Humorist Became a Catholic

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 27, 12 July 1923, Page 33

Humorist Became a Catholic

Outsiders have found their way into the Church by many and devious paths. In the most unlooked for circumstances they have discovered the clue that led them out of the labyrinth of unbelief. Stories of conversion show that through the means of what at the time appeared to be mere commonplaces of life, they were led to the City ot bod. A word dropped without much thought by this or that person; a Catholic periodical picked up to pass a" idle moment; a Catholic- prayer-book glanced over through idle curiosity; a church- visited; a Catholic acquaintance spoken to-those and other most ordinary happenings have been the beginnings of conversions One ol the most unexpected ways of becoming interested i. the Church is that which is recorded in the case of Sir K C. Burnand, editor for many years of London Punch A busy writer of quaint and humorous comment on current happenings, he had never given religion or polemics any serious thought. He was a member of the Church or England and apparently quite satisfied with the establishment. Almost the only thing he was serious about was the editorial work, for, as he himself said, "It "s no joke to find bread for a family of six by making jokes » So he was constantly on the lookout for material 'for his work. • One day in pursuit of such material in an old book store m London, he picked up a copy of St. Augustine's onftutoM, a book which, though he had often heard of he had never read. He took it to his office, knowing from experience that even in the most unexpected places ore oftentimes finds hints and suggestions valuable for one's work. The book lay open on his desk when an Anglican bishop called. Concluding at once that Mr. Burnand was on his way to -Borne," as there had been a number of conversions recently, the good bishcrp asked the humorist solemnly: 'Have you really considered the step you are about to take?" "I have considered it very carefully" replied the humorist, thinking that the question related to some projected, irreverent use which the bishop feared might be made of St. Augustine's great work. -Well" said the bishop, -come to me to-morrow and I will show you reasons against it." \, v Burnand went, and the bishop explained to him the Anglican position He listened respectfully, apparently much impressed by the cogency of the reasoning! of his right reverend friend. -I shall now show you how weak the Roman position is," went on the bishop, having finished his argument in favor of Anglicanism. -Oh, pardon me " said Bernand, -but don't you think that Cardinal Newman would be the best man to go to for the Roman position? You have interested me deeply in a subject to which I confess I have never given any thought. It is a. most important matter now, as I see from your words; and I do not thmk it would be fair to myself or to a subject so vital, to decide at once about it. I shall take up the Koman side of the question with the Cardinal " p , H * -™* t 0 f e Cardinal Newman, and soon after entered the Church, remaining until death a very fervezealous Catholic— Ave Maria.