Returning to the Fold

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 20 August 1903, Page 20

Returning to the Fold

In Madrid (Spain) recently a prominent officer in the army, Augustin Alfonso Martinez, was received into the Church and baptised. The young King stood sponsor for GQneral Martinez. The Rev. W. Elam, formerly curate of St. Augustine's, Archway road, Highgate, has been received into the Church by the Rector of St. Joseph's Retreat, the head house of the Passionist Fathers in England. The ' Catholic Times learns that Mrs. Napier Miles, wife of Colonel Napier Miles, has been received into the Catholic Church. Colonel Miles commanded the three regiments of Household Cavalry in South Africa, and was made a C.B. in recognition of his services. The Rev. H. C. F. Hunter, late Anglican curate of Burwell, Cambridge, and for several years a chaplain in the Royal Navy, was received into the Catholic Church at St. Joseph's, Bishop's Stortford, on Monday, June ii, by the Rev. O. R. Vassall-Phillips, C.SS.R. The Rev. Ernest Rich Grimes, of the ' Cowley Fathers,' and for some 10 years Precentor of their church at Oxford, has been received into the Catholic Church at Erdington Abbey by Dom Bede Camm, 0.5.8. It is understood that the Rev. George Stewart Hitchcock, 8.A., minister of Chatham Unitarian Church, and formerly a Church of England clergyman, has been received into the Catholic Church. He intends to enter the priesthood. Since the Apostolate Band of the New York archdiocese was established, it has received into the Church 941 converts ; and this one fact, which speaks volumes for the work, represents only one side of its evangelical activity. The Rev. John S. Seibold, for 30 years an Episcopalian clergyman, a retired chaplain of the United States army after 20 years' service, has become a Catholic. He w?.s confirmed some time ago by Archbishop Quigley. Some time ago the Rev. Father Wiutmee, Superiorgeneral of the Priests of tne Pious Missions, Rome, received into the Church Mr. Henry Ormond Riddel, formerly a clergyman of the American Episcopal Church, and curate of Trinity Church, New York, and who had held for seven years the rectorship of St. Martin's, Brooklyn. On the same occasion Father Whitmee received into the Church Miss Emilia Aberline, of Melbourne. A circus troope of 27 African negroes has been travelling through Germany ; 17 were Catholics, and of the rest all except one, who has two wives, were converted during their stay in Cologne by Dr. Hespers, a Canon of the Cathedral. After careful instruction, with the aid of an interpreter, a negro doctor of medicine of the University of Berlin, the two men and seven women were baptised by the Vicar of the Cathedral. The next day 1 hey received their First Communian. Word comes from Switzerland, whither they have travelled, that they are still receiving religious instruction. Last autumn was chronicled the conversion and reception into the Church of the Rev. S. W. Wilson, a Cleveland Episcopalian minister, and his father. Mr. Wilson left for St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, to prepare for the priesthood, taking with him his aged parents, who were lovingly cared for at the Home for" the Aged conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Mrs. Wilson was received into the Church on Wednesday in Holy Week, and on May 16, fortified with the rites of the Church, after two weeks' illness, departed this life. Professor Frederick R. Honey, of New Haven Connecticut, formerly professor of mechanical drawing in the \ale scientific school, has been received into the Catholic Church. The announcement that he had become a Catholic was a surprise to his friends. Much of his preparatory study for the Catholic Church was taken under the Rev. Thomas S. Major, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Frankfort, Kentucky, recently enjoyed the inestimable pleasure of receiving into the Church his \enerable and beloved mother. ' Father Tom,' as he is affectionately called by all who know him, comes of a non-Catholic family. During the Civil War he was in General Morgan's command, and became a convert to Catholicism after the war. Since his conversion and ordination to the priesthood his constant prayer was for Hie conversion of his family. Last spring his venerable mother paid him a visit and became more interested in reading matter pertaining to Catholic doctrine, but was not solicited by Father Tom to join the Church. The grace of the Holy Ghost took possession of her, and some weeks ago her son journeyed to Chattanooga, Term., at her request, to receive her into the Church.