The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-23
Devout James. ir.

Lie dubuOIl1LOS VI oOS1Ou hO'C
most certainly guilty of a great
misdemeanor in refusing pious Jim
a place to exhibit the religious devo-
of his regiment, on the occasion of
their visit to that city to participate
in the Bunker hill celebration on the
18th. Early in April Fisk, jr., ad-
dressed note to the Mayor of Bos-
ton in which he respectfully reques-
ted that the hospitalities of the city
be extended to the regiment. The
ungracious manner with which this
was received, enraged the gallant
Colonel, and called from him a sec
ond note, in which he expressed his
disgust at the action of the board of
aldermen, and signi6ed his intention
of parading in Boston without an
invitation. Later he requested per-
mission to parade on Boston COM
mon on the 18th, and a suitable
place for holding religious service
on the 18th. Even these requests
were laid aside with disgust by the
board, who refused to evince any
regard for the devoted piety of pa
triotic James. This unchristian
treatment could not quen the ardent
zeal of the bespangled Colonel, who
was on hand with his regiment and
took part in the celebration. On
Sunday cold northeast rain pre-
vented a demonstration of their piety
out of doors, and they repaired to
theater, where the chaplain
of the regiment and the devout Colo
mel conducted religious services.
Jim should remember that Saints
are often persecuted.
The New York Sun refers to the
matter with becoming candor, thus:
THE PIoUs NINTH.
"Helmet now shall make hive for bees,
And lovers songs be turned to holy psalms.
A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees
And feed on prayers, which are old ages aims
Col James Fisk, jr., and his stalwart men
at arms went to pray, but can't find place to
do it In. This Is a cause of considerable grief
to the regiment, and Of not little hard swear
ing. 1t is indeed somewhat unchristian and
inhospitable to deny to our gallant Ninth that
peaceful luxury.
When it was determined that the regiment
should 60 to Boston to remain over Sunday,
naturally the first consideration that sugges-
ted itself to the devoutly minded officers was
to where they should hold their religious SER
vices. If the Boston Ninth had come to New
York, probably their first anxiety would have
been as to where they could get the biggest
dinner and the most to drink it down with.
But the New Workers are better men. They
resorted at once to the telegraph. Science
was called in TO the aid of religion. ave
want TO pray on Boston Common" flashed
Col. Fisk to the Committee on Boston Parks.
''You can't pray here" answered the chair
man of the the Committee. This was bad, al
most heathenish indeed; but the regiment had
made up its mind to pray somewhere, so the
| telegraph was again resorted to. This time
the message was sent to the Mayor of Charles
town. ave want to hold religious services
on Monument Square" said the Colonel to the
Mayor. 'No praying allowed on those
grounds" said the Mayor to the Colonel.
| However, the Chief Magistrate of Charles
town thought perhaps that the Board of Al
derman might relent in this case, so he called
them together. But they proved worse than
the Mayor, for they at once voted that they
would not have the regiment in the city on
Sunday on any terms OF for any puorpses.
And there the matter stands The pious
Ninth went on to Boston last evening, chap
lain and all, In spite Of these churlish refusas,
and viii probably march over the whole sub
burbs TIL they hnd a place to pray in. Since
the days OF the early Christians, who had 70
crawl down into the catacombs when they wan
ted to worship, history records no worse ex-
ample Of praying under difficulties. The Bos-
tonlans are always interfering with peoples
/ privileges. They don't let you drink anything
| stronger than lemonade there; smoking in the
streets was once against the law; and now they
/ prohibit praying on Sundays.
The reason that the Committee on Parks
gives for its action Is the most curious part Of
the matter. They say that the service ''would
attract the worst part of the population of the
the day, and calling for stroug police force
to preserve order" That certainly is an odd
result for a prayer-meeting to have. One
would suppose that the spectacle of a thous-
and men silently engaged at their deyotions
would have a solemn and quieting effect on or
dinary people, but apparently it is calculated
to incite the Bostonians to a riot.
From theological point of view, it would
he interesting to inquire on whom the sin
would rest if these thousand men should 90 to
the bad by reason of not being permitted to
say their prayers. But this we leave to the
consideration of the religious press. Col. Fisk
has taken his warriors to an unsancti6ed re-
gion, among the Philistines, in fact Let him
countermarch his regiment and return to
Tompkins square. There his devout battalion
may form in hollow square or in any other
convenient shape, and pray to their hearts
content, Sunday and any other day. Let the
chaplain be instructed, however, to offer
special petitions for the Boston Committees on
Parks and fha Mavor and Aldermen of the