw
difficulties in his way, but should pre-
serve a. professional secret all the par.
ticulars relating TO the couycrson.'
Thus, during the entire discussion Of
the HamerSley case, MonSignor Capel took
his stand on the
"PROFEssI0NAL SECRET"
the theory of which course nductively
implies the existence of truth Of the very
secret which he wished to preserve con-
corning the fact Of Mrs. lamerS,ey'S re-
ception into the church. prominent
Catholic priest, pastor OF Il large and
fashionable parish up town, while declin-
ing to discuss the matter fully, said that
this conytr,iun--"lf it is a fact, ~ he al.
ded Observation-Disclosures the dispense
ton of some four millions Of dollars in
charities. The rumor reached the ear Of
the Episcopal Bishop Potter and other
Protestant digutaries, who left no stone
unturued to avert a movement on the
part of Mrs Hamers!cy, which might Ill
timatelv result in the Catholic Church re-
ceiying any benefits of her wealth as the
natural consequence of her conversion
to that faith. In an ungulrded moment,
however, the clergyman exclaimed,
"rhe whole thing would never have
been circulated but for one rash priest
in this diocese Who that priest was
the reporter could not learn but he I'M
doubtedly is the clergyman who otiiciated
at, or in whose church the baptism of Mrs.
lIamersley was performed. Mrs. Ham
erslev's residence on Fifth avenue, near
Twcnty-ninth street, was dark when the
reporter ca led yesterday, and no person
responded to the frequent pulling OF the
door-bell. Her relatives, who live in the
next house, did not know where she was.