The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-17
STRANGE MARRIAGE.
A Catholic Clergyman and a Sister of
Charity Man and Wife.


From the Salt Lake City Times.
According to the story of William
Mathewson, well-known merchant of San
Francisco, who spent Sunday in Salt Lake,
the east-bound Central Pacific train con-
tanned. among other passengers, a couple
who, had their history been known, would
have attracted more than ordinary atten-
ton. The story is long one, and in order
to get the full details one must go back to
the beginning.
In Orange county, New York, about
thirty years ago, lived a well-to-do Irish
farmer. who, by industry aud 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 hight of his ambition was to see
him fitted for better position in life than
that of farmer. To this end he sent his
boy to the hest Catholic school in the coun-
try, end great as his joy when he learned
from the lips OF the young man that he had
decided to take holy orders and become
priest
Time passed on, and Father Patrick Han
Ion was the matte added to the roster of the
clergy Of the church founded by Peter, and
against which it is written the gates of hell
shall not prevail.
The young priests first duties were in
little town of Nebraska, where for year
or two he worked assiduously in building
up his little charge. SO successful was he
that the attention of his bishop was called
to his work, and in a very short time he
was commended for his earnestness by Car
dinal Manning.
And then came a change. His holiness
Pope Leo must have the faith spread in
Australia. Young men were wanted to
carry tho banner of the cross into the far
Oft country; to teach the way OF eternal life
to the benighted people of the remote inte-
rior, and. by a special order from the cardi-
nal, Endorsed by the pontiff, Father Hanlon
was included among the many who were to
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 the
district to which he was assigned. That he
was successful can be attested by the state
ment that in lieu of holding services in the
dingy old building he found when he first
visited the spot, he, in less than year, Gel
ebrated the mass in a neat little church
built by his flock, who had learned to love
him. and from the further fact that the
town to which he was assigned was no
longer considered as rough. but that its
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 him. Realizing that
his labor on earth would soon be finished if
he did not seek rest, he asked to be relieved
for time and went to Melbourne Here he
sought his much needed repose from duty
and here is where the romantic part of the
tale begins.
In the Hospital of st. Vincent was sis
ter of mercy, who was known to the sister,
hood as Sister Agatha. A beautiful woman
was she, with wonderfully lustrous eyes
and one of the sweetest faces that God ever
endowed womankind with. The touch Of
her hand was the softest, and the music of
her voice the sweetest to the poor unfortun-
ates who were sent to the institution. Sis
ter Agatha had a history. She was
daughter of an English clergyman, and had
become a convert to the Catholic faith dur
her early childhood When she became of
age she left her home and united herself
with the Sisters of Mercy and had gone to
Australia.
While in Melbourne Father Hanlon occa-
sionally visited the hospital. And here is
where the Church of Rome lost one of its
most tireless workers and st. Vincent's
Hospital its most gentle. loving nurse.
1t was a case of love at first sight on the
part Of both, and yet neither was glad.
By the solemn vows of the church both
were bound to life of chastity But it
was not to he. The ruler of all hearts had
not so ordained, and. working in his inscrut-
able way, willed otherwise.
In consequence, Father Hanlon proposed
The details of the struggle he underwent
before he could fully justify himself that he
was taking the right course. will ever
remain q secret until the morning of the
resurrection. And the proposal will remain
locked in two human hearts, a closely
guarded treasure, until it shall be told
before the throne on the day when the
morning stars shall sing together, and the
sons of the eternal shout for Joy.
They were married, not, however, until
the church authorities had been notified.
In vain did the bishop of Father Hanlon's
diocese plead with him not to take the step.
The die was cast, the Rubicon crossed and
the wedding took place.
Ere the tidings could fly across the sea to
the old home in New York, the young man
learned that his father had died and left
him his entire fortune. 1t was toward the
old home of his boyhood that he and his
wife were going when the Times informant
met them. Mr.. Mathewson had known
the young man in his infancy, and to him
had told his story.
Thus ended the story of the first and only
instance of the kind on record
A "Balm in Gilead" for you by taking Sim
49, e,