Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-07-11
SHALL AREAN BE CATHOLIC AGAINST
HFS EVHAE9


Political heats are apt to hatch ont false
hoods as tropical heats do venomous insects.
But Christian men should be especially
careful that they do not eountenance or prop
agate such falsehoods.
At this time many newspapers recklessly
charge Col. Fremont with being Roman
Catholic Though It has been aylthorita-
lively contradicted, 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 Chris
Aian public the simple truth, that good men,
at least, may cease to bear false witness.
Col. Fremont was blessed with a mother
of devoted piety. She was member of
the Episcopal Church, st. Philips, Charles
ton, S. c., and reared her son in her own
faith. Indeed, until he was fourteen, Col.
Fremont was educated in the hope and ex-
pectation that he would become an Episeo-
pal minister At sixteen, he was confirmed
in the Episcopal Church, and has, ever since,
when within reach of the church, been an
attendant and commitment. And since
his temporary sojourn in New York, he has
been an attendant at DIR. Anthon's church,
until recently; and now he worships at
Grace Church. Mrs. Fremont was reared
strictly in the Presbyterian church, and uni
ted with the Episcopal church upon her
marriage wfh Col. Fremont. Their chill
dren have been baptized in the Episcopal
church. It is said that daughter has been
sent to-a Catholic institution for education.
So far from it. she has never been sent
away from home at all, but has been edu-
Gated by her own mother.
1t is well known that Mrs. Fremont is the
daughter of Col Benton, and that, at the
the time, her father was opposed to her
marriage. Col. Fremont personally soliei=
ted several Protestant clergymen to pre-
form the marriage ceremony, but on account
of Col. Benton's opposition Dit, they were
unwilling to do it. A female, friend, in
this exigency, said she could find clergy
man who would aid without fear, and
brought in a Catholic clergyman, who mar
ried them. Like true lover and gallant
man, Fremont said that he did not care tcho
did it, so that it was done quick and strong.
Had we been in Col. Fremonts place, we
would have been married if it had required
US to walk through row of priests and
bishops as long as from Washington to
Rome, winding up with the Pope himself
Is it not ludicrous to see a class of citizens
so terribly frightened at the spread of Cath
olicism, and dreading the evils of Papacy
above all things, seizing a quiet Protestant
gentleman, and insist upon it that he shall
be a Catholic9 In vain he struggles and
protests; Catholic he shall be, whether he
will or not "But gentlemen, l do not be-
lieve in the doctrines; was reared by a
Protestant mother, in Protestant church; !;
have married Protestant wife; my children
have had Protestant baptism; we and they
attend Protestant worship, and we are both
by education and conviction, Professionals
You must excuse us, but we cannot be
Catholics" The eager gentleman will not
be baffied. ''You shall be Catholics; you
are Catholics; we will have you Catholics;
all that You say my be true in some myste-
rious manner; you are Catholics and we will
have it so!" Poor Col Fremont We do
not see how he Will get over it! These
terrible Protestants of TIE Express are
out with sword and pen, determined that
he shall be a Catholic Henry Ward
Beecher.