True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-01
Steamboat Debate with a Romish
Bishop.

Western steamboats, furnish miniature
picture of the world. You will often meet
men of many nations, and tongues, Of
every trade and profession, and of every
creed. A single day will sometimes give
one specimen of gambling, drinking,
fighting, swearing, praying, and preaching.
The good and evil are strangely commin-
gled.
A year or two since, 1 took passage in
one of these boats from St. Louis to Lou
isville, at low stage of water in the Ohio.
As we were about to leave, I noticed
passenger with unusual garb and appear
ance, who was attended to the wharf by
several ecclesiastics. When we reached a
little town on the Mississippi, the stranger
with the long coat made his way to the
Jesuit college there located; and our cap
tain, an Irish Roman Catholic, made an
extra landing in front of the college to re-
ceive him again on boaad. The long
coated professors accompanied him to the
shore, and kissed him reverently as they
parted from him. Every thing betokened
the presence of distinguished member of
the "order of Jesus" and so it proved.
Among the passengers were two gentle
men having the aspect of Protestant cler.
gymen. They we're observed to deposit
tracts and little books, in places of convent
cnt access to the passengers and crew.
One of them devoted himself to the COM
fort and instruction of dying cholera sub
ject, on the lower deck. They mingled
Familiarity with the crowded company of
the cabin, but dignity that indicated the
remembrance of their sacred calling,
When ascending the Ohio the steamer
grounded, and lay helpless for an entire
day. While in this condition the papal
emissary was seen with groups around him
with winning words insinuating the dog
mas of his church into the minds of his
hearers, now expatiating on the glories of
st. Peters, then explaining away the wor-
ship of the Virgin, and adroitly preparing
them for the service that was to follow.
At nightfall, after supper, jovial lawyer,
from the mouth of the Ohio, announced to
the passengers, that we were honored with
the presence of one of the most venerable and
distinguished of the Roman catholic bishops
in the country, who had consented to ad.
dress us in reference to the tenets of his
church. A crowd gathered around The
ladies' saloon, and the bishop who seemed
to be an amiable and, intelligent man, COM
menced his harangue, first saying little
prayer. He spoke kindly of his "scpa.
rated BRETHREN" as we'll he might, with al
most none but the captain of the boat com
mitted to his system and expressed the char
table hope that they would all be brought
to the faith of Rome. The burden of his
discourse, was skilful exhaltation of ira
dition above the Bible, of "the Church.
above the redeemer. Faithful to the in
stincts of his communion, he made an onset
upon the only true basis of a spiritual re-
ligion' The prestige ofa live bishop, seemed
to give weight to his influence with com.
pany, not overstocked with biblical knowl
edge. 1t seemed to be an hour of peril tc
the cause Of evangelical truth.
As the service was about to close, one
gentlemen to whom | alluded, and who
gave fixed attention to the bishops address,
arose, and in calm but firm manner ex.
pressed the interest he had taken, in the
statements of his venerable friend. "But,"
said he, ,"all must be aware, that quite diff.
ferent sentiments are entertained by Bible
Christians, as to the topics here discussed;
and if God gives me strength, will en-
deavor, tomorrow night, to exhibit their
views ofthe matters which have now occu-
pied our attention" The tone of the speak
er indicated more than his words.
The company dispersed, some to resume
their gambling occupations, some to the
bar-room, some to renew their oaths and
imprecatioqs, some to discuss the merits Of
the debate thus opened, some to their
berths. The noisy lawyer, strengthened
in vices by anti-scriptual doctrine, renewed
his cups. Standing within few feet of
the state-room of the bishop, his voice was
heard till late hour by the unwilling
multitude of would-be sleepera, in ridicule
of the truth he found in some Protestant
tracts, and in obscene and vulgar jokes.
Iniquity seemed to have found new license,
and profanity new terms of blasphemy. 1t
was miserable nigh for US all.
On the next evening the company of pas
sengers gathered as by common impulse
to listen to thepromised reply to the bishop.
Mr.. -, apparently thinking that there
might be an aspect of obtrusiveness in n