The morning times., 1897-01-11

this time he inquired as TO the attitude
OF the continental governments toward
our work, particularly naming Sweden.
| | said that on the whole they were friendly,
remarking by way of illustration that on
my asst visit to Scandinavia. in the summer
OF 1896, the Crown Prince of Denmark.
who happened to be travelling III the same
steamer with me, had taken occasion TO
| assure me of the admiration with which
| he and his family regarded the operations
| OF the army, adding that hc followed my
travels up and Gown the world with IN
| tercst, and at the same time expressing
| his best wishes for our success"
But" said Mr. Gladstone, ''did you
| see the princess?''
/ said, mo. the prince alone"
well" he added, '.from the CONVERSE
| ton had with the prince, feel sure he
| princess would greatly sympathize with
| your work"
Here, as an evidence OF the apprecia-
ton OF our work by the Danish authori-
| ties, mentioned the fact that l had been
allowed to hold on two successive visits
to Copenhag gen meetings III the Kings
| Gardens, the gates being closed to the
| public for season, in order that entrance
money might be taken for the benefit OF
our work among the poor there.
Indeed" Mr.. Gladstone remarked, but
that was in Denmark; tell me what is the
attitude OF the authorities of Sweden to-
ward your labors there!'
In Stockholm.
I told him OF the perfect liberty now
accorded to us in our meeting places,
| and the growing freedom i'll the direction
| OF the opcn-air work manifested in some
| towns by permission to procession, men
| tioning that the last time / was in Stock
| holm my people were permitted to give
a public reception, at which it was esti-
| mated by the police that some twenty
| thousand persons were present
"But was there any persecuton?" he
| asked.
| There is no persecution in Sweden
| now" replied There had been in the
early days or our work there, as many
! as ten OF our officers being in prison at the
| same time, action being taken against us
( under some obsolete statutes. but the king
| interyened, ordering the liberation OF the
| captives and yetoing any further prosecu-
| tions.
This" he said lis very interesting
The government, then, is friendly now?"
| Then we talked of other countries. Mr..
| SyIlpdtHltS drt Wluc MS Tue
seas, and no difference OF race or language
| seems To abate his interest in the problems
| of all nations When l referred TO Italy
he was full of inquiry in a moment.
| What did | think OF the condition OF
religion in the WaIdensian Valleys? How
far had we been able to influence the
Italian peasant? What common ground
was there between us and the populations
| ,p a.. ct,, .P NO. Il Ivo'
And this led to the general state and
prospects of spiritual religion. Perhaps
/ ought not to say that was surprised to
find how largely was able to associate
myself with the careful and important
distinctions made by Mr.. Gladstone in
his words on this subject; If not surprised,
was certainly unexpectedly gratified.
What continental country, general.
do you think compares III ost favorably III
this respect?'
felt it a difficult question to answer,
and | said So So far as the Protestant
churches are concerned l Thought there
was good work in progress in some parts
of Holland: otherwise | was afraid that
| Professionalism, as rule was very broad,
very cold and inactive. and, so far rs
practical godhness could be estimated,
one country did not appear TO me TO have
much preference over another.
Catholicism and the Army.
T. 'Is not Romanism making progress In
4 Holland?"
Yes" l said. There are, / believe
some advances in that direction"
Had we experienced any considerable
measure OF opposition from the church
in what might be termed Catholic Cuun-
trles?"
replied that while many priests watched
our movements and set careful guard
| on those of their people who might be in-
fluenced by US, some OF the more phil
anthropic among the clergy had manifested
much interest in my social work and in
some cases had expressed their warm
| sympathy to me and in other ways. And
l could hardly say, either on the continent
or elsewhere that we had suffered more
actual opposition from the Catholic than
we had done from the Protestant clergy.
But with reference to the common peo-
pie. tell me, havingCTcgard 10 the extent
of your operations amongst them, have
you any success amidst the Catholic popu-
lation?'
Yes / replied many attend our
services. and they are often found at our
pentent- FORMS.
Mr. Gladstone appeared to understand.
| and he spoke with seriousness of this
method of confessing Christ in our sery-
ices.
But what becomes of those Catholics
who come to the pentcnt FORM
/ replied that while some become sol
dierS in our ranks, it was quite a common
thing for others, while regularly coming
To our services, to continue ut the same
time their attendance at their own church,
and to assure us with evident sincerity,
that they were striving to live better and
nobler lives.
Go to Confession.
'sFhey come to your penitent-form ant
then go to Confession
/ replied, Yes
But how do they regard you?"
I remarked that it was not unusual for
the more thoughtful and devout amongst
them to tell us that we ought to be
Catholics They considered us, l thought,
| to have much in common with Francis
| of Assist and Ma dame g Guy on and themystio
class OF religionists,
YES" he said. Il see
And in other cases 1 had little doubt
that our desperate methods had called t.
the true practice of their faith some who
had 1apsed into open profliGacy or practi
cal unbelief.
Here Mir Gladstone made sune very in
terestingand houghtfuiobservations, which
sounded like spoken reflections ON trutt
:. that already had long possession OF hi:
mind, concerning the illiterate and unpre