The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-24

and forth ceaselessly, between doubt
and self-reproach. He was parched
and a-thirst for the waters of conso-
lation and God would not place one
cooling drop upon his soul. And then
of all times!-came the tempta-
ton.
For upwards of year his employ
ers had watched him closely with a
view to promoting him to a certain
post of authoritative responsibility.
His youth, an obvious objection, was
Offset by maturity of appearance and
manner, and his work throughout his
service had been eminently salts
factory, for Tin the right and legitimate
sense) he had never permitted his
religion to interfere with his business
Now it happened that death or two
and a resignation had brought this
need of a responsible official acutely
to a head, and simultaneously with
the advent of his very blacklist day
this position was offered to the youth
who, beneath smiling lips and placid
eyes, was then wrestling for his souls
happiness with an angel. One quail
| fication there was, a mysterious clause
in the written offer that had come 20
him from the Company's President,
which referred to the "fulfllment of
certain conditions" as requisite for
permanent occupancy" of the office,
though neither in the offer itself or
later in the verbal interview with the
President which followed his grateful
acceptance of the new honor, was any
mention made of possible impedi-
ments. The young man ventured to
ask what the words might mean and
received some general and evasive an
swer which led him to believe that
merely the usual qualities of integrity
and capability had been intended. In
his newfound happiness he dismissed
the matter from his mind and entered
forthwith upon his larger duties.
With his acceptance of the place a
peace and contentment settled upon
his mind quite unlike anything he had
of late experienced. The riot of fears
and scruples, which before had
coursed through his brain with occa-
sional flashes of understanding of the
whole situation, now ceased absolute
| ly. He was no longer pinioned and
pilloried by cruel doubt because his
mind found nothing before it to doubt
about. He did not care to make any
meditation even upon the Adventure
of Dying-and he was not troubled
that he did not care. His thoughts
were of the living; eager and happy
thoughts. Once, in truth, in reflect
i've moment, a pang of anxiety came to
him as to whether or not he was
really drifting away from God. But
the remembrance of his late tempest
uous stated decided him quite easily
(alas for his need of Direction!) to
believe that Gods favor must be in
variably with a normal rather than
with an abnormal condition, and SO,
to remove the occasion if not the
cause of such perturbation in the fu-
ture, he resolved to "cut down on
praying in the day, and, at least for
a time, to Danish thoughts about Re-
ligion as if they might be the very
promptings of the evil one. Certainly
were concerned the plan was happily
conceived. Nothing now troubled him.
Serene of mind and heart he gave
himself wholly and unreservedly to
his work. And on the Sunday which
followed his promotion, he did not
approach the altar rail because he
did not feel prepared, as he told him
self, despite that his accustomed Con-
fession had been made on the previous
night.
One week after he had been handed
the keys of his new desk he was
asked to remain after closing hour for
some special work by the private Sec
rotary of the company's president.
The work was soon dispatched and
the secretary, SNUG man of middle
age, lolling in the presidents chair
and smoking one of the presidents
cigars, began there in the silent office
a conversation in reference to the
growth of the company's business
and the golden possibilities therein
for those who were loyal and true to
its service. He dilated on the neces-
sity of unreserved, fidelity and obedi-
ence in those who would succeed and
said that no private interests, however
dear should ever be allowed to stand
in the way of this, the greater good,
the company's and, indirectly, the in
dividuaPs advancement.
He took another cigar from the box
and lighted Though the first he had
cast away half-smoked.
Nov as for yourself" he continued,
rs it true that you are Romanist?"
Il am a Catholic" answered the
young man.
WELL" said the secretary, that's
a pretty narrow, screwed-down-tight
closed corporation sort of a religion,
isn't it?"
He received no reply. He was not
deemed worthy of one. 81 under
stand" he continued, chat you people
are opposed to fraternal unions and
social societies of all kinds-except
your own. Now that seems to me like
damn bigotry. I'm not Catholic but
I've a lot of Catholic friends and
certainly wouldn't hesitate about join.
ing Catholic society if saw that il
would be to my advantage to do so
and I were invited to join one. Yet