Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-08
FREMoNTs RELIGION.

1t is not our business to enter into the strife
of politics. That is not our vocation, and we
have religiously abstained from such contests.
Nor shall depart from this line of strict
propriety. But we are sometimes appealed
to fer information as to matters of fact. by
readers who imagine that we have special
means of knowing the truth. In such a case
we are willing to tell what we know-not for
the sake Of party, but of truth. This we may
do without sacrificing our neutral and indie
pendent character. If we can help to correct
an error, to disabuse the public mind OF q
false impression, we are doing a service to
right-minded men of all parties. We do not
urge our readers to vote one way or the other,
but we do wish them TO vote intelligently.
1t is well known that one of the candidates
for the Presidency has been charged with be-
ing Roman Catholic. To this story we nev-
er gave the slightest Importance, considering
it as one of those bald falsehoods which were
fabricated for 4 party purpose, and which
would drop into oblivion, and be despised as
soon as it had served its object. But as the
originators Of the story cling to it with great
er pcrtinacity, thinking it very effective
weapon to excite odium and prejudice. some
good men have thought it worth while to set
the matter at once and forever at rest. Cler-
gymen of this city have been applied to by
members of their churches, aud by letters
from abroad, TO make personal inquiry, since
the public would have entire confidence in
their statement, knowing that they were not
likely to be deceived themselves. and that
they could have no motive to misstate the fact
Thus appealed to-o number Of CIsrgrusen
connection with any political question, called
on Col. fremont for the purpose Of a frank con-
rersation in regard to his religious profession
and belief. This they did-not for their own
personal satisfaction-for not one of them
had doubt about the matter-but simply
that they might be able to satisfy others by.
an assurance from his own lips. Among those
who went were Rev. DR.. De Witt, of the Dutch
Reformed Church Professor Henry B. Smith
and r. d. Hitchcock, of the Union Theologic-
al Seminary Rev. David B. Coe, Secretary
of the Home Missionary Society, and one of
the editors of this paper. REV. Henry N.
Field.l. They were received with great cor
diality, and Col. Fremont responded very
nanny anu CueeIlulls " tHelT inquiries.
When it was remarked that some of our
good people were disturbed about his relig-
ion, he replied, smiling, that he was glad that
his opponents were willing to admit that he
had some religious feeling-that he was not
wholly Indifferent to Christianity. One Of the
ministers inquired il the account of his early
religious education and OF his joining the E.
piscopal Church, given in Bigelow's Life
of Fremont, was correct? He replied that be
had been born and educated in the Episcopal
Church; that he had been confirmed as a mem
Der of that Church, and had never had shad-
ow OF a thought OF leaving it.
When allusicn was made to the persistent
assertions that he was Catholic, he replied
that he could not imagine how such story
took its rise, for that in fact he had hardly
been inside of Catholic Church more than
half dozen times in his life, and then upon
occasions of public interest or Of curiosity
All this was said very quietly, and with no
apparent desire to intrude his religion or to
make capital out of ii, but to state the simple
fact of his religious education and belief No
one could listen to this frank yet modest state
ment without feeling that it was perfectly in
genuous and that, with no bigotry towards
others, he was sincerely and unaffectedIy at
tached TO the religion in which he had been
educated by his pious mother