The leader., 1899-05-10
rB.EE LECTURES TO NON CATHOLICS.
by the Eloquent Pulpit Orator.
The Rev. T. Mcnamara, Of the Catho-
lie Missionary Union.
AZ 81. Francis Church. Brookhaven, Miss,
Commencing Sunday Evening. May
nj y oseloeE

At st. Francis Church. Brookhaven, Miss,
Commencing Sunday Evening. May
FL, at 3 o'clock.
The great religious divergence that
originated at the Reformation nearly
four centuries ago, has been the source
of much luminosity and lack of charity
among men who are children of the
same Heavenly Father and members
of the same brotherhood in Christ
Jesus the Lord. History teaches us
that between the old Mother-church
and the various religious bodies that
arose at the time, and even among
these various religious organizations,
there, has been strife and even cruel
persecution. For generations our
ancestors towards one another ex-
hibited frequently spirit not in
accordance with the great law OF
charity. In our own day and gen.
Grafton, the sagacious observer
notes change. Instead of the
old rigid separation there is now
developing a tendency to draw near
one another. federation is supplant-
ing persecution among Protestant
denominations. There exists already
a deep under-current, that is bearing
thinking men slowly but gradually to-
wards the establishment of harmony
in religious beliefs. And even while
as yet no satisfactory solution OF the
problem has been reached, there has
been created bond of sympathy that
already unites members of different
Protestant denominations. 1t is a
fact undoubtedly deplorable that as
yet this sympathy has not been suffici-
emily extended from Professionals to
Catholics.
There still lives prejudice against
the old church. There are many fair
minded Protestants but their are also
among them many prepossessed
against the Catholic Church and her
children. 1t is the conviction OF
thinking Catholics that if the Catho-
lie Church were better known as to
her nature her doctrines and practi-
tees, she would be more favorably
looked upon by those not of her COM
munion.
The attainment of this has been
made the aim of an organization called
the Catholic Missionary Union. This
organization has for its purpose, not
Protestants to Catholicity, as the
breaking of the barriers that separate
Protestant and Catholic fellow-citizens.
Its existence and hopes for success
depend upon the Unborn fair minded
ness so characteristic of the American
people, and to this trait of character
it directs its earnest appeal. 1t de-
sires to place before the Protestant
part of the community the Catholic
Church as she is, to throw upon
her the searchlight of unbiased in
vestigation. 1t sends forth lecturers,
and charges them to give complete
answers to the inquiries of intelligent
| Protestants.
Let it not, however, be supposed,
that the Catholic Church has ever
shrunk from publicity; she never has
| feared to be known as she is. She and
her children have indeed suffered from
misapprehension and consequent in
| tolerance in the Protestant mind, and
it is with this misapprehension and
intolerance that the Catholic Mission
airy Union, through its lecturers, in
tends to take issue.
Already in various parts of our
country it has done much good in this
direction. 1t has not always made
converts, but glories in the fact that it
has produced mutual liberation and
good will. This is the scope of the
Lectures to non-C Catholics that are to
be given here at ST. Francis Church.
The Lectures will endeavor to rep
resent clearly the Catholic Church as
she knows herself to be. A feature of
the Lectures will be the opportunity it
will afford inquiring minds to satisfy
themselves on any doubt that they
may have with regard to the Catholic
Church. To this end will be establish
ed the "Question Box" Into this any
person may place written statement
of any question he may wish answered
or any doubt he may wish cleared up.
The Lecturer binds himself to answer
fully and charitably as to all points of
discussion that may thus be suggested.
Every non-Catholic possesses the
privilege of asking a question, but it is
not necessary to add ones name.
| A most cordial invitation is there
fore extended to all non Catholics of
Brookhaven and of the surrounding
villages and country to be present at
the Lectures, and to take an active
part in promoting unbiased discussion
Admission free and seats for all.
AUG. ALTHOFF,
Rector