Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-29
MISSION PRIEST
IN THREE TALKS
REV. FATHER WIN. J. CLIFFORD
CLOSES MISSION AT ST.
PATRICk'S CHURCH..


the statements made by some people
against the church, was the title of
the closing lecture of st. Patrick's
mission Sunday night. An audience
was present that could not be accom-
modated with the seats Of the church
and standing room was the order in
the aisles, sacristy, and even inside
the sanctuary. The papal blessing
was given by Rev. Father Clifford and
|benediction of the blessed sacrament
was celebrated by him with the assist
ance of Very Rev. F. w. Hoppmann
and Rev. Father James Foley.
The mission priest took occasion
last evening previous to his sermon
to show his appreciation for the sue
| cess of the mission. The services
opened with the recitation Of the ros-
airy with Father Foley leading. Then
Father Clifford expressed his graft
tude to the pastor of St. Patrick 8
the Rev. Father ]. w. Bulger to Dean
Hoppmann and Father Foley for their
assistance at the services and to the
choir, the ushers, the press and all
who in any manner assisted during the
two weeks of the mission.
In his sermon on Ghosts Father
Clifford read what he said was being
circulated and what purported to be
the oath taken by Knights of Colum-
bus, Catholic fraternal organization.
The eloquent priest vehemently de-
MED the authenticity of the oath, and
quoting Father Foley as his authority,
he stated that part of the oath was
the same as that taken by Orange
men in the northern part of Ireland,
and the latter part of it was what is
known as the historical Cromwell
oath. The priest bitterly arraigned
the publisher Of paper called THE
Menace" which contains attacks up
on the Catholic church, and he read
the challenge of DR.. Charles ]. Cum
mings of Williamsport, Pa, in which
he offers $4,000 for "The Menace to
prove the charges made against the
church.
1.-THE King and His House."
"A man, a great king. once built a
er at the outset of his lecture on
deep on solid rocks and it was strong
enough to Withstand the ravages Of
time He invited the friends Of his
kingdom to come and enjoy the beau
tiful house, but he had one great
enemy and this enemy waged war
against the house. The assaults were
futile, and finally growing tired Of
his unsuccessful attempts, the man
conseled with his soldiers, and he
decided to circulate bad stories
against the house, and he told of the
ghosts that were in the house. Stories
found credence among some people, |
but one man, who was Drawer than
his fellows, began an investigation,
and minute scrutiny by him resulted
in him finding contentment and happi- |
ness in the house, instead of blood !
stains and rattle of chains. He en-
tered the house and therein lived in
happiness the rest of his life. My
friends, the Catholic church is that
castle, and its one enemy is the devil
Satan called his voteries together and
decided to- wage war against the
church, but it seemed that every drop
of blood shed by the martyrs and the
Of the church added that
much more strength to the house, and
satan decided that bad stories and
calumny must be spread and these
stories have gone forth since the six
teenth century. But sometimes we
see some who are Drawer than their
fellowmen and they come into the
church to investigate. They see no
blood stains or chains, and they live
happily in the faith thereafter"
RidicuIes the Attacks.
At this juncture, the priest referred
% the stories circulated in "The Men
ace," ridiculing the imputation that
the church has guns and ammunition
stored up with which to wage war and
overthrow this republic" He declar-
ID that the Catholics were as anxious
o preserve this republic as any other
and he cited the par
icipation of Catholics ii the war Of
IT'S, 1912, and the war of the rebel.
ion as historical facts that give the
'e to stories that Catholics sought to
" erthrow the republic. Il
The missioner followed by reading
what purported to be the oath taken
~ the x. of c.. and his vehement de-