The Butler weekly times., 1896-05-07

conviction my wife is to be left
lonely widow, my babies are made
orphans in cold world, my brothers
mourn and weep You hasten my
gray haired father and mother TO the
grave. The mobs and that element
bounded me to the grave. l had
hoped to at least live till the good
people realize the injustice done me
but it cannot be so feel prepared
to meet my God as | now wing my
way to the great unknown, where |
believe every one is properly judged.
| hope ny friends viii all meet me
in heaven. l believe | am going
there. Good bye all ". L TAYLOR.
TAYLoRS 5 REMARKABLE CONVERSION.
Carrollton, Mo, April 3O-The
following letter was forwarded last
night from VIM. p. Taylor to his
wife. 1t is verbatim copy OF a let
ter that every effort was made to
keep from the press:
Il have held long conversation
with Rev Father Kennedy of the
Catholic church here. and DR.. Tull.
l have resolved on careful reflection
to join the Catholic church. He has
spoken to me about the conslation of
religion, and the hopes 1 may enter
tain Of eternity. l have been told
of the burdens that may be lessened
by confession of mouth. I have
been told, too, and the argument in
this behalf has been forcibly made.
that man can be sorry for his griev.
Gus sins, and he pardoned therefor
by penance in purgatory.
". p. TAYLOR"
The outcome of the last confer
ence held yesterday afternoon be-
tween Father Kennedy. DR.. Tull and
Taylor was that Taylor accepted the
Catholic faith. He had it first fully
explained to him, asking the priest
to answer in detail to whatever ques-
tions he might put. Father Kenne-
dy was painstaking in his replies,
and was rejoiced when Taylor told
him that he concurrsd with him, and
would be baptized
Taylor's conversion almost on the
eve of his execution was one Of the
most remarkable and interesting in
the criminal history of this or any
other state in the country. DR.. Tull
visited Taylor on Tuesday and ad
monished him to prepare for death.
Taylor said that he accepted his
sympathy. but was not prepared to
make religious confession.
II do not believe" said he, that
it will do me any good. My mind
is made up. J do not think the
clergy can help me in the least, Still
need sympathy to sustain me, and
thank you for it.
Taylor spoke in such a decided
way at this interview, and at others
held for the same purpose, that it
was thought he would go to the gal
lows without spiritual preparation.
Yesterday, however. he told John B.
hale that he was willing to see any
ministers who might wish to call
Father Kennedy teld last night of
his visit to Taylor and the condemn
ed mans conversation substantially
as follows:
Ito day We went to Taylor with
the hope that possibly we might do
some good. We had been notified
that he had weakened I tried to
impress on him the necessity of a
preparation for eternity. Still had
no idea that he would become a
Catholic. He said at the very be-
ginning of my remarks to him that
his family would be displeased if he
joined the Catholic church l
thought it my duty to call to his
mind the benefit of religion which I
did, aud then told him that if he did
not want to be baptized in the Cath.
olic church we would go for ary
other minister he might choose. He
said he did not believe in baptism.
l pointed out to him that all Christ
ian people believed in baptism; that
the Catholic church Informed US and
instructed US that baptism was nee
essary for salvation, and that the
Scriptures ssy that unless We believe
and are baptized we cannot besaved
explained 30 him that baptism was
the act we must do in order to ex
press our belief and faith The mere
water itself bad no virtue in it ex-
cept in that way. Ministers, I ex-
planned, were only the instruments
used by God just as the rod with
which Moses brought forth water
from the rock. The rod in itself
had no inherent power to produce
water. / told him of the ancient
origin of the church and how it's
lauc bod baap bop5o6 1oun ;,+oo.