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

one oil a few patients whose diseased condition
had excited his pity, startled the commun-
ity as no other crime has done that has come
10 our knowledge in many day. The manner
Of IL was so ruthless, so bloody, so without
reason for It in the relations that existed be-
tween the murderer and his victim that It is
impossible to adjust the mind TO it, as Is so
readily done in instances OF as great crime
into which there enters the motive Of money,
OF Illicit passion or revenge. II is, viewed
by any light, dreadful and overwhelming
crime one that summons every aid of sym
pathy for the priests Of 81. Peters and the
congregation whom IL has bereft OF brother,
father aud a friend. And the whole city
sympathlzes with them. For in the few
short years he had lived and aborcd in Mem
phis Father Ashiicld had endcared himself
TO the community as a man whose personality
was hedgcd about with love for his kind and
an almost divine compassion for the poor,
the weak and the erring. No man better de-
served better fate. No man was farther from
inviting such nm assault No man more Sc
eurely aud surely rested his confidence in
men ON his loving kindness toward them aud
his tender consideration Of them | first met
Father Ashhcld two years ngo. Our meeting
grew out Of an editorial that had appeared
in TnE APPEAL treating Of the far reaching
disciplinary power Of the Catholic Church
resting upon purely spiritual foundation.
lie was greatly stirred by IL and doubted
that anyone could have written II but the
ologian Of the church. On this point lac was
rcassurcd by some Of his brother priests, aud
when at last convinced he called to meet
the writer. The conversation that ensucd
took a purely religious turn and he im.
pressed himself upon me n an enthusiast
m the work Of thcChurch, whose tradition
and dogma completely possessed him as rep
rcscnting the will Of God. He then related
TO me something of his life. How first he
came 10 be a student OF theology in the Pro.
tcsiant Episcopal Church, and evolved into
Rtualism and,al last and logically into the
Church, where all his doubts were resolved
and he found the peace he coveted with a
strength Of positive conviction rs 10 il
being Il God aud His mouihpicce on EARTH
20 grant 10 believers after confession
and repentance the comforts OF abso.
luton and assure them In the world
TO come life everlasting. In this first con.
ycrshton lac Impressed me with his deer
devotion, his profound conviction Of the
sicrcdncss 81 his ministry and Of the good
IL enabled him 10 do, especially for the
poor whose degradation m well q.
moral needs aud necessities hc deeply de.
plorcd. To be- able 10 offer these some aid and
help and even creature comforts A. prclimi.
naries or accomplishments Of the spiritual
consultations that IL was his mission Ia i'm.
part was great qualification. lie had
found peace aud rest aud the rcsolu.
ton u all doubts IN the church, aud
lac was anxious that these riches should be
shared In by all In whom he interested him.
sell, but hc never obtrudcd anything like a
prupafmndist spirit We became friend.
from the first Differing with him widely. |
nevertheless, could appreciate his devoutncss
aud zeal aud especially sympaihile with him
In his anXictics for the physical aud spirit.
ual welfare Of the poor, aud Of those par.
ticulnrly among them who were reckless Of
life and In living. FROM this our friendship
ripcncd, and bal maryland TO tue ploasurahlc
visits, during which his one dominant
trait Of righteousness was always upper.
most When our acquaintance had ripcncd
hc once expressed an anxiety that I should
share with him the spiritual benefits Of the
church and hc asked me 10 read the Catholic
Belief" by the Very Rev Joseph Faa al
Bruno. edited by the Rev. Louis A. Lam.
bert and The Faith OF Our Father"
by Cardinal Gibbons Although already
acquainted with both works | readily con.
scntcd. The next day they came 10 me by
the hands Of a servant with note which
still TREASURED In which he hoped for me a great
benefit personally aud that they would prove
reliable guides In matters concerning the
churh In my capacity ~ editor Of Tur Ar.
rial subsequently be- called 10 see what
thought " them aud candid conversation
rather than discussion resulted, In which We
touched with freedom ON the point. Of con.
troycry between the Protestant churches
aud the Catholic Church, dwelling cspc.
cinlly upon the disputes that in the
Protestant Episcopal Church led 10 the Wild.
cnIng ~ the gulf that separate, the riiualist.
iron the cynngclicals and 10 the rccstabli.h.
mcnt ~ the Catholic Church In England. Ic
was familiar with the tmciarian movement
aud with what In IT, time was termed Pussy.
Ism and made much II the regulation Of
Professionalism by iDs now Cardinal Man.
ming aud Cardinal Newman. We agreed At
least as In the sincerity u both these cml.
ncnt diyincs aud. scholars and upon the
effect their aher- had to revive Catholicity
In England. We agreed also ~ 10 their high
and sacred aims iu thought and purpose aud
10 the conyicilons IT spiritual elevation
which cmanaicd from Cardinal Newman and
was manifest In al that he had done aud
said Or had written since lac had taken the
step that scparntcd him from the E.iab.
l.hcd Churcha 81 England. Father Ash.
ncld, during this visit and those that sub.e.
qucntly followed. showed himself what an
who have heard hiin preach will readily al
nit him 10 havc been, close and logical
rcasoncr. who rested his every bclicfand hons
upon the foundation 81 the church a. speak
inr absolutely with the voice Of God
After this free conversation upon mat.
tcrs Of faith anl conscience" he
touched upon them In his subsequent visit.
~ questions understood hy a. from DWARF.
cnt positions, always holding stcadiasi 20
the faith which ~ we'll became h, .implie.
ity Of character Hs conversations wen.
mostly upon his missions Of charity and the
contrasting variety Of character ami disposi.
ton that he encountered when upon them.
Only last Saturday nigh, he spent an hour
with me, aud the eontrareiics Of poor fraIl