The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-09-17


every compartment in it stood open.
Referring to this, Sir Hiram said: Had
this laxity been practiced in England
the factory would have been gutted
the first night it was unlocked.
Therefore it was not surprising that
when one of the proselytising agents
called on Sir Hiram Maxim and re-
quested donation for the Spanish
Missions" he not only refused, but
added that he was willing to subscribe
instead to any movement that would
make the morals Of England like those
Of Spain.
1t was particularly, however, the
clergy of Spain who We're criticised,
and held up to ridicule as men with
out learning OF piety-like their flocks,
ignorant and benighted-solely intent
upon keeping the eyes Of the people
bandaged lest they should see the evan
gelical truth. Far different was the
true character, of the Spanish priest.
I1c Was d IHdlIt Ol plety ana eHIlSnIeH.
ment devoted Ito his sacred ministry,
and intent upon preserving to the peo-
pie the blessings of the Catholic faith.
At the Vatican Council forty Spanish
Bishops assisted. and held the foremost
place for their eloquence and profound
knowledge Of divine truth.
| He would take one case, which would
serve better than many words to illus
trate the character of the Spanish
priesthood. He took it from Mr.. Bor-
rows book, entitled 1.-THE Bible in
Spain." That gentleman was head Of
the Colporteurs, whose mission it was
to spread the Protestant Bible in
Spain. He waS not a friend of the
Catholic priesthood in Spain. On the
contrary he went out Of his way to
attack them andsmalign them in every
possible manners Nevertheless, on one
occasion he felt constrained to confess
the true state .of things. In an in
tensely Catholic district he was obliged
to throw himself upon the hospitality
Of the local padre. This priest had
nothing to4diiistahsais4a Inn from the
thousand other priests he had seen
throughout the Country districts of
Spain. He seemed to be as unintelli-
gent and benighted as the rest. In Mr..
Borrow's words, he was "a plain, un-
informed man. almost as simple and as
incapable of emotion as a tortoise in
it's SHE'LL" However, he received him
most kindly. In Spanish style he "em-
braced him very affectionately," and
l without hesitation extended whole-
hearted hospitality to him. To Mr..
Borrow's surprise the good, kind priest
proved himself a man of wide infor-
wrote: II soon saw that 1 was in the
tpresence of one of those remarkable
old men who frequently spring up in
the bosom of the Romish Church, and
who to a chidlike simplicity join I'M
mense energy and power Of mind
equally adapted to guide the scanty
flock in some obscure village in Spain
or to convert millions of heathens OH
the shores of Japan or Paraguay" Mr..
ish priest lived in small cottage sim
gularly neat and clean. His whole in
come was about $500 a year. OF that
sum he spent only 1925 on his own
maintenance; the remaining sum he
disposed in charity among his flock.
Such was the character. as drawn by
an avowed enemy, of the much malign-
cd and most Jealous and devoted Span
ish priest.
The secret of the unceasing torrent
of abuse and obloquy poured out in the
English press upon the Catholic Church
in Spain was the utter failure of the
English and American agencies to make
any impression on the faith and piety
Of the Spanish people. During the
past 80 years millions Of Bibles, Tes-
taments and Protestant tracts had
flooded the cities and country districts
of Spain. Hundreds of agents had beer
engaged in carrying on the work ol
Evangelical proselytism. Nevertheless
the latest census gave to Spain Cath.
olic population Of about 10 millions
while the whole number of Protestants
was less than 1000, many Of whom
were the families of the agents, OF
were otherwise employed, by them.
No Slouch.
Il The men in the Pullman smoker were