The Irish standard., 1897-07-31
A Fright from q Fire.

position severed all connection with
the Protestant church, and went to
Father Wiley al Taunton where. after
having made spiritual retreat he
was received into the Catholic church.
In November 1910.
Another well known convert is tnv
James Kent Stone. or. as he Is now
known, Father Fidels He was born
i'll Boston in 1870. and graduated from
Harvard in 1861. He served as IA soldier
in the Civil War, and WAS severely
wounded. Obliged 10 retire from the
service, he became president of the
Protestant College at Kenyon, Ohio,
where he remained from 1863 to 1868
In 1868 he became president of Hobart
College. New Jersey. In 1869 Plus IN.
convened the Vatican Council and is
sued his famous letter. "Ad Omncs Pro-
testantes A!iosque AcalAolicos.'
Mr.. Stone read it WIN almost on
temptuous Indifference, but. in spite OF
that was struck with certain parts OF
filled with a desire to know more of
the Catholic religion, and ended by he
coming a Catholic. He became priest
OF the congregation of St Paul un.lcr
Fathers Hc;krr. Hewitt, Dcshun ana
Baker: all like himself, converts; Du.
not finding the life sufficiently severe
he later joined the Passionists, with
whom he has been for several years.
The fact that the converts to the
Catholic church are so largely made
up of eminent thinkers Of the purcst
personal character is one of the proud
est tributes to her divine character us a
teacher and guide Of the human mind,
and unerrlnS pilot of the immortal
soul. Among the many distinguished
converts who like Newman. Manning
Brownson, the late Fathers Hecker and
Hewitt, and others. in the ardent search
for the goal Of divine truth, found in
the bosom Of the Catholic church the
fruition OF their souls aspirations, was
James Roosevelt Bayey. This dlstln-
guished prelate was born In New York
city. Aug. %, 1914. His father, who
was born In England. and who emf
grated to the United States before the
war OF Independence. was, before his
death, one of the leading members of
the medical profession in this country.
Dr. Bayley was married twice, 80 that
Archbishop Bayley was nephew of
Mother Seton hn ,>f ~
tiers OF Charity In the United States.
At an carly ago he studied medicine,
traditional profession in his family.
After one year of medicine he ADAM
doncd the profession and studied for
the Episcopal church. 1t was during
his study OF medicine ut Hartford that
he became acquainted with the late
Mgr. Preston, Of New York, who also
became convert to the Catholic faith.
Archbishop Dayley himself received
rather Preston into the church. At
Middleton. Ct. he began his minis
terial studies and in 1899 was ordained
an Episcopal minister. He spent eight
cen months as i:snr of St. Andrews.
he became acquainted with Il young and
accomplished priest. from whose con-
Versation he learned more than ever of
the tenets of the Catholic church. This
young priest was Father John McClos-
key, aftcrward the first American Car
dfnal and Archbishop Of New York. He
was thence called to the rectorship OF
an Episcopa! church in IIagcrstuwn.
Md. 1t was during this engagement
that his thoughts began to bend to the
CONVICTION that error was at the fCunla-
ton OF Professionalism. and that the de-
post OF true faith could logically only
be found where Gar Savior had placed
1t--that is IN the Catholic church. AZ
ter resgnlns his rectorship. he iister:
mined to travel abroad. and it is signi-
hcant that he turned his face, ana nc
doubt his heart. toward Rome. He
left New York on Dec. s, 1871. He ar
rived in the Eternal City on Feb, %.
1872, and presented Il letter Of INTRODUCE
ton from Father McCloskcy to DIR. Gull
len. then rector Of the Irish College at
Romc and a!tcrwaru the distinguished
Cardinal. and by Dr.. Cullen was intro
duoed to Father Esmund. a member Of
that great order Of piety ana learning
the Jesaits The good and pious Jesuit
Father Esmund was his Instructor and
spiritual advisor. The following nc-
count OF HIS reception into the church
Is from Bishop Bayley's Journal. under
date OF April %: This morning I re-
ceived confirmation AM! made my first
communion from the hands Of Carolina,
Franzoni. IN the Chapel of St. Ignatius,
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