Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-14
Another sIgnof the Tim es.

The laity of Roman Catholic Church, in
Norwich, Conn.,, have just won a signal VIC
tory over the unlawful, arbitrary, and unchris-
tian conduct of one Father Kelly, who seems
20 have undertaken to enforce, in old Connec-
ticut, the grasping policy Of Bishop Timon, of
Buffalo, and Archbishop Hughes, here. But
she result in that case, as in these, shows that
there are laws in this country to punish priest.
ly rapscity, and that if the laity are robbed
with impunity il is their own fault.
IVrOm the Norwich Courier, 9Th
"FArHER" KELLY IN CoURr-The readers of
the Courier have not forgotten the Brown and
Kelly controversy growing ont of the forcible
eieotment of William 7. Brown from the Cath
Ole church 10 this city by the priest-Father
Kelly, something like year ago. This case
came up for trial before the Superior Court
sitting in this city last Tuesday. 1t was sub
mitted to the Court upon the facts without ar
gument, and His Honor, Judge Park, gave his
decision upon it last Saturday. This decision
was in favor Of the plaintiff, Brown, and OF
course repudiated the extraordinary claims set
ND BY the priest These claims went TO the
length of taxing his congregation when and
how he pleased without reference to their
wishes, and of ejecting from the church any or
ell who should refuse compliance, or question
his power in the premises.
The facts of the case it viii be remembered,
were substantially these: On the Sunday pre-
vious TO the assault upon Mr.. Brown, the Rev,
gentleman gave notice from the altar that, Oh
the following Sunday, he would charge ten
cents for admission to hear first mass, and il
any Of them were too poor to pay the small
80 fhav ,iObf lv m IN
he would grant them free admission; shut he
would place them in q conspicuous part of the
church so that the congregation might know
who they were that were too poor TO pay ten
cents;-those who were poor must not be
proud" The attendance il is understood, al
This first mass, varies from $50 to 400 persons
each Sunday. But taking the lowest figure
which is unonestionsbly considerably less than
than the average atiendancc-snd this ten
cent tax would realize to the Reverend Father
and shepherd of the flock the nice little sum OF
$500 per annum, or $25 for each first mass.
As the time occupied in reading said mass is
understood to be not far from thirty minutes,
this sum, it must be confessed is pretty ber-
al oompensation-rathert too liberal Mr.. Brown
seemed to think, considering the fact that
about 81 800 q year more than enough to
meet all the necessary church expenses
raised from pew repJS. MT. DTo"u III HIS
blindness could not see either proprety or jus
tce in Father Kelly's thus taxing people al
rea ly overburthened through the scarcity Of
labor and high prices of all the necessaries OF
life,-And this too at his own mere pleasure
and when the money so raised was to be ex
pended for such purposes as Father Kelly
might choose, without any reference 10 the
will or wishes of the society. He, therefore,
refused to pay the priestly tax, and, thereuPon,
was forced, with number Of Others by the
Rev. Father, to leave the church. For this
ejectment it was that Mr.. Brown brought ssuit
against the pugnacous priest, and the ground
of action was sustained by the Court, as we
have already remarked, in an able opinion on
Saturday last. The fine imposed by the Court
was only few dollars; but the principle set
tied was one of much Importance to emery Ro-
man Catholic Church aud Society in Connect
cut. 1t is another step in the process of eman-
cipation from prisstly domination."-N 7.
Express.