The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
SrItANGE STORY OF A PRIEST.
His Parents Were jews, and He Was
Adopted and Educated by Pope
Pins TX.

Plus TX.
From the New York Times.
In the Church of SITS. Peter and Paul,
South Second street and Wythe avenue,
Brooklyn, of which Father Sylvester Ma
lone is rector mass was celebrated yester-
day morning by a well known priest, who
was the subject of much talk while child,
forty years ago. in the city of Rome. This
priest is the Rev. Edgardo Levi Mortara,
who arrived in New York from London on
Wednesday last Father Mortara is a
canon regular of the st. Angus line Faith
ers, and was sent here to establish mis-
sons among the Italian Catholics of the
cities comprising the Greater New York.
Few were aware of the priests arrival,
and when Father Malone announced to his
congregation at the 1880 o'clock service
that the priest who was celebrating the
mass was the famous Child Mortara"
the gathering was greatly interested. The
older people in the congregation remem
bered the Roman controversy of forty
years ago. when a child born of Jewish
parents, in Bologna, VISA adopted by Pope
Plus TX and educated for the priesthood
in Rome under his immediate supervision.
Father Malone then said: THE reverend
father who celebrated mass for us to-day
is one of the most noted Ia the Christian
world and his case is a most remarkable
one Few Of the present generation re-
member the celebrated case of the Child
Mortara," which was the talk of the
Christian people in two hemispheres forty
years ago. The celebrated child, whose
conversion from the Hebraic faith to that
of the Christian caused so much comment,
is with you to-day. He was born of
wealthy Jewish parents in the town of
Bologna, Italy, I'm the year 1851. In the
service of his family there was employed
a Christian maid. When only e.even
months old our reverend friend was taken
i'll. and medical help was of no avail
When the child's life was dispared of
by the physicians the maid secretly bap-
tized him into the Catholic church. I'm
mediately after his baptism the child got
better, and in a short time fully recov-
cred from his illness.
1.-THE news of the child's recovery soon
spread but 1t was not until many years
after that that the truth became known.
He left his home of his own free will at
the age of seven years TO adopt the Chris
tian faith. He has now grown to be one
of the most distinguished ecclesiastics OF
Rome Our reverend friend was introduced
to me by Mr.. Thomas, one of the Oldest
parishioners Of this church."
A large crowd of people gathered an
front of the church at the end Of the mass.
slonary but they were disappointed. The
priest went to the rectory of the church, 50
South Third street.
Through the kindness Of Father Malone
a reporter for the New York Times was
introduced to Father Mortara. When ask
ed for a history of his life. he said
when but small child, as Father Ma
lone has said. ! became suddenly III, and
after being attended for a considerable
time by the leading physicians of Bologna,
] was finally given up by them, and my
parents We're told that my death was only
the question Of a few days. In the employ
Of our household we had a maid named
Anna Morisi. an Italian Catholic, who was
very devout. In those days It was against
the Roman civil law for Hebrews to en-
ploy Christian help My parents had tax
en- her into their service through igno-
rance of the law. Thinking that / was
about TO depart from this world. this good
Christian girl, unknown to any one. bap-
tized me into the fold of the Catholic
church.
For six years she kept her secret, and
Il was not until the birth OF a brother OF
mine six years later that she divulged a..
My little brother became III in a manner
similar TO my own case. He also was Civ