Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-11-29

u not wanting those who endcayored to 81,
II port him in his deistical opinions, and
= encourage him to die like man. to .hc
fast his integrity lest Christians. or.
they were pleased to term them, hypocrit,
: might take advantage of his weakness, al
furnish themselves with a weapon |
which they might hope to destroy the
glorious system Ofmorals. Numbers Wis
cd him from motives of benevolence al
Christian charity, endeavoring to effect
change of mind in respect to his reliyio,
sentiments. The labor of such was a,
parently lost, and they pretty generally r.
celved such treatment from him as nor
but good men would risk second tim
though! some of those persons called fl,
qucntly."
The following testimony will be new t
most of our readers. 1t is from lette
written by Bishop Fenwick (Roman Gait
Ole Bishop of Boston,, containing fu
account of visit which he paid to Pain
in his last illness. 1t was printed in tn
United States Catholic Magazine for 1916
in the Catholic Herald of Philadelphia
October 15. 1916; in a supplement to tn
Hartford Courant, October %, 1917. and i,
L'ftetts Liring Age for January p. lS4S
from which we copy. Bishop Fenwicl
writes:
"A short time before Paine died wa.
sent for by him. He was prompted to thi.
by poor Catholic woman who went tc
see him in his sickness, and who told him
among other things, that in his wretchet
condition if anybody could do him any
good it would be Roman Catholic priest
This woman was an American convert
formerly Shaking Quakeress), whom
had received into the Church but a few
weeks before. She was the bearer of this
message to me from Paine. l stated this
circumstance to F. kohlmann. at breakfast,
and requested him to accompany me. At
ter SC ne solicitation on my part he agreed
to do so, at which was greatly rejoiced,
because was at the time quite young and
inexperienced in the ministry. and was
glad to have his assistance. as knew. from
the great reputation of Paine, that should
have to- 9ss- .s;tl.- s.f
after set out for the house at Greenwich,
where Paine lodged, and OH the way agreed
on mode Of proceeding with him.
1--WE arrived at the house; a decentlook-
ing elderly woman. (probably his house
keeper. came to the door and inquired
whether we were the Catholic priests, for
said she Mr.. Paine has been so much an
noyed of late by other denominations call
ing upon him that he has left express Or
ders with me to admit no one to-day but
the cleryymen Of the Catholic Church.
Upon assuring her that We were Catholic
clergymen she opened the door and show
ed lis into the parlor. She then left the
room and shortly after returned to inform
us that Paine was asleep and at the same
time expressed wish that we would not
disturb him, for. said she, he is always in
a bad humor when -ousel out Of his sleep.
1t is better we ": little till he be awake.
We accordingly sat down and resolved to
await more favorable moment. Gentle
men, said the lady, after having taken her
seat also, Il really wish you may succeed
with Mr.. Paine, for he is labOring under
great distress of mind ever since he was in
formed by his physicians that he cannot
possibly live and must die shortly. lie
sent for you today because he was told
that if any one could do him good you
might. Possibly he may think you know
of some remedy which his physicians are
ignorant of. He is truly to Ike pitied. His
cries when he is left alone are heart-lcnd-
ing. o Lord help me- he will exclaim
during his paroxisms of distress. God
help me-Jesus Christ help me- repeating
the same expressions without the least var
iation, in tone Of voice that would alarm
the house. Sometimes he will say. % God
what have done to suffer 90 mucll.' then
shortly after But there is no Cod and
again little after, yet if there should be
what would become Of me hereafter Thus
he will continue for some time. when on a
agony. and call out tor me by name. On
one of these occasions, which are very fire.
q,,ent. went to him and inquired what he
wanted. Stay with me- he replied. for
Gods sake, for cannot bear to be left
alone.' l then observed that l could not
always be with him as had much to at
tend in the house. Then said he send
even a child to stay with me, for it is hell
to be alone.' i never saw she concluded,
"A more unhappy, a more fOrsaken man.
1t seems lie cannot reconcile himself to
die
..Such was the conversation of the wO-
man who had received us, and who prOba-
bly, had been employed 10 nurse and take
care of him during his illness. She was a
Protestant, yet seemed very desirous that
We should afford him some relief in his
state of abandonment, bordering on com.
plete despair. Having remained thus some
time in the parlor, We at length heard a
noise in tile adjoining passage-way, which
induced US 10 believe that Mr.. Paine, who
was sick in that rOOns> had awOke. We
accordingly proposed to proceed thither
which was assented to by the woman. and
she opened the door for US. On entering
we found him just getting out Of his slun'-
Der. A more wrctched being in appearance
never beheld. He was lying in a bed
sufficiently decent of itself, but at present
besmeared with filth; his look was that Of
a man greatly tortured in mind; his eyes
haggarl. his countenance fOrbidding, and
his whole appearance that OF one whose
better days had been but one continued
scene OF debauch. His only nourishmenl
at this time, rs We were informed, was
nothing more than milk-punch, in which
he induIged to the fall extent Of his veal
state. He had partaken, undoubtedly, bu
very recently Of it, as the sides and corner.
OF his mouth exhibited very unequivoca
traces of it, as well US Of blood, which hat
also followed in the track and left its mari