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Show ' . . Catholicity in South America. We were pleased last week to hear from a gentleman gen-tleman who lived rive years in the different countries of South America high praise for the priesthood and religious devotion of the people of those parts, says the Catholic Light of Scranton. Pa. The informant in-formant Avas spending a few days with an old and intimate friend. He is the son of a Presbyterian minister, has extensively traveled, is gifted with rare artistic ability and a keen discerning intellect. "I went to South America prejudiced against Catholics, and returned a Catholic at heart," he said. "I believe the conditions of the country are such that it would be a hell but for the priests. They have a power over the people in social customs, cus-toms, that safeguards the purity of the home. Strange as it may seem, tho secret, of the rigid morals of the home are dictated by the priesthood. The lives of the priests and nuns are pure and holy. They are devoted to and efficient in" caring" for the religion of the people. The masses show a sincere and deep devotion totheir creed. Xo one works on the great feast days, all reverentially lift their hats or bow when passing a- church, and when the Angelas Ange-las bell rings stop to pray wherever they may be. "Freemasonry i strongly established in South America, and many of the men are affiliated vith it. These do not practice their religion, but the greater part of the men are faithful members' of the Catholic church." Such sentiments as these from a talented man, who has passed the best years of his lite.travtdinir. and within the last few years permanently settled .in Boston, were expressed before a few friends and ; -emphatically pronounced without any favoritism ;ia 'a "sound admiration of the .wonderful 'power fr,r good the Catholic church is among th.; people, ot South America. So often stories are circulated b a tort of underground .-vstem of cii'iiumieatKiii that spreads extensively, but gives Utih; ch uk-c of detection, against, the priest, nuns vA peoph of South America that we think ir is well to present the testimony of one who has spent years there, b.y talent was abb ic judge, and wh. according blown bl-own words, went there prejudiced against Catholics and returned a Catholic at heart. |