The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-01-04
A CHALLENGE NOT ACCEPTED.

America regarding the NUMBER Oh h1S
lish converts to the Catholic church, says
the Canadian Freeman. NotWithstand-
ing the fact that not day passes with
out adding some important personagos
to the true faith, not taking into consid-
GRAFTON the lesser lights who come over In
groups of hundred at time, Protes-
tant Journals deny the increase, though
statistics prove the truth of the assertion.
A Protestant Episcopal weekly, Living
Church, tells the following story to Its
readers in regard to the matter:
Eve often meet with confident state
ments in the Roman Catholic papers that
the Roman Church in England is increas-
ing in numbers year by year. These
statements are sometimes substituted by
lists of names Of persons more or less
prominent who have gone over from
the Church of England to the Church OF
Rome On examination it is generally
found that these cases extend over the
last sixty years or more, but as dates are
not given many people are led to believe
that all these conversions have occurred
within recent period. No mention is
made of those who, after sojourn in
the Papal fold of longer or shorter dura-
ton, have returned to their allegiance,
no inconsiderable number. So far as
we know no account has been kept of
the Roman Catholics who have become
converts to the Anglican communion,
though the number is undoubtedly large
Since 1870 very few people of education
and intelligence have left the church OF
England for that of Rome"
An old subscriber of Living Church
and recent convert to Cathollcity, read
the above statement and forthwith wrote
the editor of Living Church, asking how
he could reconcile his statement that
those who latter sojourn of longer or
shorter duration IN the Papal fold have
returned to their allegiance are no incon-
siderable number when he declares
that Every few people OF education and
intelligence have left the Church OF Eng
land for that of Rome.'' If many ere
turn" great number must Ego over"
He challenged the Living Church to men
ton six prominent Protestants who hav-
ing seeded to Rome have returned to-
their allegiance, and he is utterly at
loss to mention even one such person;
still at a more greater loss to mention
any eminent Catholic who has Joined the.
Anglican communion. If the number is
undoubtedly large" there should be no
difficulty in matching in Anglican gains,
names that will compare in prominence
with those. of Marion Crawford and
George Parsons Lathrop in literature;
Gen. John T. Newton in engineering sci
ence: Mr.. George Bliss in law; DR.. Thorn
as Adds Emmett in surgery; General
Rosecrans in the United States army:
Right Rev. Monsignor Doane, and Rev.
Henry Van Rensselaer,, S. j., who were
Episcopal clergyn1en. These names are
selected at random and long list,
though not complete one, is given in
book published by Rev. Father Young,
Paulist, also convert, entitled "Pro-
testant and Catholic Countries Com
pared He also challenged the state
ment made on the authority Of the Eng
fish Churchman that. Fifteen priests
have seeded from the Church of Rome"
and asked for their names and the dates
of their secession, or at least the date In
which the notice appeared, in order that
the statement might be Investigated by
the proper authorities in London. It is
to be hoped the list will not include the
name of that unworthy priest who was
received last autumn in Westminster
Abbey, and who day or two later, was
brought before magistrate on charge
of gross intoxication His case was pub
lished in the London papers. No answer
was made to these questions either pub
lie or private, therefore the statements
above quoted from the Living Church
will not bear scrutiny, and assertions are
not proofs. DR.. Whiteside, the Catholic
bishop of Liverpool Eng, said lately
that of the 10000 persons he has had pre-
sehted to him for confirmation, within
the last two years no fewer than 800
were converts. After examining the
records of the past five years, from 1896
to the present, he has found that the Sac
rament of Confirmation has been admin
istered to as many as 2,40O converts.
The final day OF the Atlanta Exposition
opened clear and bright. Many of the
exhibitors had a large harvest in the sale
of souvenirs, while the Chinese village
auct.oned off It's bric-a-brac. The las
evening beautiful illumination was CIV
en- and the electric fountain displayed It's
charms for the multitude. &.
Mr.. Innlan, chairman of the finance
committee. said the exposition, when all
debts5were paid would have cost tn.
city of Atlanta about $20o, 900, orr less than
10 per cent. OF the money expendedson the
enterprise. This includes the Original
subscription and the appropriat mad
~ the result 10 regarded ae
very satisfied III ted tlial
M inn1aaiat lanta Il, n,on-