BEGINNING OF THE UNITY OCTAVE

Ste,—/ was very interested in the articles in connection with Church Unity Octave, particularly your leader suggesting more widespread action in the parishes. Per sonally, I am amazed at the tack of interest in the Octave shown by Catholics in general. A year after my reception into the Church in 1938 I was privileged to
spend two years at the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, at Graymoor Garrison, New York, during the last year of the life of the late Very Rev. Fr. Paul James Francis, S.A., founder of the Society of the Atonement and founder of Church Unity Octave. During that year the venerable father related many times the story of the founding of the Society within the Anglican Church and of the corporate reception into the Catholic Church in October, 1909. In the spring of 1909, Fr. Patti began correspondence with his Ordinary, Dr. F. J. Kinsman, Bishop of Delaware. In these letters, Fr. Paul stated openly his theological position. The Bishop's reply was as follows: " My advice to you is, that you make choice between two Churches. Either give up belief in a divinely established Papacy and in Rieman dogmas as the one comnlete expression of the Christian faith, as one must do who is a consistent Anglican, or else give tip Anglican Orders, make an unqualified submission to the Latin Church and be a gone Roman Catholic. I do not hesitate to say that if I were in your position I should choose the latter alternative."
Later, the Bishop was received into the Church.
After the corporate reception of the community. Fr. Paul was often called upon to explain how a body of conscientious people who professed to hold the entire dogmatic faith of the Catholic Church could yet remain for ten years in the Anglican Church. Fr. Paul explained that not for a single day did members of the Society find themselves in a position where they could not say truthfully, " We are acting sincerely and honestly, with an entirely good conscienoe, and we believe we are doing
the Will of God." The saintly Father went on to say that it is evident that if there is ever to be a submission Co Rome on a vast scale, involving thousands or even millions nf dissident Christians, such a submission will involve more or less delay in the process of its working out. and only after years of patient waiting and many baffled hopes, frustrated plans, tedious delays and repeated disappointments will the goal of Unity be finally reached.
J. A. SEAL?.
37. Bexhill Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex.