Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-08
UGANDA MISSION WORK.
Described in St. Patrioks Pulpit by Rev. Joseph Coyle. Who Has La- bored in Africa for Nine Years.

The Rev Joseph Coyle, who has spent nine years in missionary work in Africa, told at the three masses in St. Patrick's church Sunday what the Catholic church is doing to spread the knowledge of Christ among the mill lions In the Dark Continent. For about thirty -four years this work has been carried on by the White Fathers and the Josephftes, to which latter order Father Coyle belongs The mission aries prepare for their work by a long and thorough course of training, which includes a mastery of the languages of the tribes, and when they go to the mission fields to which they are as- signed it is with the understanding that they are to labor there until death. Occasionally one is called back to present the cause of missions among Catholics in civilized countries, as in the case of Father Coyle, who, with Bishop Nilan's permission has been speaking in this diocese for about four months, collecting funds for the work.
 The sun Drowned, bearded mission ary, in the black casSock with red gir- dle of his order, a crucifiX thrust into his belt, is picturesque and inter esting figure in the pulpit as he re- counts the stupendous labors which, within the past twenty five years have been crowned with such success that no fewer than 200 600 have been bap- tized. His field is the Uganda terri tory, northwest of Lake Victoria, There was pathos and tragedy in his narration of the condition of devil worship which enthralled the tribe, so that about a. single tree \on an Ugan da will whiten the bones of 5000 harmless peasants, massacred by a single savage chief to do honor to his father, who had just died. At first this chief buried alive the native lett xry1,nv ~Af1I fn civ up their new faith; but disaster hav ing overtaken him, the way of the mis- sionarieS became easier. The people, touched by the fact that the Fathers had come a journey of three or four months across the country and were able to converse with them in their own tongue, listened gladly to the story of God who was their own Great Spirit They proved tractable, docile, anxious not only to learn but to prac- tice
 Now it is no uncommon sight to see thousands of them attending midnight mass on Christmas eve, a mass which does not end until o'clock, so many there are to receive holy communion. Men, women and children can follow the different portions of the mass in the Latin language, understanding per fectly the words of the priest. They are conscientious, God fearing right living. The missionaries have instruct ed them in many ways; but of course the work must be extended to other untaught thousands and it was for these that Father Coyle appealed so eloquently Sunday that the collection in St. Patrick's to aid him in his work reached the handsome sum of $200. Besides this he has presented the mer- it's of his mission so graphically that the remembrance of it will doubtless remain with the charitab,y inclined in the parish. The missionary was pre- sented by the rector, Rev J. H. Brod- erick, who warmly commended the great work to which he and his asso- ciate priests are devoting their lives.