Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 143, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1903 — To All the Citizens of Rensselaer, Ind. and Vicinity. [ARTICLE]

To All the Citizens of Rensselaer, Ind. and Vicinity.

The following advertisement onoe appeared in an old newspaper: "A gentleman who is about to leave the house in which he resides, and being desirous to return it to the landlord in the same condition iu which be found it, will pay a fair price for 500 fullgrown rats, and acre of poisonous weeds and a cart load of rubbish; the weeds to be planted in the garden; the rubb’sh left on the door-step, and the rats soff<-r*d to run Joosa through the house.”

The Winamao Republican bdnounoes the candidacy of Sam G Brown, of Pulaski, ffor the Republican nomination f>r joint representative for Jasper and Pulaski oounty, Bed has the following to say regarding him: Sam Gt. Brown, a prominent farmer and stook raiser of Indian Qreek township is one of the best known oitizens of Pulaski oounty, and enjoys a wide reputation for honesty and square dealing in pilitios, as in businees, and for his public spirit and progressiveness, coupled with conservatism and good bard seose. Mr. BroVn is deserving the honor to which he aspires at the hands of his party, and his fellow-citiz?ns from several different points of view, and it is not likely he will have any opposition for the nomination. He will be a worthy rep resentative to send from this oounty and Jasper, and the Republican will be glad to see him nominated and elected.

The Indianapolis Journal had the following editorial concerning the death of Dr. I. B. Washburn: The death of Dr. I. B. Washburn. of Rensselaer, resulted from a peculiar bat unfortunately not en altogether novel mistake. He underwent a surgioal operation two yearß ago and through carelessness that seem inexcaesble s pair of heavy steel foroeps was sewed up in hie body. From this terrible piece of malpraotioe he suffered con finally for two years before his nntimeljJJeatb. In justioe to the memory of a skillful surgeon who has passed away it must be said that the effort to lay the blame at the door of the late Dr. Christian Feuger is unworthy. The extraordinary, oare observed by this able-practitioner was a proverb among members of the profession in Chicago. Bat the duty of handling the sponges, forceps and other appliances devolves upon the assistants, internes and surgical nurses. It is to their carelessness that this unfortunate piece of bungling is due.

An opportunity of receiving a clear and comprehensive explanation concerning some very important doctrines and practices of the Catholic church is offered to any and every citizen of Rensselaer and fit the occasion of a course of lectures to be given at St. Augustine’s church by the much renowned and eloquent convert from the Episcopalian church, Rev. E. M. Laycoek. f The course qf lectures for the interest of the public ut large will follow a -forty hours devotion” and opens December 28, at seven o’clock p m , and will last for four evenings. The different themes for his lectures will be on Dec 28, “Why am I a Catholic?” Dec. 29, “Can Man Forgive-Sin?” Dec. 30, “Holy Eucharist,” and on Deo 31,’“Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Skints.” Here is your opportunity to get a fair information about the much mutilated doctrines and practices of the Catholic church. Wherever this Rev -Missionary Apostolic he d a lecture course of a similar charac ter he gained the admiration' of Non-Catholic listeners He is not aggressive, but simply explains the doctrines of the Catholic church, which he as priest is fully able and authorized to do. As he was formerly a member of the Episcopalian church, and reared in it (his father being yet a minister of the same.) he is fully acquainted with the views non-Catholics hold about different Catholic doctrines and ceremonies. Some of his nearest relations, with whom he is friendly terms, are non Catholios and his priestly still heart sympathizes with them.

Only a few weeks ago I had the happiness to attend some of his lectures and was indeed favorably impressed with them. Favorable comments were heard from our non-Catholic friends as they left the church with a mind cleared of many strange and even unkind impressions they were wont to harbor against the Church Of their Catholic fellow citizens.

Knowing and appreciating his uncommon ability of giving lectures pleasant and instructive for each and every listener, J congratulate the citizens of Rensselaer and vicinity upon the splendid opportunity to attend the free lecture course to be given the close of the “forty hours devotion” at St Augustine’s church. You are herewith kindly and cordially invited to attend the lectures. If you desire to have any special information about the Catholic church you can write it on a slip of paper and drop it into the “question box” which will be placed ht the entrance of the church. Such questions will be answered before the lecture begins and not a word will be said that might be reasonably considered offensive. In case you want to at tend the “forty hours devotion” (which lasts from Dec. 26, in the morning till Dec. 28 in , the evening) during which six sermons will be delivered by Rev. Father E M. Laycook, I assure you that you are perfectly weloome Ordinary politeness requires that we adapt ourselves to the rules and customs of the house in which we are visiting says an old rule of conduct. Therefore when you come to our church do as you see others do, i. e. ri Stand when they stand, and when they sit and kneel then sit and kneel also. In our churches the parishoners are silent save when singing and praying together. Being in the dedicated house of God we have our minds fixed on God in Whose august presence we live and move and are. With these few explanatory remarks I again extend my invitation to all Catholics and nonCatholics to attend the lectures given by Rev. Father E M. Laycock at St. Augustine’s Church. The Pastor.