The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-02-13
Auditorium Mission a Tremendous
Success,

Despite the fact that the thermome-
ter hovered around zero, and even fell
several degrees below before the even
Ing was over, between 5000 and 10. .00C
people turned out Monday night to hear
the first Of the series of lectures on
Reasonableness of Catholic Belief al
the Denver Auditorium Bishop J. J.
heane of Cheyenne had been announced
widely as the lecturer selected by Den
Yer council 539 for the weeks mission,
and this fact is probably responsible for
the fact that the cold failed to keep the
interested ones at home.
Considering that il was the bitterest
night Denver has known during an eX-
ceptonally hard and cold winter the
attendance on Monday night was gem
uine tribute TO the ability of Bishop
keane and an evidence of his populari-
" with the masses
The Auditorium was at it's best. 1t
was arranged as it was for the Democ-
ratio national convention last July. and
f1ags decorated the balconies and the
rostrum. The seats in front of the
speaker were reserved for a choir es-
pecially trained to lead the congrega-
tional singing. Miss Josephine Woe
Der, director of St EliZabeths choir.
had charge Of the music.
Shortly after Bishop Keane was es-
corted to the rostrum the audience
arose and sang Nearer, My God, to
Thee" Then John b. McGauran. grand
knight of Denver council 559, knights
OF Columbus, under the auspices Of
which organization the mission is being
given, made the Introductory speech.
He defined the objects of the under
taking in a clear and concise manner.
and then Bishop Keane began the an
sWering of questions left i'm the Ques-
ton box at the door. There were about
fifty of them propounded, and as the
time was short he took up only few.
This feature of the mission is especially
attractive to a great many in search of
the truth
Bishop Keane arrived i'm Denver Mon
day morning and was met at the depot
by reception committee composed of
Father Joseph P. Carrigan. pastor of
st. Patrck's church; John H. Reddin
and Charles A. Mast. On the ride to
The Brown Palace hotel where head
quarters had been engaged, Bishop
heane talked to the Denver correspond
ent OF the InteTmountain Catholic of
the idea Of the series of lectures he was
about the inaugurate and of the i'm
portance of the movement.
II have not come to tell any man
that he is wrong" said the bishop in a
kindly voice. but in the hope that we
will all be drawn closer to Almighty
God. The lectures are not to be contro-
VerSial- / hope to point out the fun
damentals of belief in Divinity. ] do
not intend to have any prayers during
the meetings because there viii be
those of all denominations and creeds
who will seek admission. The minis
trations of a Catholic bishop would
probably be unpleasant to some. The
knights Of Columbus have made the
II n
other place has the experiment been
made, and that was in Cedar Rapids.
Ia, where only 5000 people could get
within reach Of the speakers voice. I
had the honor to deliver that series of
lecturese My audience nightly was
composed of Protestants to the extent
of IS per cent, and l had several min
listers there, too. The question box was
well patronized. and 1 believe that those
who came were anxious to learn the
truth.
In Denver ] viii have the opportuni-
" Of talking to 1900 people at time
because of the immensity of the Au-
ditorium. I expect the Catholic people
10 come. but We want most of all the
non Catholics.
There have been missions to non
Catholics time and time again in the
last few years, but as a rule they are
held in Catholic churches. and there
are those who are averse TO going to a
Catholic house of worship. The indi-
vidual priests have never been able to
manage an affair of the magnitude of
this undertaking of the Denver Knights
of Columbus. In fact, l might say, that
il is the biggest thing any body Of lay
men has ever done. Father Elliott, the |
Paulist priest, is responsible for the
origin of the movement. 1 hope that 1t
viii continue to grow