The Irish standard., 1901-05-25
NoN-CATHoL1C MISSIONS.
Rev. A. P. Doyle Relates Some Inter-
eSting Facts.

SSuAS S~Sos
At mission given to nom Catholics
in Battle Greek, Mich, by Rev. Elias
1ounan there were twenty five people
placed under instruction for baptism,
says Rev. A. p. Doyle, the Paulist
missionary. This is the result of one
week in the inquiry class Of 81. Out
of the other %, who have been left
behind, a large percentage will no
doubt follow the example set by the
%, who had determined to become
Catholics. Again at non Catholic
mission given in New Brunswick, N.
j., under the direction of the parish
priest, Father O'Grady, and with the
assistance Of the Paulist Fathers, large
crowds attended every evening and
prominent among the crowds were the
bright faces Of the young students of
the we'll known Rutgers college. The
great pumber of pertinent and intelli-
gent questions that were dropped into
the box indicated that these young
students were talking a very active in
terest in the teachings of the Catholic
church.
A prominent member of the Metho-
dist church told me lately 'that there
are hundreds Of the most intelligent
men in the church who are eagerly
seeking for a truth that will satisfy
their minds and calm the unrest that
fills their souls.' '"rhey are watching
with a great deal Of interest" he said,
the progress Of the mission move
nlent for non Catholics in the Catho-
lie church, This, they think, will be
the door to peace and rest for their
souls.
The chance expressions uttered by
converts often give the missionary a
clearer idea of Protestant difficulties
than would long and elaborate expla-
nations. The missionary laboring to
bring souls into the church tries to
put himself in the place Of outsiders
so that he may see their difficulties
and offer adequate help and very often
i'll conversations some word OF phrase
reveals, as nothing else would, the diff
church.
During nOn-Catholic mission lately
man who had been very regularly in
attendance was given two we'll known
controversial works by the missionary.
The man took them and said he would
look into them and Went away. Moth
ing was heard of him again during
that mission, but the next year the
same missionary happened to open an
other mission in the same town. A
man presented himself and asked for
baptism. The missionary did not rec
ognize him as the one to whom he had
given the books the year before. but
the man mentioned the circumstances
and then said. "Well, sir those books
lay on my desk for months and some
how l never seemed to get the time
or have inclination to read them. At
last one day my wife said there was
no reason why they should be lying
around littcring up the place; she
would put them away. Hold on l,
said. III just glance through them
first. l guess Well sir. 1 no sooner
began to read them than I felt in
ftenseiy Interested. l couldn't put them
down until had finished them, and
then | said to my wife, Mary, L said
that the Catholic church is the church
for me and I'm going to join it just as
soon as the missionary comes back.
My wife said she would join, too and
SO we want you to baptize us, Father,
just as soon as you cam
The missionary examined the man
and afterward saw his wife, and find
ing them both sufficiently instructed
gave them baptism. They are now
both warm and practical Catholics
another man came to me on an
other OCCASION" the missionary contin-
ued. land he said, Father, l would
like to be Il Catholic right well, but
cannot get over confession: that some
how sticks in my crop What is the
lnatter?' l asked. We'll, you see.' he
replied. how can l ever get down on
my knees and tell man what | have
done? Why, there are some things
wouldn't even tell my Wife. 1 smiled
at that, but said, Now suppose one of
your children should do sometime
wrong you would be willing enough to
forgive him but you would want TO
have him tell you about it first,
wouldn't you" Yes, l guess I would,'
he made answer. We'll, then, it is lust
the same with our Father in heaven.
He is willing enough to forgive your
sins, but he wants you first to tell Him
about them through His priests who
sit in His stead. Do you see?
The man went away thoughtful
In about week he returned and said.
i see it all now. l understand and T
believe, and 1 want you to give ma
baptism l put him under instruc.
tion. and when he knew enough of
the faith l admitted him to tho
church,
An Englishman. fond of telling bis
1,oI