Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-16
From the New York Independent.
Shall man be Catholic against his Wi

Shall man be a Catholic against his WIFI
Political heats are apt to hatch out false :
hoods as tropical heats do venomous insects.
But Christian men should be especially care
ful that they do not countenance Or propagate
such falsehoods.
At this time many newspapers recklessly
charge Col. Fremont with being a Roman
Catholic. Though it has been authoritatively
contradictea, it still continues TO be asserted,
and in very positive and impudent forms. -.
We have taken pains to inform ourselves in
this matter, and now state to the Christian
public the simple truth, that good men, at
least, may cease to bear false witness.
Col. Fremont was blessed with mother of
devoted piety. She was a member of the
Episcopal Church, St. Philips, Charleston,
s c., and reared her son in her own faith.
Indeed until he was fourteen, Col. Fremont
was educated in the hope and expectation
that he would become an Episcopal minister.
At sixteen ne was confirmed in the Episcopal
church, and has, ever since, when within reach
of the church, been an attendant and commu-
meant. And since his temporary sojourn in
New York, nc has been an attendant at DIR.
Anthon's church, until recently, and now he
worships at Grace Church. Mrs. Fremon
was reared strictly in the Presbyterian Church
and united with the Episcopal Church upon
her marriage with Col. Fremont. Their chill
dren have been baptized in the Episcopal
Church. II is said that daughter has been
sent to Catholic institution for education.
So far from it. she has never been sent away
from home at all, but has been educated by
her own mother.
1t is well known that Mrs. Fremont is the
daughter fool. Benton, and that, at the time.
her father was opposed to her marriage. Col.
Fremont personally solicited several Protes-
tant Clergymen to perform the marriage cere-
rnony, but, on account of Col. Benton's oppo-
sition to it, they were unwilling to do it. a
female friend, in this exigency, said that she
could find clergyman who would aid with.
out fear and brought in Catholic clergyman
who married them. Like true lover and
! gallant man, Fremont said he did not care
/ rHo did it, so that it was done quick and
| strong. Had we been in Col. Fremont's place
we would have been married If it had required
I us TO walk through row of priests and bish
] ops as long is from w lSuiiBgtUu u IStIlS
winding up with the Pope himself.
Is it not ludicrous to see class Of citizen
so terribly frightened at the spread Of Catholi
cism, and dreading the evils of Papacy above
all things, seizing quiet Protestant gentle
man, and insisting upon it that he shall be
Catholic In vain he struggles and protests
| Catholic he shah be whether he viii or not
| SsBut. gentlemen do not believe in the doc
| trines; was reared by a Protestant nothel
/ III u rroIeStauT JHuFcui 1 nave maFriUu
| Protestant wife my children have had Prot
cstant baptism; we and they attend Protes
tant worship, and we are, both by education
and conviction, Protestants. You mdstsc cx
! cuse US, but we cannot be Cathoiics.''- Tn,
eager gentlemen will not be baflei. e'Yol
shall be Catholics; you are Catholics W,
win have you Catholics; all that you say ma!
be true, in some mysterious manner; You or
Catholics, and we will have it SO - Poo
Col. Fremont. We do not see how he vii
get over it! These terrible Protestants Of til
Express are ont with sword and pen, deterrnin
ed that he shall be a Catholic!
HEyRY WARD BEEcnEs