The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-05-10
MGR. BENSON
Former Anglican Minister in "confes.
i, sion Of Convert" Gives Reasons.

Former Anglican Minister in "confes.
sion Of Convert" Gives Reasons.
+! This is not Mgr. Benson's first ap-
pearance on the stage OF literature,
writes Msgr. Henry A. Brann, in the
/ New York Times. His reputation as a
very clever writer has already been
proved by mis- fascinating trilogy deal
ing with the history of England dur
ing the reigns of Henry VIII, Mary
and Queen Elizabeth, as we'll as by
The Light Invisible THE Lord OF
the World" and Come, Rack, Come
Rope soul-lpoving novel published
, last year. He has also written many
short stories and able articles in diff
! ferent magazines, so that he ranks
today as one OF the best known, as
well as one of the great writer's and
! preachers of England
In writing the history of his CONVEX
sion from Anglicansm to the Cath
Ole Church he has been initiating
other illustrious converts, both in the
United States and in England. The
Anglican Bishop OF North Carolina,
after becoming a Catholic, wrote,
many years ago. "The Trials of a
Mind;" DR.. Orestes A. Brownson, the
well known American philosopher
and reviewer, who came all the way
up from Unitarianism; wrote "The
Convert after he had been some
time anchored in Catholic orthodoxy.
Benson, like every one else who ad.
nires beautiful style and masterful
logic, has studied Newman's "Apol-
ogy' In answer to Kingsley's unseem-
ly attack on him. The Apology of his
great countryman may have suggest
ed to him the idea of writing his
Confessions at a Convert" although
his book is not an imitation Of New
mans work. -
The "Confessions" has a distinct
individuality, and in color of detail,
, richness of phrase, attractiveness of
matter and in psychological expert
ences, it rivals the masterpiece of
the English Cardinal.
@f Drawn by his beautiful style and
clear narrative we follow Msgr Ben
son with sympathy as he describes
; his travel along the steep and devious
road through its various forms and
subdivisions from Low Church to
High Church from Evangelicalism to
Ilitualism, even to Monasticism, until
at last, like Aleneas, post .varios
casus ct tot discrimina rerum," he
reaches Rome.
! The son of the learned Archbishop
Benson of Canterbury, trained in the
best English schools, and surrounded
from his childhood by all the attrac-
tiOns Of the Church of England of
which for years he was devoted
and pious minister, Robert Hugh Ben
son began to doubt the validity of his
! orders and the truth of the claims
Of the Church of England to be the
Church of Christ. After years of
study, earnest prayer, consultations
with the best MISUNDERSTANDING
his own father-and although having
to sever himself from the religious
faith of hts beloved mother whom he
left behind, he submitted at last to
the See OF Peter and the Pope. It re-
quired great sacrifices on his part to
take this step. Speaking of it, he
says: ,e..
have been told that became a
Catholic because !, was dispirited at
failure and because I was elated at
success. l have been told =
that I never truly understood the
Church of England I" but II
so, it is certainly not for lack of op-
portunity. was brought up in an
ecclesiastical household for twenty.
one years; I was clergyman for
nine years in town and country, and
Religious House. MY father was
the spiritual head of the Anglican
Communion; my mother, brothers and
sister are still members of it, as
we'll as large number of my friends.
! Speaking Of the Anglican Church,
Msgr. Benson (for some time ago
the Pope made him Monsignor)
never uses harsh or unkind word.
He writes years after he has become
a Catholic priest:
turned and looked again at the
Church of England, and there was an
extraordinary change. 1t was not
that she had become intolerable. I
love her even now as one may love
an unsatisfactory human friend. She
had hundred virtues, a delicate
speech, romantic mind, a pleasant
aroma hung about her, she was in
finitely pathetic and appealing. But
did not want to go this way and