The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-01-13

I
perfect form OF Christianity in respect to
doctrine and order.
This was the time (l84O-46) when the
rich literature Of the Oxford school OBJ
tained wide circulation among Episoo
palians in this country. 1t obtained
/ many adherents and advocates, and the
SO called Anglo Catholic movement not
only rose to great Importance in Eng'
land, but attracted general attention and
exerted great influence in America.
From this source gained much fuller
| knowledge of primitive and Catholic doc
trines historically and logically connected
with the one specially emphasized by
the High Church paffy--i. e., the apostle
lie succession through the episcopate 1t
!. is needless to specify doctrines generally
Iswell known as taught in that Anglican
school, with more or less exphcitness
and completeness sort of semi Oath :
lie system, in its highest degree approx
mating SO nearly to genuine Catholicism
that its advocates were regarded by ont.
side observers as Romanizing
Some little time elapsed before I
reached the conclusion that I must sever
my connection with the ministry and
communion of the Congregational sect.
passed over to the communion, and in
due time into the lowest order of the
| ministry, of the Protestant Episcopal
church, where I remained until the early
part of the year 1916.
I was loyal and true to my new allegi
! Rnce as long as my conscience permitted
me to acknowledge it. travelled rapidly
Romeward, following the path OF Ffoude,
Allies, .Faber, and Newman; but did
not kno where was going until sud
denly came upon the gate Of the city. I
never harbored the thought of leaving
my ecclesiastical position until within q
few weeks OF the time when severed
the tie which bound me to it. AS soon
as my conscience required me to make
this severance ceased to officiate in the
ministry and TO receive communion. The
last time. that I otficiated as deacon iu
the Protestant Episcopal church was on
Christmas day, l845, and this was the
last time I communicated. On the fol-
lowing Easter day ! made my first COM
munion IN the Catholic Church, aud one
year from that time l was ordaine 1
priest, on March IS, 1S47.
Nearly all the study and reading, the
personal influences and other circum-
stances. which determined or. effected
my religious course in Catholic direc-
! tion were Protestant. read very little
in Catholic books of the modern period,
and had but very rare and slight ac-
quaintance with Catholice, except those
who were in humble sphere.
There were, however, certain distinctly
Catholic impressions made upon me, few
in number and at rare intervals, which I
think worth mentioning.
At very early age those texts OF the
New Testament which relate to the Holy
Eucharist seemed to me to teach most
clearly the doctrine of the Real Presence.
Also the text concerning St. Peter i'm
pressed me vividly as teaching the apos-
tolic primacy of st. Peter and his success
sors. Those impressions were never ef
faced.
The frs time I ever entered Catho-
lie church I was taken to the old ST..
Patrick's cathedral Of New York by my
father The first time 1 was present at
high mass was while was student of
the East Windsor Seminary. did not
understand the ceremonies very we'll,
but it seemed to me that the mass was
the most august and suitable form Of the
worship Of Almighty God, and it re-
minded me of the Jewish ceremonial in
Calmet's Dictionary, with which I had
been familiar in childhood. This was in
st, Patrick's Cathedral, New York.
Father STAIRS was the celebrant, and
DR.. Hughes, who was then in his prime,
preached the sermon. The next day {
went to prayers at the General Theo-
logical seminary, and f1r the first time
the service seemed fat and tame.
John Henry Newman had just been
received, into the Catholic Church I had
been sent toja plantation in Nerth Caro-
lima, with symptoms which threatened q
fatal issue within few months During
that winter had leisure to mature the
results of the study and thought OF the
several preceding years, and with the
strongest possible motive 70 make . deci-
eion which would endure the test Of the
divine truth and justice. From the last
spot of sand on which I had found ! tem-
porary footing I made the leap across
upon the Rock, an act which. Of course
was only enab1ed g make By 4 special
aid of divine grace, but which, none
the les oons1der as 8 perfectly rea-
sonahls Il. md one 81 wl,ich can beIi eIiusti-
y ~