Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-12
PRIEST AND NUN WED.
The Romance of Young New York Cier-
gyman Who was Sent to Australia.
81 10 Clly Tlmel.l


| According to the story of William Ma
/ thewson, q well-knOwn merchant OF san
I Francisco, who spent Sunday IN salt Lake,
I the east-bOund Central Pacific train con-
/ tanned. among other passengers, couple
I who. had their history been known, would
have attracted more than ordinary atten-
/ ton. The story IL q long one. and IN or
I der to get the full details one must go back
/ to the beginning.
/ In Orange county. n. Y. about thirty
years ago, lived a weli-tO-do irish farmer.
! who, by industry and thrift. had become
! the possessor OF several broad acres Of
! land and some spare cash besides. He had
only one son. Patrick. a bright lad, and
/ the height of his ambition was to see nm
/ fitted for a better position IN lie than that
/ of n farmer To this end he sent his boy
/ to the best Catholic school in the country,
and great w0s his Joy when he learned
/ from the lips Of the young man that he
/ had decided 20 take holy orders and be-
/ come priest.
Time passed on. and Father Patrick
! Hanlon was the name added 10 the roster
| of the clergy Of the Church founded br
| Peter against which the gates OF hell shall
/ not prevail.
! The Young priests first duties We're IN
! little town OF Nebraska. whore for year
/ or two he worked assiduously in building
/ M his little charge. 50 successful was ne
| that the attention of bis bishop was called
! % his work, and IN a very short time he
was commended for his oarncstness by
! Cardinal NcC.oskey.
! And then came a change. lis Holiness
! Pope go must have the faith spread IN
/ Australia. Young men We're wanted to
carrs the banner of the Cross into the far
| of country: TO teach the way of eternal
| life to the benighted people of the remote
] interior. and. bv n special order from the
/ Cardinal. endorsed hy the Pontih. Father
/ Haulon was included among the many who
were 90 spread the gospel Of light among
| the people of the large island.
For two years did Father Patrick labor
earnestly among the rough people Of tho
district To which he was assigned. mat
| he was successful can be attested by tho
statement that I'm lieu Of holding services
| in the dingv old building be found when
| he first visited the spot he, IN less than a
year. celebrated the mass IN neat htile
| church built by his flock. who had learned
10 love him. and from the further fact that
! the town 20 which he was assigned was no
| longer considered as rough. but that it5
people were fast becoming quiet and or
| DERBY.
But the physical nature Of the young
| man could not bear the constant STRAIN,
and ere long his health failed mm. Real
! ling that his labor on earth would soon DE
! hui she'd If he did not seek rest. he asked TO
| be relieved for time and went % Mel
| bourne Here be sought h's much-needed
! repOse from duty, and here rs where the
| romantic part Of the tale begins. -.
! In the Hospital of st. Vincent was Sis
/ ter of Mercy who was known 10 the sister
/ hood a. Sister Agatha. A beautiful woman
/ wasshe. with wonderfully lustrOu, eyes and
| one of the sweetest faces thet God ever en-
| dowed womankrd with. The touch OF her
/ hand WAS tie Oltes- and tine music Or her
voice the sweetest Co the poor unIOrtunnte3
who We're soni 20 the institution. SISTER
| Agatha had % history. She was daughter
| of an ENGLISH clergyman and had become q
convert 90 tine Catholic ilitu during early
childhood When she became of age she
united herself with the Sisters OF Mercy
and had gone to Australia.
Wilhelm Melbourne Father IlanlOn occa-
sionallv visited the hospital. And here Is
whore the Church of Rome lost one OF ~
most tireless workers. and st. vincent
| Hospital its most gentle, loving nurse.
N was q case Of love az first sight on the
: tart Of both. and vet neither was giad. bY
/ tine solemn vows of the Church both were
/ bound tOa life of celihacy. But IL was not
| 10 be. The Ruler of all Hearts had not 30
ordained, and working HIS way, wllled
| otherwise.
In consequence Father IIanlon proposed
/ The details of the struggle he underwent
| before he could fully justify himself that
| be was taking the right course viii ever
remain secret until the morning OF
resurrection. And the proposal Will re-
main locked in two human heart aclos.ely-
guarded treasure until IL shall be told be-
fore the throne on the day when the morn
Iug stars shall sing together and the sons
OF the eternal shout for JOY.
They were married not. however. until
the Church authorities had been notihed.
In vain did the Bishop of Father Hanlon's
diocese plead with him not to take. the
step. The die was cast, the Rublcon
crossed, aud the wedding took place,
Ere the tidings could fly across the SEA
TO the old home in New York, the youn5
man learned that his father had died and
LETT him ms entire fortune. 10 was toward
the old home of his boyhood that he dnd
his wife were going when the Times inform
ant met them. Mr. Mathewson had know
the young man in his infancy, and to Inn
had told his story