The San Francisco call., 1910-07-03
[Seeeial Disea.eh 70 The celIl

NEW YORK. July Father MET
lane, who died recently in St Louis.
Mo, was remarkable for several things
Tor one thing, he was little known
among the clergy of his own city. or
even among his own brethren of the
Jesuit order. He was never heard in
the pulpit. and he had. as a rule, no
time for social duties He was almost
~ entire stranger 70 his own relatives
in the old world. Yet the editor of
the Western Watchmau declares that
few persons read OF his death who did
not eEclaim; A good man has gonet
He was remarkable, especially and
above all. for his absolute unstinted
personal devotion to the submerged
tenth" Of the city Of St. Louis. Like
his blessed Master, his chosen compan-
ions were sinners and pUblicans, the
deEpised Outcasts Of a great American
city
1t has been well said that there are
few men like Father McErlane vouch
safed to the world, but they are the
more treasured for that Don Bosco
in Italy; ST Vincent de Paul in France;
Father Drumgoole and Father McEr-
lane In this country, have preached
gospel that the scoffer can not answer
and the prOhigate can not resist. The
dogma Of good works is acceptable TO
al, and that IS the lesson driven home
by Father McErlane's life.
His home was in the confessional;
and he lived in It when not away on
call Of charity. People who are
brought in contact with the poor and
the unfortunate considered his death an
irreparable calamity. The poor and
the outcasts Of the streets bowed their
heads in sorrow over the loss Of their
dearest friend on earth
It has been said of him that he was
not attracted to the rich and the people
who. belonged TO the higher social
walks. He had few friends among the
ultrafas hionablei but OH the iowIy
.worshiped him. He was the servant Of
the unfortunate; and he had no hours"
for anybody. He was as ready TO visit
the poor and needy in the night as in
the day; and ii can be said that the
owl car was his coach as often as those
on regular runs.
His influence over the most hard
ened sinners was Of a peculiar sort,
anlo uniting almost TO fascination His
words We're SO CHEEKY, his manner so
open and engaging, his honesty so ap-
parent, that it was hard TO resist his
appeal. Mixing familiarly with the de-
DraVeo. he never lost a title Of their
reverence; and prisoners who asked to
see him through curiosity called for
him again to receive religious instruc-
uon. He was never Obtrusive He
was as kind to those who repeIIed his
ilnlstrauons as TO those who sur
rendered 10 his arguments What he
made all know and understand was
mat he was broaher, and had the
heart and hand Of a brother for ALL
Yet his work was not carelessIy done.
those who were converted by him re-
nalned true TO their new faith and
resolutions. He was thoroughly con-
WINGED that those who blasphemed God
and spoke against religion were not in
earnest; and they seemed TO he clad
10 hnd one man who refused to take
them seriously His arguments We're
appeals to his hearers hope and better
nature; and they seldom failed
The biography Of Father McErlane,
could II be written. would be a dis
tinct encouragement 10 many readers
IN these days Of bitter conflict between
good and evil.
In the leading article in a recent
issue OF the Home Field, published by
tne mission board Of the Southern
Baptist convention, entitled. Light
from the Vatican" W. Harry Young.
Ph. D., puts the startling question:
Is IL not true that to the man in the
street Roman Catholics appear TO be
the only orthodox teachers?"
lie tells US that Professor James
Of Harvard recently delivered in Eng
lan1 = course Of lectures. in which
he said that the teachings Of the bible
have been gradually discarded in the
universities Of Europe and America.
with the exception Of Roman Catholic
institutions. in which the old doctrines
are professed as firmly as ever. Pro-
lessor James went on TO say that in
the prominent universities except
those conducted by the church Of
Rome, the foundations of the teach
ms, such as have endured unchanged
for hundreds Of years. have been re-
Versed within a generation.
Then. referring to socialism, which
combats the old beliefs with no less
energy than higher criticism or lib
erslism, our Baptist friend cites the
contrast between Catholics and others
pointed out by H G. Wells, the So
cialist author, who says that Social
ism is espoused by vast numbers of
the clergymen Of all creeds excepting
the Roman Catholic" The attract
iVeness Of Catholic doctrine, accord
ing 10 Brother Young, is thereby en-
hanced, and wins the respect of those
good citizens who Jeplore the growth
Of virtual anarchy"
The death Of King Edward VII
served to recall the fact that he ac-
tually attended a Catholic mass, cele-
brated IN his own palace Of Bucking-
ham, few years go. This serves to
show how much Importance he at
tached to the blasphemous oath which
ne mumbled over inarticulateIy and
bE5th an evident sense Of humiliation
on the occasion Of his coronation.
It appears that one Of his old serv-
ants was dying. He was q Catholic.
and when ii was discovered that death
was imminent the king himself asked
The archbishop of Westminster to ar
range for the dying mans reception of
the last sacraIaentg, and he asked If
mass could not be celebrated in the
sick room. The archbishop granted
the request SO an improvised altar
was set up and the king and queen
were both present at the mass. said
for the first time in centuries in a
royal palace Of England.
After more than 200 years cessation