Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-25

BOSTON, 10 State Street.
Clerical Combativeness-Edltoria Independ.
euce and q lot Of little matters besides.
The readers Of the Star will remember
that few days since we declined pub
fishing what we pronounced to be an at
tack of one clergyman of Washington
upon another, because we were "indis-
posed to embark in crusade for one
church against another" Offering, how
ever, to publish the article over the rev.
erend writer's proper signature, as an
advertisement, at our usual advertising
rates. Being indisposed to embrace our
offer, he sent his grist to the Clippers
mill, were it was duly ground out yester-
day morning, of course. As this reverend
gentleman accompanies his communica-
ton lin the Clipper with slashing COM
ments against us, we feel compelled to
treat him to g word in conclusion"
That the reader may see that his pur-
pose was to occupy our columns with a
religious disputation of questionable char
acter, we copy his original communication
from the Clipper, as follows:
"Messrs. EDITORS: Il it true or is 1t not
true is reported, that q certain Rom an
Catholic priest, who ofieiates in one of the
places of worship in this city did, not only
unasked, but in opposition to the wishes Of
the dying man and his family, obtrude him
self into the sick chamber of the late Col.
C, who died last week; and in opposition
10 repeated remonstrances attempt to admin
lister the rites Of his church? And is it true
that he would not desist, even though request
ed by the family and their friends until the
most peremptOry intimations were given by
gentlemen present? If it is true, it ought to
be known; and the press should express the
most decided disapprobation of such an out
rage upon the social and religious rights Of
the afflicted. No minister, of any deno,nina-
ton, ought to be permitted thus to outrage
the decencies Of life, and attempt to force the
rites of his religion upon those who desire
Them not If the report is not true then the
priest in question ought to be relieved from
the odium which, If true, it would iustly bring
upon him. The innocent ought not to suffer;
the guilty ought not to go unscathed. Will
some one cognizant of the facts state them
Let US have the Truth
August 90, 1859"
Now, while both the conductors of the
StGr are Protestants, the writer of the
article giving such offence to the reverend
gentleman, was well aware that no Ro-
man Catholic priest visits dying person
out Of his congregation, without being
called IN By some one of the family hay
i1G authority to send for him. This
knowledge (which our reverend antago-
mist possesses, if he knows enough to fit
him for the proper discharge of the duties
O. minister of the Gospel) satisfied us,
without inquiry, that this hypothetical
assault was based on misapprehension or
misrepresentation of the truth; and that,
as consequence, its publication Though
the writer cunningly shielded himself be-
hind convenient 1Fs) was calculated only
to minister to morbid appetite for ire
sponsible caluInny, to thus stab some
unknown, and probably worthy clergy
man in the back, and to generate squab-
bic Of sects in Washington a calamity
from which this city has happily for many
years been free.
The attack upon US in the Clipper has,
of course, induced us to inform ourselves
Of the circumstanc, really involved in
tie reverend gentleman case of ifs;
which we present substantially as follows:
On the morning of the 18th instant. a. six
o'clock, gentleman called on a priest then
engaged i'll his duties with his congregation.
at his church, and requested him on the soli-
citation Of the nearest relative Of gentleman
supposed TO be dying, to instantly visit him.
The priest hurried 70 his bed side as soon as
his morning services were over. He was kind
ly received by the individual sending the mes
senger after him, and being introduced to the
sick man a Catholic priest, he asked him
:" My friend do you seek my services as
Catholic priest?' The latter replied, - Most
certainly o." The priest rejoined, " We
st9u!d be grateful for the opportunity God has
important time as this The sick man
squeezing the Priests hand, nodded his con-
sent The relative (who had sent for the
PRIEST here remarked, Il want no sacrament,
administrative baptism. l only want Mr.
-. TO pray with - And then turn
ing to the patient, the relative further said
I" You don't want to die Catholic?' 30 The
priest then made short prayer, in which all
present united, and, after conversation with
drew. All present, except the relative referr-
ed to seemed to regret that the priest had
been taken from his pressing duties and then
terrupted in the exercise Of bis ministry.
We hear further, that gentleman in
the next room, when the priest came out
of the sick-chamber, remarked, by way of