The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-12-28
A SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
Given by a Passionist Father In 6
New HAMPSHIRE Town.

rev. LdNlef button, inc laSSlOnlSt
missionary, recently spent week in
Portsmouth, N. f., and devoted all
his time to the instruction of nom
Catholics. 1t was the first mission of
the kind ever given in that seaport
town. A correspondent of the phila-
delphia Standard and Times says of
it:
On the first night there was an at
tendance of 800 inquirers. The sec
ond night these earnest non-Catholics
numbered not less than 600, and on
some Of the subsequent evenings there
were as many as 800 of them in the
church. The daily newspapers of the
city gave much space to the lectures.
and those who were not able to- attend
read these accounts with much inter
est. In fact, an observant reporter,
who has occasion to meet many of the
leading citizens Of Portsmouth each
day. says that POrtsmOuth's chief
topic of conversation during the week
was these lectures and the Question
Box" The answers of Father Sutton
to the questions about "Predestina-
ton" a "Free Thinker" and the Pope
were universally spoken of with great
favor and commentator. The ques-
lions We're generally of serious turn.
showing keen desire to know the
! truth.
| Perhaps the reader himself will be
most interested in these questions and
answers. They show. sometimes, the
direction Of the cropping mind, they
help us to understand the position of
our nonCatholic brethren. they aid
us to put ourselves in the other fell
lows place and not infrequcntly they
have the effect Of brushing up our
knowledge and information on sub
iects of great moment that in the rush
OF everyday life we may have left far
back with our school books. Ports
mouths Importance on the New Eng
land coast is we'll known and some of
her sons and daughters have taken
proud positions in American letters.
1t was from here that John Sullivan
and John Langtlon set out to strike
the first blow of the Revolution at
Fort William and Mary. But all of
these things arc matters of public
knowledge, so let us helve into Father
Sutton's Question Box and see what
VIC may find.
q. Would a person who has fallen
he received in tho Catholic Church?
A. l take the word fallen to mean
here ono who has departed from that
life of goodness so pleasing to God
IL such Il sinful soul returns with a
deep sorrow for it's wickcdness, the
Church would receive it with open
arms. How did Christ act? Did lie
not receive poor sinners with loving
condesccnSion? Such is our office
to raise the fallen. to console the af
flicted. Our work is that of Christ
who said: II have come to call al
sinners to repentance"
@. Why do Catholics think that
Mary has more power than Christ?
\. We do not think so. All hel
power comes from Christ. We love
and revere co her just because she
is the Mother of Christ. And our love
for her, therefore, is all on His &C
count.
@. Why are the Irish people so ig
norant?
"A. The last United States census
gives native born illitcratcs Mt nea
two millions and foreign born Hitter
ates at n little over half Il million
This does not show that the Irish ar
the ignorant ones. Are not your owl
Irish neighbors as bright and intell
gent as other people?
@. What is q Free Thinker?
A. One who pretends to think as |,
pleases. And it is n misnomer. Til
. intellect is not free. The object of til
! intellect is truth, ana when truth
presented to it the intellect, or thinl
s ing box, of man recognizes it. Whe
! data are given to the mind it must az
necessarily, if it act ut all. Thus,
I say "All men are white" "John
IA man." my mind must say s.John