The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-04-30
a cENTENNARIAN CONVERT.
Meath of Miss Mary Martha Jackman,
Of Boston, Baptized by Bishop
Cbeverue
Cheverus.

A aanrenarian convert of Boston, hap
lived bv Bishop Cheverus, and a wit
ness In her own lifetime of the brit
and marvellous growth of Catholicity il
New England, passed away March % il
tbe person of Miss Mary Martha Jack.
man. She had attained the age of 10.
Years She was born of Presbyterian
oarents in 'Newburyport, Mass. The
tamily settled in Boston about the yeal
ISIS so that Miss Jackman had lived
in that city for nearly a century.
The mother. Mrs Mary Haslett Jack
man. permitted her children at the age
nj p to visit any church in the city
The North Church and South Church
were prominent places of Protestant
WorstF5 in those days. One Sunday
afternoon Martha CHANGED to stray into
the old Cathedral on Franklin street
The Cathedral was a small edifice, with
an adjoining convent for the Ursuline
Sisters. These attended the divine
service through a lattice opening into
the Cathedral. As Martha entered the
Cathedral the sisters were chanting the
HYMNS for Benediction. The solemnity
Of the service, the many lights, the
beautiful altar, the earnest devotion of
the faithful and the sweet voice of the
priest made a deep impression on the
child.
On their return home she said to her
brother who had accompanied her:
What cannot church like this do for
the human hearth" She objected, how
ever, to the separation of the men and
women. for at the entrance she was
ushered into a pew on one side, while
her brother was shown into one on the
opposite aisle with the men.
Mrs. Jackman vehemently opposed
Martha's fondness for Catholic services.
When Good Friday came the child cried
all day because her mother denied her
permission to attend the solemn serv-
Ices In the Cathedral. Her mother yield
ed in the evening, however, but decided
to accompany her daughter to church.
Father Ayler preached a most touch
Ing sermon on the Passion that night,
holding before the people tse image of
the Crucitied. His description of the
love Of the divine Mother for the lost
souls Of mankind won the heart of Mrs.
Jackman, and as a result she embraced
the Catholic faith one year after her
oauthter had been received into the
Church.
Bishop Cheverus welcomed the tender
manu- 10 MS lOch, ana cOnnded her re-
Aglous instruction to the Ursulines. The
good nuns, who came from Ireland at
Father Taylor's request, explained the
Catechism to Martha, and in July pre-
sented her to the bishop for baptism.
she received from Bishop Cheverus as
d keepsake on this occasion a copy of
me Following Of Christ bearing the
uale OF her baptism, July 81, 1922, in
'he bishops handwriting.
From that day Miss Jackman took
an active part in Catholic affairs. She
grew enthusiastic when relating the
,o..Slop visit to the Indians. describing
ms work among the scattered flock Of
, we faithful in New England, and de-
,aIIlhg the stories of the conversions of
', ~, and others to the faith.
Inc Grsulines were always the pro
Wy. .sseS OF Miss Jackman. Words cannot
,zA me grief which struck the devoted
.oHLerI heart when their new home |
~ ~ NharlestOwn was burned by the |
AhoWnothing mob. She administered
=. me wants Of the sisters and worked /
. .-lo seeking shelter and relief for the |
~ secuted nuns. After the conflagra- /
~" she went to the tombs of the de-
.sasea sisters and arranged the remains
sHe vaults with her own hands. even