The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-03
A GREAT PRIEST AND PREACHER.

Is the world coming to an end. One hundred
years ago the Londoners, led by Lord George Cor
DON the Scotch nobleman and fanatic, flung the
blazing torch into Catholic homes and slaughtered
the unhappy "papists" escaping from the flames,
Then back in the sos when DR.. Wiseman was APP
pointed by Rome missionary apostolic to England
and afterward elevated to the cardinalate, Lord
| Durham set the heather afre by series of infam-
matory letters and proclamations. The military
alone saved the unfortunate ''Dogans" as the Cath
olics were then stigmatized from the fate of their
so-religionists in the days of Lord Gordon. Do the
dead know what is happening upon the earth they
long ago left for ever! If they do, that which is
now occurring in London, England, will surprise
them. A Jesuit priest is now the admiration and
the lion of Englishmen. Father Vaughan who nine
months ago speaking to a beggarly array of
half empty benches, has caught the ear and the re-
spect of England An hour before the time set for
his sermon his church is nearly filled and to report
his deliverances has become a regular assignment
for Londons best newspaper men, Even the CORE
spondents of our great American papers are cabling
accounts of Father Vaughan and his sermons The
basis of his sermons is Christ and Him Crucifed"
Thousands who are wearied with the modernity and
sensationalism of the who are copying in their
mannerisms and elocution Sturgeon Talmage and
Parker, hundreds who have revolted against the
new and cold booded theology of the Rev. R. j.
Campbell have come to regard the great Jesuit az
one of the most powerful opponents of the Chris
tianity of their fathers, By the courtesy of the
Catholic pew-hoders and parishoners the church.
when Father Vaughan breaches, is almost exclusive
y given over to Protestants and non Christians We
told that the great priest is not sensationalist
if he were he would not be great-that he is not
orator in the conventional sense of the word
that he is far from being a man of commanding
personality. What, then, is the secret of his
strength? Fearlessness, immoveable faith child like
simplicity and the sincerity of a man who knows
that God will measure him and Judge him. How he
affects veteran newspaper correspondent and p
seasoned campaigner in many lands is told by James
ODonnell Bennett in the Chicago Record Herald.
Mr.. Bennett writes from London:
"Ie Gather Vaughan) makes you quail; he
sends you away tremulous with hundred emotions
hopes, anxieties, regrets, resolutions aspirations
He grips you Bullets you, rails at you, then seems
to throw his great around you and drag you
painting, hurt ashamed and eager, onward with him
to the heights. For prodgous effect produced by
simple and at times uncouth means, he surpasses
any preacher | ever heard and have reported over
hundred and written analyses as thoroughly as L
could compass them all. He uses no notes, he be-
gins fateringly, speaking very slowly and with la
bored clearness."
Mr.. Bennett goes on to say that ones first i'm
preston is that of disappointment, so simply and
quietly does he proceed to tell some familiar Bible
story. He finishes it and then begins to apply the
lesson or moral to every day life and as it would
seem to every listener. His manner changes. The |
words leap and tumble from his lips. His face
deepens in color. The voice rises at times to iubi-
liant shout-and it is one of Englands great voices
with the ring and roar of a battle cry in it. set
ting the blood tingle. He rises upon his tiptoes |
and crashes back upon his heels. His body swayq |
with his emotions The perspiraton stands out
upon his face His eyes burn. Listen to the Rec
ord Herald's foreign writer: what is he2 we'll !
rounded, red faced, gray haired man who is pro-
foundry moved about something and whom rush
of blood to the head may lay low the next instant"
Yes, he is that; simple Catholic priest, ruddy
old-fashioned antiquated if you WILL as the world
goes, and behind the times. But peers of England
are sitting rigid under the spell of the man, the
priest and the duchesses are nertousy biting their
lips and wiping their eyes. He is preaching
Christ and Him Crucifed." Chastity, death and