Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-26

his most recent book. "Ambossc-
dor Extraordinary"
Great Question inescapable:
What was the meaning of
Death?" She who had never
lost her nerve in physical dan
ger, was terrified that she was
losing her mind. She sum-
moned all the power and logic
of that fine instrument of
which she had always been far
more proud than of her beau
ty. 1t failed her utterly.
Then she knelt beside her bed
and prayed-a little amateur
ishly. for she was not used to
praying, but fervently for help.
Fateful Letter
When she got up from her
knees she noticed an unopened
letter lying on her table. 1t
was. she saw, from Father Ed
ward Wiatrak, a Jesuit priest
who had first written to her
years ago about speech she
had made for Madame Chi
ang's war orphans. She had
answered it. and he had writ
ten again and then again
when Ann had died. and often
after that. Sometimes she an
swered him, more often she
did not.
Clare turned to the tele-
phone book and looked up the
Jesuit Mission House from
which Father Wiatrak'S letter
was addressed. Though it was
two O'Clock in the morning,
she called the number. Father
Wiatrak's voice sounded strong
and serene, and not at all sur
priSed. When Clare told him
that she was in great mental
trouble. he answered. I'VE
know. This is the call we have
been praying for"
When may I see you.
Father?" Clare asked.
Wiatrak answered. I'VE are
not the one you should see.
You must see Monsignor Full
ton Sheen, who lives in WASH
ington. Your trouble is really
spiritual. not mental. We will
write to him, and he will talk
with you. Now have a good
sleep-and God bless you'll"
A few days later Monsignor
Sheen telephoned Clare in
Washington and invited her
to have dinner with him in
the little house he shared with
two other priests. who were,
like him, teaching at the Cath
Ole University. There she met
him for the first time.
Clare's courses of instruc-
ton lasted approximately five
months. 1t was the longest
Bishop Sheen has ever given.
There is no question that
Clare's conversion was the
result Of intellectual convic-
ton. Her instructors argu-
ments brought her to agree
with him That we (the
church, are the great defend
ers of reason-reason and his
tory combined"
Common Cause" Founded
Clare's good and sufficient
reason" for retiring from poll
tics was. of course. her con-
version to the Catholic faith.
She did not want there to be
any thought of advantage to
her politically in that decision.
Since her district had a very
large Catholic vote, some peo-
pie might have said that she
was seeking to influence them.
This she would not risk. How
ever, she did not slow down
but rather intensified her ac-
tivities.
Those were the days of her
most ardent fight against
communism. She Joined with
Natalie Wales Latham. Russell
Davenport. Anne O'Hare Nc
Cormick, Jim Farley. and
Others of all parties and faiths
m founding Common Cause"
the first American organiZa-
ton to fight communism on a
global scale. John Foster
Dulles was their unofficial adj
wiser. Mrs. Latham. now Lady
Malcolm Douglas Hamilton,
says that "Clare's penetrating
understanding Of communism.
her knowledge of American
institutions and politics, and
the dynamic thinking she gave
to Common Cause were ex-
traordinary."
AS early as 1916 Common
Cause" established liaison with
the mysterious NTS - the
strongest anti-Communist un-
dersround in Russia. Here was
where Clare's personal friend
ship with virtually all the more
important exiles from Com
munist tyranny in Europe
proved useful. Her spare Of
flee in the old Office building
became a sort Of clearinghouse
for information from Russia
and her unwilling satellites.
AT a Christmas party for
Common Cause at the WAL
dorf. Glare was unexpectedly
called on to address a group Of
exiles. On the spur Of the mo-
ment she reused them to new
courage and hope by quoting
1.-THE paiiad nf Ctr Andrau,