The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-11-27

VI tuS N6thOhC ldilu duu
his return to Presbyterianism, in which he |
was born and reared. Just why he was ,
prompted to take this step he fails to tell,
but the following letter from the Archbish- F,
op seems to throw some light on the sub
ject, to say the least:
AnCHBIsHoP's House,
BALTIMORE, November 20, 1874
To tic Editor of the Baltimore Gazette:
AS 1 was certain that in a short time
those who had taken the Rev. Mr.. Jaaue-
met in hand, would 6nd out by sad expert
ence what sort Of person he was, L had
made up my mind not to take any public
notice Of the matter. fine had quietly left
the Catholic Church and Joined himself
with the Presbvterians or any other denom-
ination, l would have said nothing at all,
but as the statement he has sinduced several
papers to make yesterday that he was
priest i'm good standing, and had received
certificate from the Archbishop, declaring
that there was no inputation on his char
acter, is calculated to convey a false i'm
preston, l have been urged to make a
statement in regard to him.
Mr.. Jaquemet was never formally receiv-
ed into this diocese. He owed such posi-
tion as he had in it to my commiseration
for a poor priest with somewhat injured
reputation. He had Termed the abit of
using preparations of opium some years ago
as he told me to correct the bad effects Of
the Mississippi water, when obliged to be
a good deal on the river i'm the performance
of his missionary duties.
Soon after l had received him into my
house, found that he sometimes indulged
in more active stimulants, and then told
him that it would be impossible for me to
give him any permanent situation in the
diocese. He begged SO hard of me to give
him another trial that persuaded the good
Father McColcan, of St. Peters Church, to
receive him at least for while to test the
sincerity of his promises His conduct at
st. Peters was SO unworthy of priest, and
began to give so much scandal that was
, obliged to withdraw his faculties, and de-
clare to him in the most positive terms that
! could do no more for him. But, though
| wished to get rid Of him, he would not
give me up, aud again SO won upon my pity
by his earnest declarations as to bis desti-
tute AID misexabls condition that / prevail
ed on the Abbot of La Trappc, at Geth-
semane, in Kentucky, To receive him in
his monastery, in the hope that under tho
solemn Influences o: the place he might
enter into himself and reform. 1t may rot
be ont OF the way for To- mention th at
during this time his expenses were paid by
me.
Aftsr remaining for some time at Gcth-
semane, he left the monastery and return
:hat | neither could sor would give him
anything to do, although informed him |
/ would provide for him as long rs he would
stay at La Trapps. On his arrival here |
I refused 20 see him, but sent him some az
sistancc. He hewever forced himself into
/ my presence, and whom / refused to restore
. his faculties, he became very much excited
and intimated to me when he left the house
/ that be would commit suicide. Some time
I after ne N pna hat ho
destitute, and again begged me to have
/ mercy on him. He said that he knew in
/ Cuba some of the priests of the Mission to
! which congregation he formerly belonged.
and that if | would give him a certificate
/ that he was not suspended. they would no
doubt give him something to do as teacher
/ In order not TO drive him to despair, gave
/ him a few lines in Latin, merely stating
that he had for short time exercised the
ordinary faculties given in this diocese, and
| that he was not, as far as [ knew, unilar
ecclesiastical censure. The withdrawal of
the ordinary faculties, although it takes
! away the power to celebrate the HOLY
+ Sacrifice of the Mass, er to admin lister any
OF the Sacramcnts of thesChurch, is not a
| ''censure' in the ecclesiastical sense Of the
word. Such letter as gave Mr.. Jaque-
met answers to what are called in heraldry
/ ''canting arms" SO called because thev do
not carry their meaning on their face, but
suggest inquiry No Bishop would receive
a priest into his diocese on such a Icttar
without first obtainin. further information.
So far from declaring that everything is
! right, such brief letters show that there is
something wrong, since good priest re-
moved to another diocese would bear with
him not mere negative declaration that
he was uuder no ecclesiastical censure, but
positive aud full statement Of his WORTH
ness aud Zeal.
Il he above iS c; and trra ctot
OF my connection with Mr.. Jaquenet. 1t
now turns out from his own account OF HIM
sell That at the very time when | was sup
porting him out of my own pocket, and
doing what | could to keep him out Of the
gutter, he was negotiating with some Of the
| Protestant elergynIen of the city.
His story about going to Cuba was of
/ course mere trick, to obtain some sort o {
testimonial by which he might prove char
acter, although he knew full well that wh at
L gave him proved nothing, except that he
was priest pretty badly damaged though
no. entirely shipwrecked. To explain this
certificate, which weuld be misunderstood
by those not aquainted with ecclesiastical
usage and the circumstances under which
1t was given, is in fact tic chief reason for
my writing this letter. l sincerely regret
that have to write it for any reason. 1t
gives me no pleasure to expose or to dwell
upon the delinquencies of those who have
given themselves to the service of religion.
whether belonging to the Catholic or any
othor church. r.-
TO use Dear. .Swift's ell-known simi,e.
the Pope.Seems to be very busy just now liz
wedding his garden, and 1 have charity
enough in me to advise those who snatch
at these weeds as eagerly as if they were
good vegetables that they are not whole
some or good to eat.
l remain, etc.,
! J. ROOSEVELT BAYLEY
Archbishop of Baltimore.