The Irish standard., 1915-11-27

Conception. Bishop Ulathorne's book
on the Immaculate Conception, sug-
gested by Father Kelly, did much to
! solve my logical difficulty. There
soon followed realization that the
church needs precisely what is sup.
piled by the Papacy, if it is to
avoid disintegration: an authoritative
teacher.
My conferences with Father Kelly
continued for several months. l made
occasional trips to his rectory in
Brooklyn, and he came to Brentwood
regularly. We continued to meet at
the home of one of his old parish
toner's, who, with his wife, was very
kind, helpful and encouraging to me
in my efforts toward the Catholic
church. In Difference to their feelings
| do not mention names. Meanwhile
l also became acquainted with his
successor, Father Connolly. Finally
| decided that as an Episcopalian
did not have quite all the truth and
| resolved to make the journey back
to Rome"
This was in April, 1911. The fol-
lowing Sunday startled my congre-
cation by announcing that wished to
resign from my rectorship, in which
l had been laboring nine pleasant
years. gave as my explanation that
| decided to try an effective method
had discovered of bringing about
the much-desired church unity. l
would not tell them at the time what
the method had discovered was. For
this l babe them watch the events
of the next month";"
| The leading members of my con-
gregation questioned me as to what
step was about to take, or what work
l was to undertake that could tran.
scend in Importance the work OF
my rectorship. answered them by
saying that to my mind the work of
restoring unity to the Christian
churches was one of the greatest i'm.
portance, and that, having discovered
the real way of bringing about this
desideratum, had decided to devote
my time to it. l added that if
could pursue this end and retain my
rectorship l should do so, but the two
were incompatible. My congregation
was deeply interested in the unity OF
churches, and on this consideration
they consented to accept my resigna
ton, not, however, without some word
of explanation.
l had no desire to offend my friends
For time was in a quandary. Then
said: "One step towards the unity
of churches would be for the Episco
palians and the Methodists, who for
merly were Episcopalians, to hold a
conference and settle the dispute be-
tween them. Now, you know, there
are 100000 Episcopalians and 5000,
900 Methodists. In this conference
allowing each one to exercise his &C
cepted prerogative of private judg
ment, the Methodists would outvote
you five to one. The result would
be that you Episcopalians would be
come Methodists. Hence, it must be
evident to you that that method OF
bringing about church unity is not the
correct one. l have found the correct
one and l am about to try it,
That was all the explanation l gave
| told the same story to the Episcopa
liam bishop. He accepted it with ex.
pressions of regret and finally told
me that should l find that my work
was not the success which l antici-
pated l might at any time return to my
parish.
During this time the people had no
idea as to my plans. l continued my
studies and conferences, and finally, in
June, 1911, l was conditionally bap-
tized. Soon afterwards l entered the
Franciscan monastery at Loretto,
Pennsylvania, having determined to
study for the priesthood. While there
| pursued my studies and taught at
the same time. I should have been
ordained in less than three years, save
| for the regulation of the order, which
provides for minimum period of pro-
baton.
During thirty-four years in the min
istry, my aim had been to obtain the
effective means to the unity of
churches. This is the aim of hun
dreds of Episcopalian ministers. l
had seen, from my reason, that there
could be no unity where individual
judgments are supreme. Years Of
search had not yielded to me the Sc
cret that sought. Injured feelings at
the loss of bright parishioner and
my efforts to save her from Rome"
brought me, myself, to the portals of
Rome. The breaking away from old
traditions, the abandoning Of old rela-
tionships, the shattering of some long
cherished ideals, were all difficult, but
| know that have found the keystone
to the triumphal arch of church unity.
That keystone is the divine authority
of the church.