The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-10-07

Iheeded the call of Plus TX, already al
Iiuded to, and, following what he consid.
Tered the only line of duty for him, sew,
ered all his Protestant affiliations and
Ieought admission into the Catholic fold Z.
This step on his part greatly displeased
bis venerable father, and gave offence to
many of his Protestant friends and &C.
|auaintances, but the man who took it
was not to be deferred by such happen
ings from doing what he thought was
right, aud he went resolutely forward in
his chosen way.
II The Paulist community, which has al
ways had especial attractions for converts
|sof Father Fidelis' stamp, was the organ
ization which first secured him, though
he had strong desire, which has since
been happily gratifed, of joining the
Passionists even then. The non robust
pess of his health, together with the fact
that the Passionist rule of life is an ex-
GO sdingly rigorous one, induced the
young convert to heed the counsel of
those who advised bin to join the Paul.
lists and his petition being granted, he ut
once entered upon the study of Catholic
theology at New York, and was, in due
course of time, ordained to the priest
hood and attached to the Church of ST.
Paul, Fifty ninth street. Soon afterward
he was honored by being appointed rnas-
Ter of novices. in which capaci y he en-
aeared himself to tbs young mon who
we're placed under his care; and he was
frequently employed in missionary work,
| feature which, as is we'll known, char
acterizes in q signal manner the labors of
The Passionists.
Ii His old desire of becoming Passionist
never left Father Stone, and his health
Improving greatly during the years shat
he wore the Paulist habit, he determined
to carry it into effect; and the conse-
quence wac that, several years ago, he
made formal application for admission
into the Passionist body, and his petition
heing favorably acted upon, ne left New
York and betock himself to Pittsburg.
where, in the Monastery of st. Paul, he
entered upon his novitiate. That period
OF probation ended. he was favorably re-
ceived into the order; employed for some
time In missionary work, for which his
| oratorical abilities especially fitted him;
and, finally, sent to Rome, to be perfected
in the spirit of the order.
Not so many years ago the American
Passionists were inportuned by. their
brethren in South America to send some
English speaking priests down there to
minister to theincreasing number of Eng
disappearing colonists who were settling
in the principal centres of population.
In response to this appeal Fathers Fidelis
and Edmund, the latter, like the former,
being convert, his name in the world
having been Benjamin D. Hill, were sent
to Rio Jaueiro, where they labored for
some time, but subsequently, went to
Buenos Ayres, where they succeeded, at
ter long and patient labor, aided materi-
ally by contributions forwarded to them
by friends in this country, il organizing
the congregation which worships IN the
church situated on Gale Carload, which
is now one of the most popular places of
worship in the Argentine capital. For
quite number # years past Father Fl
delis has been engaged in this field of Ia
Dor, and the periodical reports which
reached this country of the success at
tending the Passionist missions in
Bueuos Ayres we're hattering to the zeal
displayed down there by him and his as
eociates. It now appears that he has
been recalled from the South American
missions, and that, for some time to come
at least, his field of labor will be in this
country, fact that Is highly pleasing to
his countless admirers in the States, who
have always been eager to welcome
Father Fidelis whenever be visited their
neighborhood, to delight them with his
splendid oratory, instruct them by his
profound learning and edify them with
his sincere aud unaffected piety.
From the day that Father Fidelis sew
cred his Protestant connections and
joined the Catholic Church, his eyes have
never turned back to the places be aban-
doned save in pity for those whom he
was forced to leave behind him in their
ignorance of the truth and the error of
their ways. For himeelf, his mind has
never wavered in its acceptance of Cath
olic teaching, nor his will in allegiance to
Catholic authority. He is unquestion-
ably one of the most valuable and valued
acquisitions which Catholicity has of re-
cont years made in this country, and the
influence of his conversion has led many
another Protestant into the true fold
Father Fidelis is admittedly one of our
best Catholic pulpit orators. and his ap-
pearance in any church is sure to attract
an immense audience, eager to listen to
him. He is writer OF peculiar charm
and force. and we have few more inter