The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-12-12
REV, SPAuLDlNC CONVERTED
The Rector Of Christs' Church, Cam.
bridge, Embraces the Ancient
Faith.
MANY CATHOLIC CONVERTS.
Or. Spaulding's Conversion Recalls Many
Similar Gases in This
Country.

Df' 0Uau1ulus OOuVoISlOu hoCAllS Mau9
Similar Gases in This
Country.
Another indication that to the honest
seeker after truth all roads lead to Rome
is given In the conversion of Rev. DR.
j. F. Spaulding. hitherto the Eplsco.
palian rector of Christ's Church, Cam.
bridge, who announced his resignation
to his former congregation last Sun
daY, giving as his reasons for ending
the pleasant relations that have always
existed between him and his flock dur
ing the twelve years that be has actad
as their pastor, his conviction that the
Catholic Church is the only in which
the true dogmas Of Christianity are
taught, and adding that consequently
he has resolved to join its fold. DR..
Spaulding's conversion to Catholicitv is
the result Of no sudden repulse, and his
approach to the true church has been
gradual and we'll considered. Years
ago he abandoned Congregationallsm
in which creed he was originally a be"
liever, and embraced Ep1scopalianism,
and now, after over twenty years Of
unsatisfactory experience in that belief,
he comes into the Catholic church,
whose doors are always open to well
come those who accept her teachings
and desire to profit by communion with
her. What DR.. Spaldings future posi-
tion will be is a matter that concerns
him most; the statement is naat.e that
he will not seek Catholic ordination,
but hopes to get educational work, for
which his training and admitted abil'
ties eminent]y qualify him.
DR.. Spalding. who, by the way, bears
a name that is illustrlous IN American
Catholic history, Is by no means the
first eminent American Protestant to
become convert TO Catholicity. The
path which has just led him into the
true fold has been trodden by many
feet before his entered it, and the doc
TOR will consequently, find himself en-
tirely at home in his new surroundings.
it would require many volumes TO tell
the stories of the thousands Of converts
Catholicity has won in this country;
and the present article makes no pre-
tensions to completeness. when it under
takes to mention some of the more Illus
trlous American seceders from Protes-
tantlsm.
Probably the most lllustrious name
on the roll of the American Catholic
chu1ch's conquest is that OF Orestes Aa-
gustus Brownson, who was brought up
in the Presbyterian fold. left that for
Universalism, then became Socialist,
a Unitarian and a Christian Unionist,
and finally found the truth he sought
for SO long in the Catholic church.
After his conversion DR. Brownson vas
offered professors chair in the Cath
0lic University Of Dublin, but he
thought he could render the truth bet
ter service by remaining in this country
and defending it, as he ablv did in his
famous Review and in many other wavs.
Let US put next the name of Isaac L.
Hecker. whose life story has been so ad-
mlrably told by Father Elliot in the
pages of the Catholic World. and whose
death, two years ago this month, caused
universal sorrow. From Brook Farm
to Rome the road seems long, but
Father Hecker found his way over it,
and those who have followed his pro-
gress as that is told in Father Elliott's
biography. know how great was the
happiness he experienced when his way
taring was done. To Father Hecker
the American Catholic church owes
great debt. He it was who gave us the
.faulist order, that religious body which
has done so much for American Cath
olicism IL various ways. and whose
members are still carrying on the work
which Father Hecker inaugurated.
With him. and through him, too. how
many more converts were led into the
church There is Father Hewitt, his
successor IN the order, born Of Congre-
gatlonal parents. the erudite literateur
and profound theologian. the skillful
controversialist and reviewer. There
is Father George M. Searle, classmate
at Harvard with John ID. Long, able
mathematician and astronomer. and
now lecturer at the Catholic University
at Washington. There is Father Wal
worth, formerly q Paulist. now chacel-
lor OF the Albany diocese, Of one OF
whose books an eminent authority said
that 6 it has the solidity and elaborate
filaishof work executed Rith care
and diligence bY one who q both 9
thinker and 3 sound scholar. There
are Fathers Robinson, Deshon, class
mate at Vest Point with Grant, Wymasnl l sl
and other members of the Paulist com