The Irish standard., 1910-01-22
PAULIST FATHERS
Give q Mission in a Town Without
Single Catholic.

Willow Hill is typical Protestant
town Of about eight hundred inhabi-
tants, not Catholic among the num-
Der, and it has been called the most
prejudiced town in the country.
Recently Rev. Xavier Sutton, c. p,
gave a non-Catholic mission in the
nearby town of Santa Marie, ILL.,, and
as the news of the mission was carried
to Willow Hill, several Of the business
men suggested that such a mission
would take" in the little nom Catholic
town. Through the good offices of
jealous convert, who was brought into
the church as a result of the nom
Catholic mission of year ago, Father
Virnich was induced to again secure
the service Of Father Xavier Sutton,
the well-known missionary of the Pas
sionist Fathers, and on December 10
the lectures began in the Town Hall
Of Willow Hill.
The two priests, the missionary and
the pastor of the church at Santa
Marie, drove into Willow Hill each
evening" over five miles of good roads,
though the air was chill and keen. The
opening lecture was entitled "a Friend
ly Talk" and when the lecturer reach
ed the hail. nearly an hour before the
advertised opening hour, he found the
hall about half filled by an eager
crowd.
AS Father Xavier entered the hall,
wearing the habit of the Passionist,
the people stood up to get good look
at live Catholic priest and, judging
from tho "Ohs" and "Ahs" heard
throughout the hall, evidently they
We're surprised to see no sign Of the
proverbial cloven foot.
When the lecture began the hall was
we'll filled, and at the close one man
was heard to say: Il like to hear that
man talk; no one can find fault with
the doctrine he breaches"
The Town Hall at Willow Hill Is q
small frame structure, with no stage
or platform, and the night OF the first
lecture Father Xavier addressed his
audience from chair, propped up as
temporary platform.
Slips Of paper were passed among
the audience and they were invited to
ask questions concerning the Catholic
Church. From the first night these
questions poured I'm in large numbers,
and more than a half hour was con-
sumed each evening in answering them.
Every query was apparently propound-
ed in good faith. The people keenly
enjoyed the witticisms with which the
answers were dotted, and even the
small boys present were respectful and
quiet. not g sound in the hall during
tho time Father Xavier was speaking
save that of the clear voice Of the elo-
quent lecturer.
During the six evenings Of the mis-.
sion the lectures Included. besides that
Of the opening night talks on "Purga-
tory" confession" Marriage and
Divorce" Hell" and "Why I Am a
Catholic" At the close Of the third
lecture all the books carried by Father
Xavier, to the number of 140, had been
distributed, and Father Virnhch, pastor
at Santa Marie, also distributed a num-
Der Of copies Of Faith of Our Fathers"
Although Willow Hill had been
flooded with such books as Thirty
! Years in Hell" and the ministers of the
town held spectacular revivals during
the mission given by Father Xavier,
the lecturer was prevailed upon to give
two extra lectures, the hall being filled
to It's capacity at each Of the eight
lectures = i; III
Since the nom Catholic mission given
by Father Xavier year ago Father
Virnich has received thirty-eight con-
verts into the church, three more have
| asked for instructions and others are
on the beaten tracks to Rome. .F
These lectures have resulted in an
! incalculable amount of good, in the
| Way of removing deep-rOOted pre1udlce
against the church, enlightening the
people on Catholic doctrines and pro-
| noting friendly feeling between the
! Catholic and the Protestant residents.
! The Catholic people of Santa Marie
| who helped along the good work are
iubilant over the success Of these mis-
| ho
of fellowship to still more converts.
expected to follow in the wake Of this
| last mission,