The evening times., 1897-12-13

New York, Dec. 13.-The Rev. Dr..
Edargo Levi Mortara, who for f)rty years
has been known as the ''Child OF Mor.ara.'
and vic, a Hebrew and 4 mere ciild.
startled the Christian world by embrac-
ing the Catholic faith. officiated at the
masses in SIS. Peter and Panl's Church,
wythe avenue and South Third street,
Williamsburg. yesterday morning. The
identity Of the prelate was not known to
the congregation until at the conclusion
Of the last mass the venerable DR.. syl-
vester M5 ioIe introduced him.
Father Mortara comes from Rome. and
reached this city on Wednesday morning.
He is an apostolic delegate of the st Au-
gustine order, to which the Pope belongs,
and PURPOSES establishing missions among
the poorer Italians in Greater New York
He is of m-di um size, with d bener rolent and
Hebraic face.
Probably no man has excited more conr rro-
yersy in Catholic ecclesiastical circles than
the Child Of Moitara." The TACT of .:.s -
riv In this country was known only in high
ecclesiastical circles until his public ap-
pearancc.
Father Malone, in granting the priest per
mission to sa public mass in his ch Irch, fol
lowed the independent idea. which he pas
tisedin Dr. McGlynn' 'scase. 1t wasintimated
Yesterday that Archbishop Corrigan had
Indirectly refused similar permission in his
immediate Jurisdiction, to prevent recur-
renee of tis discussions that have followed
the appo a ance OF this priest.
H. hoin nA-c a.
dence, No. 90 South Third street, Williams
burg, last night.
ION nv arrival here last Wednesday, he
said, II had an immediate audience with
His Emincnce Archbishop C0rrigan, with
view to establishing my missions. met
with very little encouragement, as mg his
tory, it was feared, would create too mach
of a sensation. I then came to Brooklyn,
and will visit Bishop Mcdonnell during the
coming week.
II was horn III BoloGne, Italy. of He
brew patents, In S5l," he continued.
when e;even months old was taken sud-
denly Ill, and the physicians gave Ip all
hope Of my recovery. 4 maid, Anna Mo-
rise, employed in our family, was a devout
Catholic. Whe she learned that all
chances of my recovery were gone she Sc
cretly had me baptized in the Catholic 'aith,
and did rot reveal the secret for six years.
A few da VS. after this baptism beca me per-
tectIy well. and the learned doctors were
puzzled at my recovery, which, they said.
was certainl y the work OF nothing less than
miracle.
when told that I had been ba aptized as
a Christian, 1 wanted to be reared in the
Catholic Church. The news spread to the
Eternal City and rea ched the ears ofthe late
Pope PiusIX. Ny desire to become Chris
tian met with stern opposition from my
parents. The Pope, however, persuaded
them to give up their opposition to my
choice and triumphantly entered Rome.
subsequently, my parents came to Rome
and tried all persuasions to get me back
home. told item that would not go with
them until they were Christians. l was
brought up in the Catholic College of Rome,
under theipmediate eprotectiona and tile esre
cial care Of the Supreme Pontiff. l always
loved my parents and prayed for their Con-
version, and correspondent with them until
my father died, i'll 1870, and my mother
eight years later.
In the year s70the Italian government
issued an edict requiring me to return to
my parents. Had not applied to the gov
ernor general for protection 1 would have
been subjected to persecution. To AZ I'D
trouble left Italya went to Austria and
completed my Theological studies"
DR.. Mortare Is staying with Mr.. and Mrs.
E. Schwartz. parishioners of DR.. Malone
They have Son who is studying for the
priesthood with the Augustine Fathers in
Romc. lie will be ordained OH Christmas
Day.