The tri-weekly herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-04-08
sherman,s REGARD fOe Religion.

~ We extract the following from the last.
number Of the Paeifeator, we commend it to
the Catholic population everywhere:
.s st. Mary's College, founded iq 1852 by the
Rev. j. j. O'Connel, Pastor Of the Catholicism
Columbia, was robbed. pillaged, and then given
to the flames. The College was "a very fine
brick building and. capable of accommodating
over 100 students. It had an excellentaibrary
attached. which, was selected with great care,
and with nosIimited view to expense. It also,
possessed several magnificent paintings ex-.
ecuted in Rome, and presented to the Institu-
ton by kind patrons Besides the. property be-
langing to St, Mary's College, that of four
priests, who were It's professors and lived there,
Wis also consumed: Each, as is always the
case amongst the Catholic clergy had his In
di7idual collection of books, paintings, ,statuary,
sacred pictures, &c. Nobody. who is not a
rigorous student and. a lover of literature can
possibly realize the losses sustained by these
gentlemen, Manuscripts of rare value, notes:
taken from lectures of the most eminent men,
in Europe and America, ,orations sermons, &c,
sare treasures not often valued by the vulgar,
but to the compiler they are more priceless
than diamonds. OF those who lost all in, st.
Mary S there are:brothers, viz Revs. Jeremiah
j. x0'Gonnel, Lawrence P. 0'Connell and
Joseph P. 0'Connell, ID; and the other Rev.
Augustus J., McNea. ~ : Z :
Thewriter was the only Clergyman in the
College at the time of the incendiarism. One
was absenteh, bis mission, another, was, in
charge of the NIB. Sacrament, and the Pastor.
waSrying to comfort the Nuns. / was, by order
of O. Lieutenant, taken prisoner, and though
earnestly begged to be allowed to save the
Holy Oils, I was refused, with curses and
blasphemies. Sacred vestments,. cousecrated
vessels used for the celebrationsof the Mass,
benediction of NJ B, S., and all things apper-,
tairing to the exercise efSaeerdotal functions,
were stolen, profaned and desecrated. / was
informed By Yankee Irish Catholic that a
sacrilegious gang drank whiskey from the
Sacred Chalice and exulted in the conscious
crime, Of the College, its property, and all it
contained, not 4 single item was saved: The
Clergymen saved absolutely nothing, except
the clothes on their persons.
In a single moment the Pastor lost the labors
of IS years, which he expended in rendering
his Institution suitable place for the educa-
ton of youth, and he and the other Priests
we're driven out as naked as, when they came
into the world: -.,...r>s
In aSsimilar manner the Nuns were treated,
or nearly SO. y They had a fourishing institQ,
ton and are dear to many Southern families.
They were forced from the. shelter of their
cloister in thermidst of sea of. fame. Their
chapel, altar, etc., beds, furniture, pianos, in
word all they possessed was either stolen or
given to the fames.-I could not refrain, froma
tears, when after my liberation on the next
morning, saw, them kneeing at the porch of
the church, their limbs. benumbed with cold,
and all their fond pupils around them in mute
groups. May Godspread his wings oyer them,
was my silent prayer, and again grant them
that shelter which. the wicked iheendiary
destroyed. ..... = IT,. =
All the horses, mules, COWS, pigs, fowls, etc,
in the city were either taken by the enemy or
shot, gafdening utensils, farming implements,
and wbatevercould be benefciaEto the citizens,
were destroyed In word, Columbia is a.
city ofruins and forest of burnt chimneys
and blackened walls. -