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Show 4 the missionary A. A Record of the Progress of Chris- tian Unity. -f (Written for the Intermountain Catholic.) New York. Jan. 22, 1900. 120 West 60th St. At the mission given in Brooklyn, Brook-lyn, N. Y., during the Advent season there were 897 converts received and ! nearly 2,000 adults confirmed. A large percentage " of the latter were converts con-verts received at some time previous to Deeem-er. $ On Jan. 6, the Catholic Missionary Cnion held its regular semi-annual moeting for the transaction of business. busi-ness. The growing importance of its efforts ia more than realizing the expectations ex-pectations of its founders. Carefully compiled records of the non-Catholic; missions and individual work of associated as-sociated missionaries showed that during the last three months 747 converts con-verts were recorded as received into the Church through this work and ninety more were left under instruction instruc-tion with a prospect of reception in the ntar future. That the Mormons are remarkably open to conviction and prepared to welcome the Faith was attested in the recent non-Catholic mission given at their invitation in the great Mormon tabernacle of Salt Lake City. The enthusiastic receipt ion which they accorded ac-corded the missionaries proved their willingness to hear the Church, while tho firmness and perseverance of which they are capable is shown in a pathetic-little pathetic-little incident just reported by one of our priests giving non-Catho'lic missions mis-sions in Idaho. A young Mormon girl of 16. whose sister became a Catholic two years ago, felt a groat desire, to enter the Church. But the difficulties Deemed, almost insurmountable. She lived in a wholly Mormon settlement and .her parents were opposed to everything Catholic. In addition to this her health was precarious and forbade the journey necessary to reach a priest. Nevertheless, as she I became convalescent, she was filled I with a desire to brave the trip, and so just a weuk before Christmas, she started on her hazardous pilgrimage j of fifty-one miles to the nearest clergy-j clergy-j man. The effort, however, brought on I a relapso and she fell ill in the Mor- j mon household where she had spent the night. But she was able to ask for tho ministrations of the priest and, as she watt evidently dying, had the happiness of being received into the Church and accorded the last Sacraments. Sacra-ments. She died full of joy. with the words of the Hail Mary upon her lips, having evidently committed it to memory mem-ory while yet a Mormon. Such hero- itlrrt t i . ' ( . Vi , . 1 7 ca tr i r- ,-w-.-. . i . . f . i 1, . . religious advantages we enjoy, and ah'ould awaken a generous wish to extend ex-tend them to others. The most promising recent characteristic character-istic of public opinion in America is the general interest shown in the Catholic Cath-olic religion and in its influence. The war with Spain has sharpened the distinction dis-tinction between the deeds of a Catholic Cath-olic state and the principles of the Catholics in that state. Religion 'has j gained by this new popular distinction, j Concomitantly, a spirit of unrest has1 undermined the doctrinal prestige of the Protestant churches, and problems of social morality have awakened thinking men to the logic of the church's teachings. If marriage can be dissolved, what will save the family? fam-ily? If Sunday school is losing its power over the young, what will take its place? If private judgment is the court of last appeal the final arbiter between honor and exDediency, what principles will thrive in the state? Ten I million people giving one answer to these disquieting apprehensions have brought non-Catholic Americans face to face with an interesting inquiry, a glorious hope, a generous doubt have we been doing the Catholic church an injustice? Let this question be formulated, form-ulated, and what do we see? A noble, warm-hearted effort to make amends and give credit to where it belongs. But the question must be raised by Catholics themselves. A good, consistent consist-ent life is the best way of suggesting it, but to drive it home an intelligent missionary spirit must be developed in us. We have already been awakened, and the timid, half-apologetic Catholic has become proud of the uplifting power of his religion and has realized that he can and should help his non-Catholic non-Catholic neighbors. The next step is an active charitable campaign of instruction in-struction and better understanding. The non-Catholic mission movement is the latest express'on of this advance, and the enthusiastic and growing interest in-terest it has aroused promises a phenomenal phe-nomenal improvement in the. religious condition of Americans. From all part3 of the country the reports are unanimous unani-mous in praise of the efficacy of the movement, and those who have entered into its snirit of non-controversial zeal find a universal willingness to hear the church that speaks in the accents of a true mother's live. It is no phenomenal phenom-enal incident when a week's' mission, supplemented by a class of instruction for converts, adds from fifty to a hundred hun-dred persons to the church's visible Communion; but the impression made beyond this little offering of first fruits is widespread and permanent, and the r:'xt noii-Catiioii.-" mission is stir'.: of a harv st more aiuind int. Like --vi-ry arr oi' charity, however, t'i.o generous spirit of a. non-Catholic iims:--!i;u impro-s tii C.Hhoii.-s who h::r- in giving -. To i hos- lukowartn faith it a. vy. 'laii-.n to fin I t!i- mi- r. th.i: Protr-s'.-ints tak.- in ;.:e ta:: i!;,u- d-n-tri!'. -s of religion, and !'' imiionarii-.- tho-,- a;t.o-i t'p.-''lurch's t'p.-''lurch's s;-:io:, of pra.-ii.-.-s f.o of. :-n n.-rl,....f.l by h.-r il,i!.r-:i thn.'i,-:, uii.ipp!v;-i;;t!.. fatniiiaritv. Tht- ht-li.-f Hi the iVePi-isht;. of the saint-, f.-r , v-;'tnp!o. v-;'tnp!o. is fl(1: llt.vv jju-aning ilti ;l wraith o-- oiis.-iing. in:. ..-..sting and inspiring in-spiring ...-M!,!!j;j..s when wo realize Who; life V.o.si.l b.. without it ,-iH--i- afly aft.-r ,, .-,,(, h;ls ,:l;li.,,r t!ll. j.... or the world's !!;;:, -.-. Th- r. -i :'--. joyful enthusiasm at the truth of tho real preson.,- is an o'.jo.r ,5 ,.r priceless valut- to !;,. t ri-monrhlv communicant, com-municant, and his .,;. I to share with others the cons ilation ,.f . onf. i-sioii is itself a mission to tho.-.. m tho fold. The awaken in it has cmo. -,. ar,. no long.-r on the (iff- ti-'i .. H .th fol-t h our refutation of si.m.l.-rs will bo' Li the spontaneous. e;.,-:i-h.-.u-!,...! . harity with which wo saeri'tee t in i- oinv.ii'. ience, our prejudices, our f.-.ir of t he-world he-world to the burning .1, :: ,,' i-.-alr.ing the universal reign of love. |
