The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-14

object 10 its application. Nevertheless
the use OF the word is so thoroughly
established that we would hardly be
justified in attempting to invent new
| term. Some converts, If we must use
the word. after losing their standing
with Protestants, discover that they
| have little or none among Catholics.
says the New York Freeman's Journal.
! When an Episcopaiian Iltualist comes
! into the Church and goes out of it after
| some years, only to speak evil of Cath
| olicity, the convert left behind very
naturally incHnes to ask himself what
may be thought of his own case. The
one newly arrived from the City OF
Confusion may feel at times a sense of
uneasiness respecting his position; yet,
if he sees things in their true light he
nay realize that in the Catholic
Church, or elsewhere, condolences must
be deserved. 1t cannot be conferred
by any town meeting process. If there
is nothing in particular in his known
character and past history to inspire
faith. he must proceed to justify trust,
if he wants any, by present action.
Yet, since the Church, like Tenny
sons brook, goes on forever, while to
the contrary the period of the individ-
ual is limited, Catholics need not wait
until the convert is as ancient as Me-
thuselah before entertaining some lit
tie trust in his sincerity. Too much
delay is UnWholesome. 1t was amusing
the other day to hear a young Catho-
lie, who was dumped into the Church
in babyhood without being consulted,
say of a venerable, gray-haired priest,
who fought his way in at the expense
of friends and his patrimony, There
goes a convert" Some people enjoy
being converts" Two Jesuit priests
in England, being asked what they had
TO be the most thankful for, one re-
piled that it was the fact that he was
born Catholic. while the other said
that he was thankful because he was
not born . Catholic. The convert often
buys the truth at a high price, and
values it accordingly.
Our Western converts" accept the
situation with a good grace, and intend
to do the best they can with it, having
expressed their faith by organizing a
Catholic Converts League. 1t is to be
hoped under the circumstances that not
many of the class who, had they been
born Professionals, would never have
had the spunk to venture the first step
toward the Catholic Church, may not
now, with the impressive wisdom of the
wiseacre, undertake to discourage our
Chicago brethren by attempting to
impeach their good sense. In the null
tiplicity of Societies-all of them candi-
dates for faVOr-theTe may naturally be
q disposition to elbow and even hustle
the newcomer Yet every movement
should be judged on its merits. 1t is
in one quarter this month !
that converts don't amount to much
while those who keep in touch of jour |
nalistic expression frequently see the |
warning in respect to making too |
much of converts. Converts can stand |
it if the Church can, and they have no |
fear of that. Holy Church in America !
has survived a considerable amount of |
poor organization, and after coming |
out of it in good condition, will doubt |
less, as whole, be willing now to give |
converts" fair trial. The organization I
has its raison d eter, no doubt, and the |
Archbishop of Chicago has given the /
League his blessing. In other parts of |
the country, and especially in New !
York, some action in it's favor may be
after the vacation. if not be-
fore. The converts experience should |
qualify him in no small meas |
ire for the work of dealing with those |
)ut of the Church: While, instead of |
himself from the general /
activity, the member of the League will
De eager to join in that confederation |
# Catholic societies advocated by the /
League, therefore. is good and entirely
with the hearty prosecution
If every kind of work now carried on
n the Church. For its patron saint it
las selected the great Apostle to the
5entiles while it is proud to point to
Cardinal Newman as shining example
If what modern convert should be,
having arranged to place his portrait
II their hall when ready. With it's
MOTTO, Lead, Kindly Light" should
lot the League have a welcome?
The society is now organized with
he following officers:
President-B. V. Hubbard.
Vice Presidents-Mrs.A Alma MacDon-
hell, Alex Macmillan and William L.
Smith.
William Stetson Merrill.
Treasurer-Miss E. Brownell.
Chairman of Finance Committee-C.
). EWardS.
Recorder-Miss Harriet B. Lehman.
1t is not alone local, but all Catho-
les IN the United States are especially
Interested in it's work. and branch
eagues will be formed in all parts of
he country. While this organization
s composed principally of converts to
he faith, any Catholic is eligible to
membership. Lead, Kindly Light"
appears upon the pin worn by mem
)ers throughout the State Negotia-
ions are being made for permanent
quarters, and a fine portrait of Car
linal Newman has been donated to the
oclety by Mrs c. Vinton Henry. who
S convert, and was personally ac-
Iuainted with His Eminence.
Throuh the courtesy Of Rev. Hugh
dcGuire, the first public celebration of
he Converts League was held at st.
ames' Church, corner o. Twenty ninth
treet and Wabash avenue, on Sunday.
July l. By request, Lead kindly
light was sung by the cuartetta. This
olemnization received the approval
md blessing of the Archbishop. Rev.
,homas E. Judge, well known in Cath
NC literary circles, delivered the first
ermon for the League
The objects of this society. as set
orth in its bylaws, are to enlarge
mong its members the accurate
of their religion and to stin1-
Hate them to the regular practice of
Is duties; to propagate the faith by
PERSONAL example and social inter
curse. It has been stated by outsiders
hat When Il person becomes a convert
0 Rome he is more ,or less ostracized
" Protestant friends, and to some eX-
ent at first ignored by Catholics, or at
east treated With slight suspicion,
onsequently he finds himself standing
lone. One of the principal motives of
his organization is to do away with
ny such ideas, for it has been formed
n the broad basis of fraternity. The
eading Catholic clergymen are much
lterested in this movement. At stated
intervals prominent divines viii de!iV-
r public lectures on stirring theolog-
al subjects: The Inspiration of Holy
cripture," Free WIZ and Higher
criticism - RiShOn Kpane formerly
cad of the University at Washington
nd recently appointed Archbishop Of
Dubuque; also, Rev. F. G.. Lenz, the
ifted written and missionary will