The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-06-18
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| very arduOuS. The bishop himself had
to perform the labors and endure the
| hardships of a missionary priest. The
| visits he paid to small circle of Cath
olics, and even to a'single family, were
bishop arrived at any town or village he
was usually waited upon by a body of
| frequently hundred miles. When the
the principal citizens, who invited him
to preach in public. Such was his per-
sonal poverty that he walked the burn
ing sands and pavements of Charleston
with his bare feet to the ground, the
upper leather of his shoes only remain
ing decent, while the soles were worn
away.
In 1926. at the suggestion of some
members OF congress from the South, he
was invited to preach in The hall of rep
resentatives in Washington, the second
Catholic clergyman that ever occupied
that place. A single passage from this
noble production will show how Win
ningly he handled the Catholic question
before his non-Catholic fellow citizens:
Neither my own feelings, nor nv
judgment, nor my faith, would dictate to
me anything calculated to embitter the
feelings of those who differ from me.
merely for that difference. My kindest
trends, my most intimate acquaintance
those whom | do and ought to esteem
ana respect, are at variance with my
creed, yet it does not and shall not de-
stroy our affections. In most, it would
be ingfatitude; for | must avow, and
do it most willingly. that in my jour
ncys through our states. | have been
frequently humbled and abashed at the
kindness with which have been
treated.
Il came among you a stranger. and
went through your land with many and
most serious and unfortunate mistakes.
for which You were not to blame, operat-
ing to my disadvantage. Il Il Catholic
bishop was in truth what he is even
now generally supposed to be in various
parts Of this Union, he should not be
permitted to reside among you: YET |
was received into your houses, enrolled
in your families. and proiitcd by your
Kindness. have frequently put tie
question to myself, whether, il | had
similar impressions regarding YOU.
could have acted with the like kindness,
and must own | frequently doubted if |
could.
1T is true you labored under serious
mistakes as to what was my religion,
ana what were my duties and Ubliga-
tioEs. But You were rot yourselves the
cause of those mistakes, nor had you
within your reach the means of correct
ing them. feel grateful to my friends,
who have afforded me this opportunity
OF perhaps aiding to do away with those
Impressions. for our affections will be
the more strong as those mistakes W. =
be corrected; but it must crafty those
who, loving the country, behold lis
spread through it, to be assured VIC are
not those vile things that have been
painted to their magntions, and which
ought not to be allowed existence in any
civilized community"
The address then goes on to give n
clear and lucid exposition of what Cath
oiCs do in truth hold and practice in re-
lgion to those matters which have been
the chief subjects of the delusions and
prejudiccs OF Professionals against the
church and her followers. and closed
with beautiful appeal to his hearers
to cultivate. first. the love of God. ana
second. the love of their ncighbor, and Il
prayer that our union and harmony here
may he the foundation of an evcrlastine
peace hereafter
The great struggle of Bishop Eng.
lands lille in this country seems to have
been to present the Catholic church, -
doctrines and practices in their 1, =.
light before the American people. In his
efforts 10 do this his labors were indie
lallShblc. His means of accomplishing
this end were various and we'll studied.
He cndcavorcd, from his arrival in the
country, to identify himself thoroughly
with its people. its institutions, its
iopcS, anu llS luluft. lie was VIGllant
and spirited in defending the honor and
integrity of the country as he was in up
holding the doctrines and practices O;
the church.
In his writings and public sermons and
addresses he travelled over the wide
range of history, theology and the arts,
in order to vindicate the spotlcss spouse
of Christ against the calumnies of hcr
enemies. If Catholic citizens and voters
were attracted on the score Of thciI
fidelity to their country and it's institu-
tions, Bishop England's ready pen de-
Tended them from the calumny and
silenccd their accusers. He found the
church in the United States compare
lively defenscless, but he soon rendered
it dangerous task III her enemies to
attack or vllify her, and many who VEN
tured on this mode of warfare wore glad
to retreat from the field before the
crushing weapons Of logic, crudltion and
eloquence with which he battled for his
church. his creed and his people.
Bishop Ensland's controversial writ
Eve