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6THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, JANUARY 26, 1918A FORMER LUTHERAN MINISTER SENDS LETTER TO OLD CONFRERES.Uubuque. Iowa. Oct.. 1017.792 Locust Street.Lear Brothers:My mother often related to me how my father, who had served as long as I. as pastor under the jurisdiction of the l-.'wa Synod, was to deliver a eulogy on the occasion of the four hundredth anniversary of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther at a certain place; but surprised the gathering by delivering a severe lecture against idoln trons Lutheranism. . During my whole pastorate. I. too. held a great aversion for these Reformation sermons. and It was therefore Impossible for me to Join in I ho thoughtless Lit-ther-ldolixing on this day. especially since the reasons for turning that day into a great day of penance increased annually. In this same lone I wrote to Rev. lt;\ I’. Proehi, at the time when prepnratiohs for the quad-rl-eentennial were being started. The latter made the following friend! and witty reply through his church publication: “The Hallelujah I mustnow flow from the Kyric Elelson.Hpwever. the Ixtrd of Church and world history has darkened with l»owder and smoke this day of the four hundredth anniversary, on which the deed is glorified which opened a revolution of a new'gospel aguinsl established Authority, '-and has drawn the whole, world into a catastrophe. on account of which all countries of the world, so to speak, are being plowed up for a new sowing, and a Hallelujah at this time is cvt dently in bad season. The times in which we live are not days of festivities. hut days of real work, when we must decide what will ho sown in the newly turned soil. Now do you real ly wish to sow again the seed of strife and hate among the wheat, in order selfishly to serve your particular Interests? Or will you hury forever strict Lutheran narrow-mindedness and in particular. In ttccordance with our Lord's earnest prayer, desist from bringing false testimony against your neighbor, and give way to good reason and seek to excuse your neighbor, to speak good of bim. and to interpret everything for the best?I use the phrase “false testimony advisedly.—I experience same dally as a member of the Roman Catholic Church—since the picture of tho Catholic Church which has been impressed upon your mind, and which you impress upon your believers is. completely false, and therefore I adjure you to bo more mistrusting of 'your own judgment, whereby you will in a definite way prevent yourself being misunderstood. iu your fight with the Missouri Synod, you stand opposed to those theologians who pride themselves in the teaching “Through (trace Alone, and who ou Ihls account will find it difficult to pass through the narrow gate which leads lo eternal salvation. However, the oftener you will say in deep humility, “O my God. I am incapable of doing anything worthy of Thee. the nearer you will approach that church from which your father tore away. The foundation of the Christian religion, and the mark of all true religion is humility.May God. and may all my brethren of the Iowa Synod forgive, me. (or the times I have sinntjd against hqpllity and may the 8plrlt of Peace reign in your hearts.I am with sincere love.—Fried SchurhardtQUITE A CONTRAST TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING.Please do not send me any more anti-Cathoiic papers; for I abominate all such un-Christian publications, and I do not wisli or intend to become •|articeps criminis' in the reception of them or in having anything what soever to do with them. . The Catholic Church, as I have often ten before, is the ancient spiritual mother or us all; and she fat nevertheless. the Church qC .God. ant), the Bride of Christ. Mark ipy„words and take timely warning that all who fight against the Catholic Church are now and will lie found fighting against God. And who dare do this and pect God's hlossing and prosperity “Therefore, my dear brother In Jesus. 1 beg of you. for Christ's dear, sake, lo drop at once and forever all those anti-Cathoiic publications and editors, people and sympathizers therewith, as you would red-hot coals of fire. Have nothing more to do with the unclean things: eschew them as’ you would suakes, slimy toads and Satan and the powers or darknj; Forsdke both the literature and com pany of thoso who worse than foolishly abuse the Catholic Church by and with Satanic misstatements, ex nggerations. errors and lies, calling' white black and bitter sweet; who are hut tho poor. 8in-bllndcd'‘toolB of the 'Father of Lies,' deceiving and being deceived; and whose awfni end will surely be. as 'it Is writtefi’ In Revelation. to be cast off wfflfYftPllevll that deceived them Into the 'lake of fire and brimstone, and to to tormented day and night for ever aijd- aver (Rev XX. 101. But rather, on the pther hand, make and cultivate the ncquain tance and friendship of the Caihiilfc clergy and people; love them as our suffering brethren in Christ; find out and exalt everything that is beautiful, lovely and Christllke in the Catholic Church, and tell Its glories far and wide, and heart ll\ pray and work for Uod-appointcd and Christ-commanded Christian unity. Then you may confidently and with all good'reason expect and await Jehovah's smlle: and bieuing.”—Rev. Dr. Blooden. (Frotl, Boston.A FAMILY OF SEVEN HUNDRED.It is not often that our missionary nuns make personal appeals, but now nnd then a long-suffering Sister takes her pen in hand and tells us what her special trials arc.Sister Uuerlain is Superior of the Sisters of Charity at Tcheng-ting ton, in Southwest Choll. It seems there, as well as In Africa, grasshoppers often become a pest and destroy harvests upon which the people had depended for dally bread. Last year this happened, and the consequent scarcity of food Is making life hard for the Sisters and the seven hundred little ones in their care. Seven hundred children Is a pretty big family for anyone 10 feed in war times or hard times. The pagans invoke their Idols, but the priests and nuns pray to St. Joseph, that good friend of the poor, nnd not Infrequently he works something very like a miracle for them.LEPER SUFFERERS IN AFRICA.Father de Hovre, who is chaplain or the leper asylum near I-retoria. cites uome cases of edifying resignation which come to his notice In the course «r his ministration to the unfortunate lepers, among whom may be found luirsons of all ages and nationalities:“In one of the little cottages lives a young African girl, once most attractive but now a living corpse. Her sight is gone, her limbs are wasted aiway to the bone: one would scarcely recognise her us a human being. And et this poor child is bearing her Bufferings like a saint. She became a Catholic and since her baptism has rf r bet-n heard to complain of hor Buffering*.She said ,once to me. Father, 1 think If we could look even for a mo incut into Eternity and behold tho happiness and glory of Heaven. I really Lelievc all our sufferings and misery wonld appear as nothing, we would bo so willing to endure them as a means of whining our eternal reward.'“Iu Ure- very next house Is to be found a little girl not yet fifteen years of ago*-whose face is never seen except by the nurse who visit* her every day and washes and dresses her wou-’ds. Then we have a Jewess born In Konovo. Russia, who is said to Jigve con traded the disease throughceedqd Father Cbebui. there was built near this little church, in 1882, a log structure which, in the plan' of Divine Providence, was destined to ex-rt a powerful Influence over the' Chippewa* of the Bad River Reservation. This was the nucleus of St. Mary's Industrial School, now personally known to many of our readers. Earnestly and cheerfully the Indians, even the pagans, labored, cutting down the and hauling them to the site chosen. When these grew weary and relaxed their efforts, the forsaken carpenter found himself surrounded by Indian women who gladly lent their assistance to the noble work. This log structure contained six rooms; one of them a school room, another a chapel, and into this humble abode the Lord of Hosts entered-.Here St. Mary's School was opened. April 1. 1883. by two Franciscan Sis ters of the Perpetual Adoration of Lacrosse. Not one child could speak English and the Sisters did nqt understand Chippewa, yet this was not the most puzzling experience encountered by the teacher In that little log school. On dismissing her pupils for reces3, Imagine her consternation' on seeing Ihem bound like deer to the forest. She may have called after her lleeing charge, hut like'Hiawatha of old They heeded not -nor heard her.For their thoughts were With the red deer.Now the teachers arc shocked when a little Chippewa prefers an afternoon in the woods, setting snares for rabbits, to one spent in the school-room. and the reader nra;. indulge the sui-position that these first pupils, having no knowledge of time. lert their teacher lo enjoy a very undesirable holiday, not intentionally, tout because they did not understand. Oh, no! Fettered and U1 at ease as the newly .caught bird incage, their roving natures rebelled against ’confinement and, did their teacher but turn her back for a moment,'every prisoner was on his feet while one who ventured to act the leader was already, at the door, look or sign from tiro teacher, this moving caravan retreated only to repeat this manuever at the first opportunity.Who will lilame these veritable Hia-wathaS? What did they or their parents know of the habits of civilized man? No wonder that, a few months laler. a Sister weeding in the little school garden was as great an attraction for the Cbippewas as is a circus for the average boy. The busy weeder found herseir the center of a large circle. the circumference of which consisted of wondering beings—all lying Indian fashion, face toward? the earth, chins resting on bands-lhelr black eyos looking the questions their lips could not frame.Quite a contrast to this is the agricultural fair' that the Chippcwas of Odanah now hold every fall, some exhibits of which are selected fox (heir merits and sent to the State Fair where they cayry, off first prizes. The majority of the students now understand the necessity of regular attendance at school. Twenty years ago the teacher's hope was occasionally realized when some ol her pupils reached tfie eighth grade.’ Now each year a number of Chippewa boys and girls finish the eighth grade coprse and man)* of them take up ninth grade work or attend higher institutions of learning while the majority make good in some pursuit. The office of assistant postmaster is at present filled by one of our girls who made the ninth grade last year and Odanah's-iiostmaster is a former student of St. Mary's School.—Franciscan Slsltr, In Indian Sentinel.prayers apd sing hymns. Let us pray that they may be able to-persevere until peace brings a greater number of shepherds for their goodly flock.THE GREAT BIG PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CHINA.Most amusing is the method of conducting school among the-native teachers of China. Father Leaute. P. F. M.. who is in the Canton mission, describes it as follows:The first time a child goes to school he arrives very early in the morning, carried on the back of his mother, his head covered with a veil and c'.utching in his hand a stick of celery. The celery represents the ardor with which the pupil Is to attack bis lessons. In fact, the Chinese word for celery, kan. and industrionsness are the same so the celery Is thought to typify -hard work and application. The head is covered with a veil to conceal the little one from evil spirits.“When class opens, the first pupil leaves his seal and places himself before tlie teacher, who reads a certain passage. The child repeats this and returns to his seat, where lie goes on singing the passage out loud, oblivious of those around him. The second pupil does the same, and so on until the whole school is finally shouting away at a different .lesson in a perfect pan drmonlum of noise. With us poor 'devils of strangers' a little quiet Is necessary for study—not so with the Chinese.With the 'study-hour' is ended the children file again before the teacher and hurl the memorized passage, of which they comprehend nothing, at his head. Woe to him who hesitates or has forgotten bis text. The rod is nearby, and soon there come other cries besides those ordinarily heard in this peaceful retreat.''I thought I would guard against Katie gossipy and tells evi to her. She told \ the fine prayerbook Mrs. Deme/s told LI Katie told her aunt, to me, that you Up her, hut didn't to f and Mrs. Casey told knew what a talker I'd tell you and not : a fool of yourself.“Woman, silence!’ ther Algernon, pale is you who are the ;presume to critfcis your employer—yesABOUT THE PERPETUAL MEMBER SHIP.THE IRISH MISSION TO CHINA.Some heated woi righteous indignatto charged herself.Father Algernon in his knowledge o Simple Simon in thi Poor man! Thinkin was due Katie G. f remarks of his late engaged her to succ lly there developed I parish, the “Marys” Katie always peeked windows until she to Mass on Sunday, far as the door, i gait to encounter trance of the chi Sunday an exchange took place betweenThis wordy in Mass was nothing t The “Katies got t the “Marys” and p the Marys” critic! nnd abused the man! ir he could n hear this small ti well. But Katie ha and Father Algen pathy. When he I as sho took care heart went out in these occasions Ka glide into Father peeling cars all t' “Marys. Again h tunatc mistake or marks from the all the parish teapot, children of Mary drawn from the i nient ou St. Put ■'Katie faction wBegin, the New Year well. Solicit Heaven's'richest blessings by securing a perpetual membership in our Society.The offering for a perpetual membership is forty dollars. ' It entitles the. individual enrolled to i spiritual privileges of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in life I and death, the plenary and partial b,,t 8llorl on chndri indulgence? granted to the heenfactors !Isl1 was askelt;1 t0 are nij'hy, More than firteen|thousan 1 Masses are annually celebrated for the living apd deceased members of the Society.The offering for a perpetual membership may be made at one time or should, otherwise, he made within one year, at the convenience of the donor.This is the hest investment that can be made,, becausq it insures for ilfe and eternity.CLIMBERS OF PALMS.'A recent number of the English Catholic Missions speaks feelingly of some of India? wretched people. Itsaybite of a dog. This poor woman is heartbroken at the thought of her seven little children from whom she is separated. Among our male patients is a talented Irishman, who is bravely bearing his own affliction and doing much io make the other patient s forget theirs.THE HAND OF PROGRESS AMONG THE CHIPPEWAS OF THE BAD RIVER RESERVATION.Our last article clpsed with a reference to thoso noble souls who have bo zealously carried on among the Chippewa people the great work begun by I he pioneer missionary of Wiscon-con. Claude Allottez. and that sainted priest and famed explorer. Father Marquette. In a recent issue -of the Sentinel Father Chrysostom Verwyst. himself a veteran Indian missionary, paid glowing tribute to one of these— the saintly Bishop Baraga. Tip; good Bishop's Cathedral at Odanah on the Bad River Reservation was nothing more pretentious than the upper part of a small house, possibly the only house in Odanah at that early date. To the Bishop It was dearer, however, than the castlo ho had renounced In Austria, for here op Corpus Christ!. June 7. 1860. as we learn from his diary, he offered the august Sacrifice and his poverty was shared by Him Who. in His mortal life, had not whereon to rest His head.The scenes where so many of God's heroic missionaries labored cap hardly fail to Intorost the Catholic heart, hence we hope to bo pardoned for dwelling uion names and matters that at first sight seem trivial for. be 1 treraem-bered, the progress of the world Is traced not by lettered stone nor storied monument but by thp unmarked graves: the resting places of heroic men and women who died and left.no name. , »In Bishop Baraga's little chapel, in the house of the Indian Chief, Little Current, Father Chebiii. to whom Bishop Baraga Intrusted his Chtppewas at Odanah. administered to the spiritual wants of his dusky Hook for five years, during which time ho,succeeded-in erecting a small churqp which U still standing and Is used as a council hall by the Chippewa people. Under the direction of Father Gafron, the Franciscan missionary who suc-Rev. Father Galvin, whom wo know as a missionary to China, has formed In Ireland a society to be called “The Irish Mission to China. This society has been approved by all the Irish Bishops. Its head was received in private audience by tho Pope, who gave his blessing to the work and to all who assist it. It has raised by collections throughout Ireland a sum of money with which It has endowed a college for the education of its futuro priests. This college is ready to open with live professors and. thirty theological students. . .Certain members of the new society tve come to America, whore they hope to secure additional funds to aid in establishing the schools and hospitals needed for an active propaganda among China's pagan millions.The 'low-cast^’ folk Of the Jaffna Peninsular. Ceylon—who cares about them? For thestlt; humble toilers arc only climbers of palms—that Is to say. they are expert tn scaling the lithe trunks of the trees from whence they may draw the ‘toddy’ or palm-wlne, and since they have no land of their own to cultivate, they work for hlgh-easte landlords, nnd cannot tend to the loast llttlo plot for themselves.“Yet one friend' they have—It is the Oblate Missionary. Perhaps It is because or the very abjection of these poor sons of the Ceylon soil that tho Oblate missionaries feel a special interest in their welfare, and why Ceylon priest of the Congregation, Father Gnanaprekasar, has started a modest mission for the Pallas who are embracing tho Faith in Tinnevely, In spite of the persecutions they have to suffer from their employers, who belong to the high-caste Vellalas.WHAT FATHER HOOD WOULD LIKEFrom a letter written by Father Hood, E. F. M„ Madras, India, we. make an extract that will interest his friends on this side of the ocean:I am becoming so deaf—God help e! Will some kind benefactor get me a phone of some sort? I saw an American lady witli one here in Madras. I believe such instruments are 'Union Masses,' published by Fischer pretty cofnmon—'but their price is not. Another request: Would some kind person send me w few of the simple Co.? 1 am teabblng my bovs to sing.CHANGE8 IN CAMEROUN.The war lias wrought many change* in the Cameroun mission. Africa: ReV Donvry. C. S. Sp., states that the district has for a long time enjoyed the distinction of being wholly Chris-. the natives not belonging to the True Fold, being allied to the Prates taut sects. At the beginning of the conflict the report sent to the Propaganda placed the number of CathoJlrs as 30,000, of whom 20.000 were catechumens.Succeeding events, recalled most of the missionaries from their posts, and now only about twelve prleBts may be found where formerly there were r ly a hundred. But the natives seem faithful to the teaching they have received. and large congregations gather in the churches on Sunday, even though there is no priest, and reciteNOTES.Thero are injhe world 900 millions of men and women who have n heard that a Saviour was born to them! Will'you help to send the good tidings?Father Grlmard. I’. R. M„ of Kwel Chowi China, jays: Poor Kwel Chow,everything must be started over again, and tho task is immense for our feeblo resources. It is difficult enough to erect a building here once, but to un dertake the work a second time is overwhelming.. Give us the encouragement ,of your prayers.How Father Algernon Lost His HousekeeperWhen a • pastor, bis office unsaid, returns to his hotel, from a long country call and lindr ■that a drummer dropped into his room to pass tho time, he yearns for the quiet of parochial residence. Father Algernon had the residence, but not its presiding genius. Tho work of taking a census of Us. extensive parish had mado him acquainted with several women, whose outward appearance fulfilled ail the requirements of the Council of Trent. Mary was his first choice—for there were, and perhaps will |A3, others. Age—superadulta; bufc the rest, even hi the mind3 of tbe venerable Fathers of Trent, was guess work, as it has always been about every important woman since Eve answered the first door bell. To toll the truth, after age qualification. Father Algernon selected her for her cooking. He had sampled the good Mary's viands when he arrived unexpectedly at her place of employment, and she became his housekeeper for a brief time. Her downfall came about in this way:One day. her thlFd, she drew a chair to the table, when Fathor Algernon was breakfasting., and:. placing her arms thereon for an extended talk, began:a concert and save there is one thing t it is to insult homi portal ion of foroig ceipts showed this, was approaching f One evening, aft hour for a delayei gernon postponed f to his house. ' It luminated. He slit saw the parlor at with Katie's frien five. As he ent found Miss Quinn door of the safe in tismal records to Murphy was not o' to satisfy Mrs. Mt to the date of Jan uncle's marriage, ments of gasping covered her pose Algernon to have ;“Is there any on gril.v exclaimed Fa this the respect si to make a club rt Father Algernon's He opened wide tloncd them to be j delay to see if hal The next Perpe garet. came from fact, however, di speedy acquiring i edge. She was -cooking was super the grocer's bills; pleasing to the pt was evident In h answer to the dt rang less frequent ther Algernon att chilly feeling occi fcrcnco between the Katies. but when he overhear ill the door:“Is the priest ir Maybe he is a: answered Margare “I’d like to sec “What do you v I don't think business.Jt is. I'm 'thi it's my business want before I'll t “Suppose I wan marriage?Who's going tr I'll not tell y sorry if any ont priest.Who's sick? •'I’ll tell the pas Toll me first. All right. It i nor It wasn't a s about a matter ol was going to lea in her will, and i him would he take spell his name: . man, as he turnei cause of his losinj Como back! have that way w like. Como in a Algernon. .The tramp got ing from Father wit. ir not for his received a severe after, as Father study. Margaret i Kenna. Bidding seated, Father A door opening lot where Margaret ’ the visitor depart) dining room door tic entrance of boen Insulted for began with dignit What? gaape You shut the lt;before John McKlt; “Quite proper.' Algernon in an it
Newspaper Details
Saint Paul Catholic Bulletin
Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Sat, Jan 26, 1918
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
La C.
WI, USA 20 Dec 2023
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