The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-12


from field where he had encountered some
degrading and depressing phases of 1t. In
speaking Of what he had done and still had
to do, he did so in the most unaffected way
as II repeating the performance Of duty by
second person. The perverse continuance
In special sins by some of his patients, as
they might be termed, occasioned him
some anxiety, but this was greatly
leayened by the feeling that the churchs
authority would some day through him,
perhaps soon make itself felt in their res
toration TO their right minds. A drunken
couple with several children was his sorest
puzzle. The man is good wage-earner and
ought with his family TO live in comfort,
but the alcohol habit was too strong upon
him and upon his wife TO be laid aside, as the
result Of even dozen of his visits. He had
that night taken this man out of the gutter
and TO his miserable home and laid him side
by side with his intoxicated wife, and min
istering TO the needs of the weeping chill
dren had escaped for abreath Of recuperating
air. This sort Of work he loved, as at once
a trial and test of his devotion as a priest
and a means of bringing him into close and
intimate contact with those who by their
pervcrsity, by accident or by birth, are
plunged in despair and are reckless even 10
the point OF deadening degradation.
In this he said he but shared with
his brother priests Of whom he al
ways spoke with affection as prompted
by the right spirit. To him the church was
realty as the spouse of Christ and he
devoutly accepted all its tenets, dogmas,
DEGREES Of councils and articles of faith as
so many forces binding upon him and upon
all the faithful whom il claimed, or who at
any time had been gathered into its fold
Father Ashfield was thus, II will be seen.
| fine example Of the consistent faithful priest
who finds all his advantages in life in the
| performance of his duty. The memory Of
the stormy disputes with conscience through
which he had passsd before he found his
| peace In the church survived MS merely
a means 10 the end of strengthen
| ing his conviction that his hopes
here and hereafter were well placed. This
attained TO he was troubled with doubts or
scruples no more. Surely and safely
anchored and wholly without trouble he
could take upon himself the troubles Of
others aud bear their accumulated loads Of
woe with the ease Of one who was conscious OF
no help In himself but relied on that which
he believed cmanated from above. II
was this childliko reliance, this de-
votion TO duty and his simplicity
Of character that made him 80 delight.
full in his companionships aud friend
ships. Every one who was brought in con
tact with him recognized these qualities and
were quick TO acknowledge aud yield 10
their influence. His was lovable nature
None know this better than the young mon
whom he gathered into 81, Dominicks
| Union, Of which lac was the father aud
founder The pleasant means OF intercourse
which Il opened 10 them he made sub
scryicnt to their souls welfare He rccog.
nized the difficulties that young men have
to encounter, who are committed " the
drcnriness Of bachelor apartments, with but
little chance for the enjoyment Of what IL
termed society aud sympaihizing with them
Ia their need for social recreation he
established this club, provided billiard
tables newspapers, books and recently a stage
whcreon he hoped his protegcs would be
able to give In the near future some accept
able dramatic performances. lie apprcci.
atcd all the helpful agencies Of social life,
and was eager TO adopt aud adapt them Ia
the purposes Of human good that he had
most at heart Surely no man ever moro &C.
cuntely gagged the qualities and qualiiica.
lions Of those he had TO deal with aud no
other more agrceably recommended himself
To them, or by plain, unassuming. com.
mon sense manner made himself one with
them rs an elder brother enducd with
love, and endowed with special knowledge
and the gifts Of leadership. That such man
should be 10 suddenly and ruthlessly taken
froma work 80 large and comprehensive, and
by the hand Of one whom he was laboring Ia
rescue from the habit that bcrcft him
Of reason aud responsibility. Is the very
irony Of fate. II almost forces the conuc.
ton held by some that all such missions a.
his are useless expenditure Of help, and
that IL Is a hopeless task TO contend with
evil aud evil habits, once the subject OF
them has become induratcd aud hardened In
them. But against this, NJ Father Ashfold
himself would say, there lay upon him the
command Christ laid upon all his disciples,
Ia preach 10 all men everywhere and at all
times, aud there was also the injunction.
The poor yo always have with yc" Cor
whom to plead and with whom to work In
following this command the good man now
gone purchased his peace and his hope. and
10 was ready for the final summons. coming
even A. Il did, like a thief In the night. aud
by the hand Of the assassin.
J. NJ. KEAftNs.