Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-28
FORT SMITH.
Foresight Of the Roman Cath
Ollie Church-The Indians.

We extract the following from letter
by Bishop Doggett of the NJ E.
Church, South, to the Baltimore Epis-
copal Methodist, one of the ablest and
most interesting religious papers on the
continent:
Fort Smith surprised me not a little.
| had expected to see a large military
establishment, garrisOned with soldiers,
and frowning with fortifcatiOns, on this
remote frontier | saw nothing of either,
except few earthworks which had
been thrown up during..the late war. L
saw, on the contrary, a beautiful town of
five thousand inhabitants, regularly laid
off. and a number of elegant mansions.
1t is eligibly located on the summit
level of commanding region of open
country. surrounded with picturesque
mountain scenery. 1t is a trading post
to an extensive tract, and a center of
perpetual travel. In the progress Of
events it may become a magnificent city,
and will. if the Indian Nation be ever
absorbed by the population of the United
States which [ think, not distant pro-
liability | was panied to learn that our
church, in the place, had suffered a sad
disaster during the year, by the detection
of preacher by the name of Hammett,
who had carried with him into the
Northern Methodist Church. a large
number of cur members. With good
house of worship, we had no regular
service. A few of our people retained
their fidelity, and others had betaken
themselves to the Episcopal Church.
Whether we will ever be indemnified for
this piece of clerical treason, is a serious
question. The Roman Catholics are
displaying their usual foresight in this
romantic town. They have purchased,
at nominal rate, the most desirable
location in it, with extensive grounds,
sufficient foI all their institutions, upon
which they have erected an imposing
college edifce, and are firmly establish
ing themselves. The skill and sagacity
with which they are laying their plans
for the future, are perfectly marvellous.
They evince an energy and vitality
that ought to be lesson and warning
to Protestant denominations. MethOdism
is wofully derelict in that policy which
lays deep and wide its foundations for
coming generations Roman Catholic
ism is on the alert everywhere, keeping
in the van of civilization, and fortifying
itself with patient industry, on the
highways of history.
NV afternoon ride with my accom-
plished companions, brought me to the
first actual terminus Of my continuous
trip from Little Rock. The sun was set
ting. They bade me adieu. l had
cleared the United States. l was alone
in the Indian Territory, and at the house
of man who had married an Indian
wife. They where absent was the
guest of their children. Imagine my
reflections, at a distance of two thousand
miles from home, in a solitude sparsely
occupied by an aboriginal race, under
the humble roof of an Indianized
brother, whose absence left me, In my
weary and worn condition, to the atten
ton of children. 1t was not his fault,
for he did not expect me that night.
am happy to say that the good hand OF
God provided for me in my novel sltua-
ton. The shades of night never fell
with sweeter serenity over me. My
simple fare was inyigorating, my sleep
was refreshing, and my first Indian
sabbath broke with emotions of strange
/ 80 faction