The Irish standard., 1900-01-27

indignation that he got up and tried to
tell the preacher what he thought OF
him. Then l had to arise and allay the
confusion by telling the Catholics to
keep still and let him go on and say
what he pleased, that l hoped to be
able to answer him completely and sue
cessful1y on the following evening. The
absorbing topic for the next day was
the exciting incidents OF that night.
The whole town was thoroughly
aroused. The next night, on which 1
was to answer the concatcnated non
sense OF this man, the courthouse was
filled as it never was before.
Just here l would be glad to rclin-
quish this pencil and let another finish
the story. 1t is safe, think, to say
that, figuratively speaking, not only the
epiderms, but the CUTS vera was like
wise removed and laid on the fence
This process, divcsted of all euphemis-
tic and ornate phraseology, is denomi-
mated in the expressive and robust YER
nacular OF Texas as taking off the
hide. The most insatiate desire for
Just revenge was gratifed The sever,
ity of the castigation was such that
after its administration the speaker said
that he forgave him and hoped that all
the Catholics in the house would do
likewise When l finished. he asked ii
he could say few words. | replied:
Certainly. say all that you wish
"I4e began by denying that he had
said that any one who believed the
Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence
was fit only for the lunatic asylum. The
moment he had said this the vast au-'
dience, as though by prcconccrtcd ar
rangement, arose as one man, the Prot
estants being the first to set the exam
pie, and left the courthouse. 1t was
painful to see the expression depicted
upon his countenance. His own Meth
odist congregation was there in body,
and their backs were turned upon him
moving out OF the courthouse going to
their homes. I felt sorry for him, but
could shed no tears, as he brought it
all upon himself. In very short time
after this most unusual and extraordi-
nary occurrence, he and his family quit
the town forever"
Following close upon this incident
several persons were received into the
Church and number OF "prodigal9
sons and daughters returned to long
neglected duties.
From the report OF Rev. w. CASTOR
Payne, missionary in the Diocese OF
Richmond, Va, we take the following:
"Pine Grove, alias Dublin, High
land county-the high ground on which
the missionary work i'll Virginia started
three years ago-was visited again, the
first time since last iall. God blessed
the visitation with some gratifying re-
suits. Three women we're left under
instruction and one convert was re-
ceivcd into the Church His CONVEX
sion was the fruit OF former missions.
His baptism was attended with unus-
ual and edifying circumstances 1t
came about in this way:
"a month or so before this young
man had been stricken down with a
serious sickness, which proved to be his
last illness. During his sickness min.
lister called to offer to him spiritual
comfort He asked him If he wouldn't
like to join the church before he died.
Yes, sir, I have made up my mind to
join the Church. and | hope to God
I will live long enough for that why
not let me baptize you now, then, and
take you into the church to-day? The
Church have decided to join is the
Catholic Church, for believe in that
Church and am waiting for the priest
to come and baptizc me- God spared
his life till the missionary arrived.
Simple and touching was his profession
Of faith. Father, l am awful glad to
see you. l want you to baptize me, be-
cause believe in your Church. How
long, I asked, have you believed in the
Catholic Church, Since the time you
gave your first mission out here, three
years ago. I believed in what you
preached, though l could not read any
OF those books you gave us. | am
convinced that the Catholic Church is
Gods Church.
"Aiter questioning him upon the cs-
scntial truths for salvation, 1 found he
believed sufficient for baptism, which
administered that afternoon. III as the
poor fellow was, the following day
Sunday-hc edited the whole neighbor-
hood by bundling himself up and going
down a mile or more to attend the lee
lures at the schoollhousc. His was
case OF son returning to the faith of
his fathers, for Catholic blood ran in
his veins on his patcrnal side; his
grandfather was a Catholic from old
Erin. Several weeks afterwards he was
called to his reward. May he now in
tercede with God for the conversion OF
numbers of the wcll-disposed of his
race found in the country districts OF
Virginia and West Virginia!
"My observation on this trip devcl
oped this fact: That one of the best