Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-05
DIR. DE COSTA BECOMES A CATHOLIC
eing Ineligible to Priesthood, he
VIII Write and Lecture.
New York Herald. IND

Inc KfE. Ut. i. T.. lie 1pSen' Nh''t 60
September rector OF the Protestant tpis-
copal Church Of 81. John tho Evangelist,
Of this city. has entered the Roman Cath
Ollie Church. This step was predicted by
many persons when DR.. De Costa re-
signed from the Episcopal ministry ana
later from membership In the 'hurch.
Or. De COsta's formal reception INTO
the Roman Catholic communion took
place yesterday afternoon. The ceremony
was private, witnessed by only rev
Catholic and Protestant friends. The
place where 1t occurred is withheld, by
DR.. De Costa's request.
the fact that DR.. De Costa is married
makes him ineligible for the priesthood,
and he. therefore. has no ecclesiastical
prospects in the Catholic Church. He has
declared his intention OF deyoting him
self 10 writing and lecturing, in both OF
which fields he is by no means a new
conner.
AUNT AN URsULINE.
Although a descendant Of an old French
Catholic family. DR.. De COsta's more I'M
mediate ancestors We're Huguenots, who
settled in Boston about seven genera
tions ago. One aunt, however. was for
more than fifty years a member Of the
Ursulines. I'm which order she was known
as Sister ST. Clair.
DR.. De Costa counts. among the infiu-
ences tending TO his entering the Catholic
Church, the prayers Of this aunt. as well
as the blessing he received at the Nati-
can from Plus TX, 10 whom, with Mrs.
De Costa. he was personally presented
by Dr. Chatard. afterward Bishop OF
Vincennes.
The profession Of faith which Dir. De
Costa was required 10 make yesterday
includes expression Of belief I'm the incar-
nation, passion. death. and resurrection
of Jesus Christ; the real presence. pri-
macy of 81. Peter. and especially the au-
thority Of THE Holy Scriptures. which
we must interpret and understand only
In the sense which our Holy Mother. the
Catholic Church, has held and does hold"
The concluding words are: $50 help me
God, and these His holy Gospels. which
j touch with my hand"
The clause relating % the Scriptures is
one for which Dr. De Costa has long con-
tended. in opposition 10 Bishop Potter
and his friends.
LONG INCLINED TOWARD ROME.
That Or. De Costa has long had an IN
clnatiOn toward the Catholic Church has
been believed by not a few OF his friends
lie himself recently told o friend OF one
incident that happened more than forty
years ago. He told how. when asked 10
writ0 denomination after his signature
I'm book in which he had registered. he
wrote catholic" In n letter published
in the Christian Standard long ago DR..
Do Costa made the assertion that If he
could not stand on the Episcopal platform
ne would go 10 Rome"
Dr. De Costa has. however. taken the
liberty Of saying some strong things
about the Roman Catholic Church. I'm one
respect he differs from many prominent
converts 90 Catholicism. While most OF
them have been ardent ritualists. h. has
had little 10 do with the ritualists de-
caring them 20 be imitators. doomed 10
extinction I'm the near future by a Broad
Church movement.
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE.
As to his reasons for entering the
Catholic Church. DR. De Costa declined
TO D. interviewed. From another source.
however. the Herald is able 10 present
this accurate statement in regard 10 his
views:
lie holds that the Roman Church is the
only existing body that can now be relied
upon for the defence OF the Bible. He has
cast his lot with that Church as the
"Biblo Church"
He came at last TO regard the Episco-
pal platform as destroyed by the Broad
Church victory, and saw no good in pro-
longing tho struggle.
He holds that the Roman Catholic
Church Is the true Bible church. and
alone capable Of protecting and teaching
the Scriptures in their entirety and in
tegrty.
lie holds that the Church OF Rome
alone offers the true basis for the unfit
cation of Christendom. and is the only
system that can meet the advanced
science and the intelligence Of the age.
Since his resignation from the Episco-
pal Church according 10 what is said by
those in close touch with him. DR.. De
Costa has had invitations TO join many
determinations. including the Refo2ned
Episcopal. the Catholic and Apostolic.
the Old Catholic, and the Congregations
alst.