A WONDERFUL PREACHER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2489, 23 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WONDERFUL PREACHER.

The French and Italian papers are giving glowing accounts of the immense crowds which are being 1 attracted daily to the Duomo, at Turin, by Father Augustine, of Montefeltro, a Franciscan monk, whoso extraordinary eloquence is nai(l to be equalled by his great humility and unaffected pinty. Many believers are attracted to the cathedral. A letter says: "At the Duomo on Wednesday, four hours before the father ascended the pulpit, all the chairs and all the benohea were occupied. The precincts of the vast church seemed transformed into a sea of human heads. The Divine word coraingfrom the mouth of tho humblo brother electrified tho congregation. Several times tho sacred associations of tho place wero powerless to keep back the applause which broke out with irresistiblo force. The University of Pisa closed two hours bofore the sermon began, and professors and students ran with one accord to hear the illustrious Franciscan. On coming out of church the thousands of persona greeted him with their cheers and huzz.is. They wished to carry him in triumph through the streets. The railway directors, in order to meet the demands upon their traffic, had to organise on each day special trains from Lucca and Leghorn and from several other neighbouring towns and villages. Strangers arrived by thousands, and all the hotels were full." The father is 40 years of age ; his face is open and full of intelligence ; in his eye burns the flame of apostolic fire; when he preaches his face is transformed—he seems like an inspired and commanding prophet. His subject is Truth, and he has exposed with withering sarcasm the foibles and unrealities of society.—Pall Mall Gazette.