The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-02-17
piseopa|ian Editor
Joins True Church
Gives Reasons for Action.

Rev. Harry Wilson, editor of the
American Catholic, an Episcopalian
paper published in Los Angeles, was
received, with his wife, into the
Church on Tuesday of last week by
Right Rev. Msgr. Harnett. Mr.. Will
son has sent the following explanatory
letter to the readers of his paper:
1t is with great sadness that write
these lines Of farewell to the readers
of the American Catholic, many of
whom | have learned to regard as per-
sonal friends and to whom | owe
much for their kindness, generosity
and unwavering support. The pain of
parting is greatly enhanced by the fact
that | have to make an announce
ment which will undoubtedly cause,
not only surprise, but grief and pain
to most of them; namely, that | hope
shortly to make my submission to the
successor of st. Peter.
do not intend to attempt to ex-
plain all my reasons for taking this
step-the reasons which have con-
WINGED me OF the justice OF the claims
of Rome, would probably sound as
futile in their ears as in the past
they have in mine-it is sufficient to
say that have looked into them
afresh, and have become firmly con-
WINGED of the truths which they sup
port.
Why He Left Professionalism.
Undoubtedly the first step was due
to the action of the last General Con-
vcntiOn in refusing to amend the "Di-
vorce Canon" which permits remar-
riagc after divorce. Before this hap
pened l had no more idea of going
to Rome than you have, dear reader,
at the present moment. had not
contemplated the possibility of the
convention refusing to revise the Can
on and their action came to me as
a tremendous shock, and led me Sc
riously to consider whether the Epis-
copal Church were truly part of the
Holy Catholic Church. l was at that
time preparing for the November issue
of the American Catholic, a summary
of a pamphlet by Dr. Ducius Water
man, in which the following paragraph
appeared:
Il feel that the Roman System does
preserve the Evangelical Religion, and
nourish men in it, and will always do
so. consider that the Protestant sys-
TEN is bound to lose its hold on Evan
gelcal Religion. see this process
going on before my eyes"
In face of this l had to ask myself
whether the Roman Catholic Church
is not doing now, here in this coun-
try, exactly what she has been doing
all through the ages. Ever since the
beginning. has she not been holding
the essentials. both in faith and NOR
ais in the midst of schism and op-
position all around her?
happened also at the time of the
General Convention to be studying a
book entitled THE Truth About Chris
tian Science" by Father Scarle, a
learned Catholic theolOgian. In the
sixth chapter of this book the author
compares the claim of Mrs. Eddy to
have received a direct revelation from
God, to the claims of the Papacy.
With regard to the latter he says:
Catholics are far from imagining
that even the Pope, though divinely
commissioned as successor to the
Apostles, has the power which they
had, to receive or promulgate new
revelation. The sphere of his infal-
libility is simply to determine
what they bad received from Christ
or from the Holy Ghost"
Doctrine Of lnfailibiIity.
1t struck me very forcibly that if
this were the lnfallibility of the Pope,
it constrasted favorably with the fall
libility Of the General Convention. 1t
seemed to me that in the matter of
morals, and of course also of faith,
what we need above all things is an
infallible guide if it is only to tell us
what the Holy Scriptures really mean.
Also that nothing could be worse than
an authority in this sphere like a Cen
eral Convention which is able to
change its mind every three years.
More than two months passed away,
and it need scarcely he said that this
subject occupied ones thoughts during
the whole time. Early in the proceed
ings l had seen my Bishop and in
formed him that l was reconsidering
my position; also l discontinued send
ing out renewal notices" to our sub.
scribers as soon as it became prob
able that l should sever my connec.
ton with the Episcopal Church. Fin
ally l came to the following conclu-
sion, namely that:
The Primitive Church was undoubt