Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-02-18
NON-CATHoLICs
Attend Lectures Given by
Father Sutton at
Roekport.


readers of the Kentucky Irish
American that a successful mission
to non-Catholics at Rockport, Ind,
was brought to a close last Sunday
afternoon. The lectures were all
given at the Rookport Court House,
and the speaker was the Rev. Father
Xavier Sutton, G. p, of Louisville.
Father Sutton did not deal in
flowery eloquende, but made his
every statement so clear and simple
that the most ignorant could not be
mistaken in his meaning.
The first of the series of lectures
was given at 2;S0 o'clock on the
afternoon of Sunday, February 5.
Father Sutton was presented to the
crowd by Louis N. Savage, lawyer
and non-Catholic. Mr.. Savage
showed a good spirit and a broad
mind, and his remarks were well
chosen.
The crowd in the Court House
was an eye-opener for some of the
Catholics who had looked on the
work with disfavor and prophesied
frost, but instead it met with the
warmest welcome. After the lee
ture many books were distributed
and more called for. Every one
seemed to be in the best of humor
and some parties went up to Father
Sutton to tell him how pleased they
we're and their desire to hear more
about the church. The crowd in
creased in size as the lectures con-
tinued. Some people came from
Kentucky, crossing the Ohio river
in skiffs. Many came from the
country and surrounding towns,
while some came twelve and sixteen
miles to hear them. 1t was an in
teresting sight to look at the crowd
gathered in the Court House. There
were all classes of people, young
and old, mothers with young babies,
old men hardly able to walk and
bright young fellows full of life and
vigor. Many had never seen much
of priest, because when Father
Sutton came wearing his religious
habit there was a strange look in
the faces of many. Some smiled
and nudged their neighbors, some
looked scared and some with wide
open eyes stared in wonder They
were mostly plain, good people
The leading men of the town were
there with their wives.
Every night Father Sutton had a
large number of questions to an
swer They were not of a very diff
ficult nature, but plain, simple diff
ficulties that non-Catholics have in
regard to the Catholic church. The
lecture on hell produced a profound
impression; at times during 1t, as
one of the priests present remarked
the people were afraid even to
breathe lest they might miss a word
After it was over a Methodist min
lister remarked That was good
Methodist sermon" Another one
said, "It's a pity We do not have
more sermons like that"
Every night there was a special
musical programme, non-Catholics
taking part as we'll as Catholics
One good effect of the mission which
is clearly visible to everyone is the
effect on the Catholics. They were
of a quiet, unobtrusive class, salts
fled to go to church and hear mass
and receive the sacraments, but with
little zeal for those outside the fold
Now they are all filled with life and
enthusiasm, each one, young and
old. vieing with one another to make
things pleasant for the non-Catholici
and to show they are Catholics. Thii
alone is great good for a parish
Some one may ask. Have any con
verts been nader" Yes, and more
are coming in Gods good time