A course of reading was suggested, I seeing him from time to time. Newman's pathetic hymn, "Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom," was often on his lips. In course of time he was fully convinced that the true Church is an organic body, a Divine institution, the source of all spiritual power and jurisdiction, and the channel of sacramental grace, under the Vicar of Christ, the Bishop of Rome. Finally, after an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the convent chapel at Harley House, London,[12] he determined to ask admission to the Church. [Sidenote: 1868, Third visit to Holy Land] Bute's conditional baptism, profession of faith, and first Communion took place quite privately on December 8, 1868 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), in the chapel of the Sisters of Notre {71} Dame, Southwark.[13] Mr. Capel officiated at all these acts, with the authorisation of the Bishop of Southwark (Dr. Grant), who himself assisted at them. The event was not generally known until the New Year, and it was generally believed, and has indeed often been stated since, that the reception took place on Christmas Eve. The young neophyte left England a few days after the event, and was well out of hearing by the time the excited comments of the public and the press on his action had begun to make themselves audible. Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, _December_ 16, 1868. MY DEAR MRS. SCOTT MURRAY, Circumstances have induced me to come to the resolution of making the pilgrimage to the Holy Land a _third_ time. Lady Loudoun and myself are going together in my yacht, which is coming round, with her in it, to Nice in January. I am going abroad on Monday next, and expect to arrive at Nice on Wednesday, this day week. I venture on your kindness to propose myself as your guest. I will give no further information at present, but to say that thanks to the grace of God I am what I am. You are so kind, I believe you will be glad to see me. Mr. Capel has been having most extraordinary success at Oxford. He leaves it to-day, as the colleges are going down, and will be at Nice some time soon. His health is giving way from the {72} perpetual physical and mental toil. He is not going to return till May, when he will recommence. For the present he has received some converts, is preparing some more, has awakened a great many, and, partially at least, sanctified the congregation, and reclaimed the wandering. The mission has received an infusion of life. On Saturday night he heard confessions till 11.30, and again in the morning. They had general Communion, and renewal of baptismal vows; at 10.30 High Mass and sermon. During the afternoon he operated privately on some rationalists: in the evening they had a very long sermon, and Benediction, with an immense congregation, among whom were a vast number of Protestants, _several Dons_, and the _President of Trinity College_! Yours ever very sincerely, BUTE. [Sidenote: 1868, Christmas at Nice]