The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-01-15

-
The Rev. Mr.. Haskins acknowledged
that he was nonplussed He revolved
the one thought Of q poor, unauthorized
layman-even a lowly domestic-being,
in reality able to do all that he, a
minister of the church of Christ, could
do!
Then he said to her:
Miss A., what more could your
church do?"
"Oh, doctor, my church would not have
any objection to all you have done for
my mistress, but 1t would be very
small part, indeed, of the Catholic
priests work. of preparing one to ap-
pear before the great judge"
well, Miss" said Rev. Mr., Haskins.
what would your church do in such IN
all-important moment as that of fast
approaching death?"
"Why, DOCTOR" answered the young
woman, "the dying person would make
sacramental confession and be excited
to true contrition for every sin-great
and small-then be absolved by the
priest having the power to forgive sins.
Doctor, do you know that our Lord left
that blessed and consoling power to His
church, as we see in St. Johns gospel:
l think 1t is the twcnty-third verse Of
the twentieth chapter.
after that the Catholic priest would
give the dying person the holy COM
munion-the sacrament of the most sa-
cred body and blood Of our Lord. You
certainly know, doctor, that my church
holds the doctrine of the real presence
and that the priest is the minister of
that greatest of all sacraments, and
that. of all times that of the near an
proach of death, is the one on which
such a sacrament-with it's wonderons
graces-is most needed
"You know that it is pledge-a
special pledge of union with our Lord.
who says, He that eateth Of NV flesh
and drinketh of my blood abideth In me
and l in him (St. John, VII: 5G-a
pledge too, of everlasting life and of a
glorious resurrection, lie that eateth NV
nesh and drinketh my blood ha.-- ever
lating life and l will raise him ND in
the last day (St. John vi: 55.)
'Besides, doctor, the Catholic priest
would also administer the great sacra-
ment of extreme JUNCTION, whose special
grace is to prepare the departing one 20
die holy and happy death est. James
Epistle, IA, 15.)
These, doctor, alc the chief things,
preparatory to death: which my church
has the priest do. These are the divine
ly instituted means employed by divine
ly appointed ministers. Apart from
them, our prayers (Which may be said
by anyone) are so beautiful, though mo-,
OF divine institution like the sacra-
ments, SO we'll calculated to awaken in
the hearts of the dying the best dispo-
sitions. Those prayers are within the
reach of all, being found in our large
prayer books"
At this point the Rev. Mr.. lIaskins
took leave of the Catholic domestic
Gods work, however, did not stop here.
He could not shake off the one worrv-
Ing thought that he-duly exercising
the ministry Of the Protestant Episco-
pal church-Was unable to do anything
more than mere female domestic. for
the dying. Powerless to absolvc; power
less, then, to administer the holy ell
charlst; powerless to anoint; powerlcss
in everything except what a mere lay
man could do.
The Rev. Mr.. Haskins performed his
last official act as an Episcopal min
lister in 1887, and shortly after his con-
version called on the Rt. Rev. Dishon
(Catholic), of Boston, to see If that
dignitary would encourage him to study
for the priesthood. He was kindly told
to proceed slowly and cautiously-to
take, at least, some months to think the
matter over. Such advice having been
complied with, he presented himself
again to the bishop, who told him to
enter, at once, on the preparation of
study, etc. He was ordained priest in
1874, and filled several important posi-
tions. During his cmincntly fruitful
and etlifying ministralons as a priest.
he established the House of the Angel
Guardian'-a home for orphan boys;
built 1t up to it's present large useful
ness; watched over It's interests with
consummate zeal and love till his death.
Oct. 5, 1872. God alone can tell the
measure and extent of the good ac
complished by this noble convert in the
one work of the House of the Angel
Guardian, 85 Vernon street, Boston,
Mass. His great work still lves-man-
aged by the Brothers of Charity.
A New Form Of Personalities.
The old style of portrayng famous
people through sketch" or "bioera-