The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-04-15

ICiAA6 1ScL W CllulU lue NlcdL WulIo
Way. Then. as my mind grew and
broadened under the teachings, elo-
quence and the profound knowledge
Of one who is now my beloved pastor,
in New York city. light was set be-
fore me, and my vision that had been
for too long obscured and darkened
by the narrowness and bigotry of the
Protestant church. suddenly burst
open with the effulgent light of the
only true and lasting faith.
Up to this point it had all come so
easily, so entirely within the grasp of
my reason, all the forms of the entire
ritual appealed to me. Then for the
first time in the course of my conver-
sion | struck my one great and only
stumbling block-Confession. 1t was
one time it seemed to me l could go
no further ON the road. I know now
that it was the lego" in me that re-
belled. How could l confess myself
lay bare my soul. my heart, my mind
to mere man! Yet it was placed
before me in the plainest possible
way that could not receive the Body
and Blood OF Our Lord unless l laid
all my sins all my weaknesses at His
feet with a sincere and contrite heart.
All these doubts and fears and
questionings were, OF course, before
was baptized. Oh, the horror and
the dread of that first Confession!
Thank God. it lasted only few mo-
ments, for the kindness and the SYM
pathy of the sanity old man before
guided me. Then, in that little con-
fessional in that darkening church l
knew ] had come home" at last
owning my weakness and leaving
with meekness my sins to my Savior"
When received the priests ad-
monition and aboslution, and left him.
| felt the birth Of new day in my
soul. And now know no more rest
full, helpful place when one is weary
and worn with the cares Of this world
and ones sins seem all too heavy to
bear, than to take IT. all to- Christ.
and through His priest, If one is truly
repentant, receive forgiveness.
| have in my career as an artist
been called upon to enact most Of the
noble women in Shakespeare's inn
mortal plays, and also many classic
roles from the French, German, ltal-
ian and Greek writer's. My dramatic
life has covered period Of twenty
five years, and have again and again
felt my heart swell with triumph at
the plaudits of the audience when
knew that my work had earned it's
appreciation and applause But when
] approached the table of Our Lord!
Here then was my greatest triumph
my Sublmest rOlefor 1t seemed to
me the angels themselves bent down
and rejOiccd.
| Then, another great satisfaction my
conversion has brought me is the
fact that | have been able to adapt
my religion to my everyday life-and
| it has been Of the greatest assistance
and comfort to me in my theatrical
profession. Whereas said in the be-
ginning Of this article that Christ
seemed so far away, so inaccessible,
now He is with me in every step or
my life. And never place my foot
upon the stage at night without think
ing a prayer to Our Lord to help and
abide with me.
If it were only given me the power
to set before my non-Catholic friends
the great joy that comes when one
receives the faith in the Real Pres
encc. Not "in memory Of as the
Protestant church would have us be-
lieve, but that we may as often as
we wish partake OF Our Lords Body
and Precious Blood, that was shed for
US.
Now all my doubts are set at rest,
all is made clear-and night or day /
know that | can and do reach the
heart of my Savior, who listens to
me. comforts me, and makes the
rough roads smoother.
"For though from out our bourne o.
time and place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When l have crossed the Bar
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