The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-05
DR.. EMMET'S REASON FOR EN-
BRACING FAITH.

the body of the sanity DR.. Thomas
Adds Emmett, granddaughter of Rob-
ert Emmett, whose life of incessant &C
tivity ended March /, at the. age of
ninety years, writes S. H. Horgan
Noticing the rosary and crucifx
which was his daily companion
clasped in his delicate fingers, | re-
called how beautifully he himself told
the story of his conversion in his
"Reminiscences" Chapter XVII, in
part as follows:
Shortly before the close of the
Civil War. on my way to the hospital
where | was due at o'clock, hap
pened to pass st. Stephens Church
IN East Twenty-ninth street, where
had pew. | was surprised to see
quite number of men going into the
OF any repairs going on, for which
would have been called upon, l went
in and informed myself.
The way of Almighty God is in
scrutable, for | walked into that
church to take the most important step
in my life. My father had been NOM
inally an Episcopalian, as his father
had also been as nominally of, the
Church of England, and for the same
reason. | am naturally of a religious
turn of mind but beyond the exist
ence of a sincere belief in God the
Creator, my faith had been at a stand
still since l was child.
hnA iod
but l was perfectly Indifferent as to
her faith; had she been less Jealous |
would have insisted on the children
receiving a religious training, as my
observation had convinced me those
who had received this training at the
mothers knee were the most fortunate
in after-life. For years my wife and
| had lived together and she had never
made the slightest reference to re-
llglouS matters or attempted to influ-
ence me in any way.
Il went to church sometimes with
her, but l am free to confess l never
did so but for purpose, when | knew
L would be undisturbed for an hour
or more, and when | had an address
or lecture to prepare, or l wished to
study out the steps in some operation.
l could in church draw my head fig
uratively within my shell, and be as
little influenced by my surroundings
as If | was alone in wilderness.
The grace of God prompted me to
enter that church filled with men, and
| was told they were attending a mis-
sion given by young priest of the
Redemptorist Order, the Rev. Father
Gross, subsequently Bishop of Savan-
nah and afterward Archbishop of
Portland, Ore. The pulpit was within
few feet of the door | had entered
and Father Gross had begun a SER
mon. | did not know what his text
was, but he was speaking of the mys-
teries of the Church in relation to
faith, and stated that we were not eX-
Dected to try to understand them; that
their acceptance without question was
simply to test our faith as an acknowl-
edgment of the authority of Almighty
God and of His right to exact obedi-
ence. That it was evident we should
not comprehend them, as we would
then be equal to God Himself, and SUI
perior to the angels in heaven.
Il had never met with a better H.
lustration as to the importance of
few simple words. For years had |
attempted to comprehend the views of
learned men as to what my duty was
in regard to this subject. Here in few
words | had my way made clear |
was ready to acknowledge Gods au-
thority without question; also that
He could ask nothing but the truth;
therefore / was Invested of all re-
sponsibility in accepting what could
not understand
"As soon as the clergyman left the
pulpit saw him in the sacristy,
thanked him for his sermon, and asked
him when he could give me condi-
tional baptism, as | wished to enter
the Catholic Church. He said the
step must not be taken hastily, and
that | had first to be instructed /
stated this would be unnecessary, as
| knew everything that would be re-
CURED of me; that l always decided
duu dClSu QulCh1y III WudI W1Su9u 10
do, and again | asked him when he
would be at leisure. After asking me
some questions, he stated he would be
at my service in an hour.
Il returned home and told my wife,
and asked her to put on her bonnet
quickly, as we did not have much time
to spare. She said nothing, but
kissed me, and as she left the room
her eyes were filled with tears of joy,
and as she was absent longer than
was necessary to get her bonnet, she
doubtless returned thanks for the an
swer to her prayers she had been of
fering for years. | was baptized, went
to confession and Communion next
morning, and from that time to the
present and after an interval of near
ly fifty years, | have never had the
slightest regret. [ know what is re-
quired of me- and as it is easier to
obey the law than to transgress, I
have no trouble, SO that my life is
gliding on to the close while | am
contented with my surroundings and
at peace with all men,
The above was written by DR.. En-
met in 1910, five years after his wife's
death. Since then he learned to lean
mora and more on the consultations of |