American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-04-12
LETTER II.

Causes Of early misglvings-Phesty rniraciss-Pur-
gatOrs-Praying TO sainls.
My DEAR SIR,-Iu my last letter
stated to you that l was born Of Roman
C6lholic parents-that was bapiised and :
confirmed in your committeeman that
for many years have been in connection
with Protestant church. stated that,
were my occasional mental mis-
givings, Remained true son OF the church
until bad nearly attained the years OF I,
and that, then, on as full an ex-
animation Of the subject as | could give il
| came TO the conclusion, that could not
remain Roman Catholic. Permit me in
the present letter to state tn you the causes
of my early msigivings as to yours being
true church, and as TO its holding the true
faith.
You know very we'll the common belief
among the Irish pessantry that Papal
priests can work miracles. Whatever may
be the teaching Of the priests themselves
upon the point. such is the belief OF the
people, a belief strongly encouraged by
the conduct Of their spiritual leaders,
Honce in diseases, the people resort, not
80 much to the physician, as 10 the priest
they depend less upon the power Of
medicine than upon that ofpriestly charms.
Although tic son Of intelligent parents,
and educated from my youth for the mer-
camille profession. The miraculous power
Of the priest is yet associated with my
earliest rccollections Of him. And,as you
know full we'll, the belief that this power
is possessed by their priests, is one of the
leading causes why the Papal Irish bow
with such entire and unmanly submission
to them.
In my youth there werc two things
which greatly shook my faith in the pos
session of this power. There resided not
far from my parental residence a priest,
whose fame asa miracle-woTker wasknown
all over tho country in which he resided.
The road 10 his house (called in that
country bride road went by our door.
frequently saw in the morning, individ-
uals riding by, with alittlc keg resting be-
fore them on tho saddle, or a Jug hanging
by the horses side. ! often asked who
they were, and where they were going?
was told they were going to Father Cs
ito get somc OF their sick cured. asked
, what was in the keg, or jug? was told
: thati ii was Irish whiSkey 10 pay the priest
I for his curcs. l asked why tkey went so
early in tho morning? / was answered
that unless they went oarly they would not
find him sober.
J In one Of tho large interior towns OF
l Ireland where resided, the bishop Of the
! diocese met his priests, or q part of them,
: once n year, This meeting was always
: held in the house where resided, and
Il over the store in which WAS then clerk.
c Among the priests that always met the
o Bishop was Father B., whose fame NJ a
j miracle worker WAS extensive. lie had
i. also reputation for learning and elo'
}. quence; and because Of his connection
u with an old and wealthy family. exerted q
l wide social influence. lie always staid
3 with us when he como TO town. Abou
d ten o'clock one night, after one Of those
/. meetings Of bishops and priests. ! went ou
Q to o'shutup the store windows; and hearing
d a singular noise in tho gutter, l went for
it ward, and assisted a man out of the mire
o. soon recognized it to bo Father B. tn
h. miracle-worker. Runningin announce
with some excitement to the lady OF tn
n. house that Father d. was drunk in I'll
in street. reccivcdfor my pains stunnin
d, slap on the side Of the face, with this ad
M monition. "never say again that priest
- drunk" staggered under the blow
he assisted in cleaning off his Reverence.
by | gave him his brandy next morning. An
~ young as was. my faith in miracle-worl
de ing priests WAS eiiectually 81 aiken. A
N though fearing to draw the conclusion.
70, felt il, that God would not bestow mrac,
RS. lous power upon those who lived life.n'
he of occasional, but Of habitual intemperanc
he And would ask you. sir, whether all tn
Of pretension 10 miraculous poverty yo'
ul- priests is not gross imposition upon q
to people for the double purpose Of keepir
to Them in awe, and getting their money!
for Let the Bishop be silent. and the man
yet sense speak. and have no fear as to q
ish answer.
'ur Tho doct,ino Of Purgatory, You kno'
as sir, is one Of the peculiar and most che
nd shed doctrines of your church, Indeed
Il do not know how your church could 6
ra- along without it. My object now is n
lch to reason with you about it. nor to contr
Ing vert it; but to state to you few facts
op- reference to itthat made. in early life
re- strong impression on my mipd. Y
ose know that, in Ireland, the custom
he's the priests is. at certain point in the 81
not vice Of the mass, 10 turn his back TO I
altar. and his face TO the people. and
to read . long list ofthe names of the dece,
ref ed persons whose soulsare in purgstol
At and 10 offer upa prayer for their deliv'
in ance from il. This is done, or used to
ho- done. in the chapels on every Sabbath.
ca To obtain the name of the deceased re
b at tive on that magic list. the priest must
lis paid SO much year, varying. belle
y a with the ability Of the friends to pay.
u tho yearly payment is not made when d
my the name OF thoperson is erased fIom
tos- list. A circumstance arising out Of I
han custom Of your church, occurring in
'uth boyhood, is distinctly before me. A
Ass. spectacle man in our parish died in m
en-, lie. leaving widow and large famil,
And children to mourn bis loss. True 10
mis- religious principles and to her gener
nrch Instincts, the widow had her husba
rs Of name placed on that list, and heard, "
lima pious gratitude, his name read over Il