The Irish standard., 1909-01-16
BISHOP KEEANE.

blSdOE hEANE.
Explains Why He is Giving Missions
to Non-cathoIios.
Right Rev. James J. Keane, ID. D.,
Bishop Of Cheyenne, Wyo., and form
erly pastor of the Immaculate Concep-
ton church, Minneapolis, tells as follows
why he is giving missions to nom Cath
olics:>
1.-THE real motive is this: To give
helpful information OH question Of
supreme import and practical concern
to every one.- L once, years ago, when
young man filled with enthusiasm,
was persuaded to campaign for the
Prohibition party In Minnesota. One
evening my companion and myself en-
tered little village in Southern Min
nesota, and went to the best hotel
We could find, which happened to be
one managed by fan elderly lady.
asked her if there we're any Catholics
in. that town. She, said: No. sir; why
do you ask?' said Just to satisfy
idle curiosity Then I said to her:
Now that you have bee able to tell
me that there, are no Catholics here.
maybe you can give me some idea Of
the CATHOLIC. Chnrchs,si She said: 4
know all aaout nave bsen
educated with Catholics, take it, or
perhaps have attended convent
schools? oh, no; never put a foot
inside of one.' Perhaps you are well
acquainted with some priests" oh,
never saw one before I saw you, If
you are one.' Well, then, where did
you get your information? L got 1t
from a book written about Catholics
which 1 read Will you kindly tell
me the author of that book?' Father
Chiniquy.' Now, this poor fellow had
been unfortunate in his life; he loved
wine and women too well to remain in
the ranks of the Catholic priests, and
was accommodated from the Church,
and after a while he turned against
the Church which had been his mother,
and said some of the nastiest things
that ever escaped the lips Of man.
This poor lady got her impression OF
the Catholic faith from this book.
"Am I not stating the matter cor
rectly when 1 say that multitudes who
detest the Catholic Church have their
information from just such source as
this? Now, is it not indeed unfortu-
nate that any one should be wrongly
informed on a. matter of great impor-
lance? And is not the Catholic Church
matter Of great Importance; does
she not merit careful investigation and
consideration, rather than the ready
acceptation of the calumny of lies that
have been told about her?
Therefore, the object Of these meet
ings is to correct these Impressions.
There are too many men living today
who would have accepted these un-
truthful stories about her, and they In
turn have enlarged upon these wrong
Impressions, and perhaps have even
hated the Church. I deem it a great
misfortune that any one should hate
the Catholic Church, when If they were
rightly informed they might have
loved her
"Then there is another reason. Chris
tianity and religion generally is at con-
siderable disadvantage in this day Of
ours, when a fakir with no fear of re-
suits may stand up In New York, Chi
cago or Baltimore on Sunday and de-
liver any Of the old calumnies against
revealed religion, denying the virgin
birth Of Christ, or; His divinity, OF
anything that is sensational, and every
newspaper in the country on Monday
will publish It in glaring headlines be-
fore the multitudes. who are perhaps
| disturbed, or at any rate interested
enough to want TO know II these
charges are true. But IL one Of the
defenders Of our faith should go t.
the same newspapers and say to them:
4 have here refutation Of the calum
| ny uttered by Mr.. Jones In New Yors
last Sunday. Will you kindly publist
it?' 'oh, no. no doubt. would be the
reply Of the editors. The world knows
this: there is. nothing new about II
~ 5vf3