The Irish standard., 1904-10-08
A ToUCHINGilS
i How Rev. Father Brannan Brought
About Conversion.
Pathetic Scene at the Bedside of a
Dying Girl.

Among the more than 1900 priests
diocesan and regular, in the United
States there is not, perhaps, a more
nan. of Texas Though attached to
the diocese of Dallas, Father Brannan
is invariably referred to as ''of Texas"
his work being entirely of a mission
airy character, especially devoted to
non-Catholics and not confined to any
particular portion of the Lone Star
State, nor to that state at all, i'll fact,
he being just as likely to be heard
from in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado or
New Mexico. Successfully a Confed
crate soldier lawyer, mayor of Il town
and finally priest, Father Brannan
has had crowded into his life more
varied and thrilling experiences than
could be found in the combined
careers of score of ordinary mortals
\ man of wide information, eloquent
and forceful in debate, he has achieved
signal success in the missionary field,
his presence on the platform never
failing to attract large audiences.
A firm believer in the Catholic press,
this Jealous priest often finds time,
despite his ceaseless activity in his
chosen work, to favor it with commu-
nications written in terse, graphic
language characteristic of the man
and always deeply interesting and edi-
flying. In the Southern Messenger"
of San Antonio. Texas, there appears
"A letter written by Father Brannan at
Long Beach, Cal, during the present
month. In it there are vivid pictures
of pathetic scenes and incidents of
travel. After naming Il number of
cities and towns visited by him dur
ing his journey from San Antonio to
Long Beach. Father Brannan says:
'In one of the various places men
toned above I got Off the train in the
afternoon and concluded to stay there
till next day. About o o'clock that
night | went to bed to read Il while
before going to sleep. After little
some one knocked at my door. l said,
Come inv A man opened the door. I
said Have {: seat: what's the matter"
4 believe you are a priest?' Yes, sir.
Well, father, I saw you get off the
train and have watched you ever
since. We'll, what for?' We'll,
father, this is it: 1 had fully made
up my mind to kill myself and end my
existence, and had made every prepar-
alton for it, l raised myself up in
bed, not knowing but what the next
words would be. But I thought l
would kill you first Then l said:
What else?' We'll, as soon as l saw
YOU this feeling gave place to another,
and said am going to confession to
that priest and that is what brings
me here. Well, it is hardly necessary
} to say that l felt better Then l said:
Il don't know what your sins are ex-
ccpt one that you have just told me,
not in confession, which is the great
est of all-despairing Of Gods mercy.
Now. anything you have to tell me is
less than that. Don't you know that
your sins. however great. are only as
Il drop Of water compared to the great,
fathomless ocean of Gods mercy?'
The bishop of the diocese in which l
then was had told me several years
previously that whenever I was in his
diocese l had the faculties So the
Door man made his confession, accom-
panied with many pcnitential tears.
SO he was happy, and so was /. At
first had thought he might be insane.
''rhe next day l concluded to stop
off at another place for a day. l had
, never been in the town, and did not
know that there was a soul in it with
whom | was acquainted. l called to
see the priest. He was very cordial
saying he knew me by reputation, etc.
, "Ehe sisters have a fine sanitarium
. at this place. with many patients. !
: went to see the place and was invited
to stay there. While talking to an in
valid priest. Il very refined and digni-
fed gentleman passed out of the SAM
: tAri,lm. | asked who he was. l was
told he was Il banker who had been
. there for six months With an invalid
y daughter, expecting her to die ut any
l time | asked the sisters If she lnd
d over been baptized. They said the!
: did not know. l then made arrange
m"nts to obtain an Introduction to he1
= father. which was soon accomplished
" |;Ilc was very courteous and respectful
q He lived in q state in which | ha(
}. many acq,laintances, and found thai
/, he knew many persons with whom WI
! were both acquainted. When tht
n sharp edge of conventional ceremony
was sufficiently dulled by familiar con
vcrsation, took him to one side ana
l. we both sat on a bench on the from
porticO little after sundown. and W,
|. were all alone. l began: II under
l. stand you have Il daughter here who h
d and has been for IL long time very sick
q tl,ivn 1..i%l, Won onf