The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-07-26

THOMAS EwING SHERMAN, son Of the
General, who was carefully educated for
the bar, according to the desire OF his faith
en- prefers the Church and is about to 20
to Europe 10 fit himself for the priesthood.
This fact is one of more than ordinary in
teIest. Young Sherman iucurs the dis
pleasure OF bis father and opposes his
wishes with evident regret in thus turning
from the path marked out Tor him by his
fond parent and retiring from Tie world 10
undertake the ay0uOUs anC peCuulaIIly un-
profitable labOTs OF a clerical life in the
order of Jesuits. To most people this
choice of profession will seem a sacrifice,
and many win pronounce 1t foolish. This
young man had brilliant and promising
future before him. The favorite son of
the General of the army. whose fame as a
soldier is world wide connected on all
sides by alliance in social life the most
powerful and respectable carefully edu-
Gated aud prepared for the legal profession
nothing seemed wanting but his own
ambition for him to enter upon life IA
diaut with promise aud full ot assurances
Of success aud worldly happiness. PrOba-
bly, 10 young man iu tbiS country ever had
more powerful reasons for adopting the
course Of life marked out for bin by his
father. General Sherman had evidently
set great store by the young man, and en-
tertaiued high hopes of his success in life.
lie bad sent him 10 Georgetown College,
where he took the full course Of classics
and mathematics. Yale instructed him in
the natural sciences and modern languages,
aud the St. Louis Law School of the Wash
ingtOn University graduated him bus "a few
weeks ago. The stern General had proba-
bly, cast the horoscope Of his son with bright
visions of a puollc life at the Bar, on the
Bench, in the National Councils and Cabi-
net, aud, perhaps. in even a higher posi-
ton. And these were all within reach and
reason, il the yOuug man bad fairly devei-
Oped the Sherman Ewing character as ex-
emplified by his kHsmen on both sides Of
his house. But this young scion Of the
Sherman stock decided OtherwisS, and as
is evident from his published letter to his
kiusmau, Professor Reber, not without a
painful struggle between his natural afTec-
tIOus and his religions convictions, a fact
which does credit tu him as q worthy son,
sOlicitOUs to render the blow 20 his stern
but kind father light as possible. He
says that he takes the full RESPONSE bility of
the sep-as, indeed, he alone must-auI
without his fathers approval or consent"
to whom the young mans choice must
indeed have appeared startling and
strange" The occurrence is notable as an
act of Independence, in view of the sur
rOundings, of a choice by a young man
with everything TO bind him to the world
OF a calling and profession, which, in our
time and country, is not surrounded 10y
attractions for pride OF ambition. Young
Sherman is now in his twenty third year.
His term of probation, of seven years &C
cordiug to the rigorous discipline of the
Jesuits, will expire with his thirJicth year
the youngest age-If we may use the
teIm-ailuwed for ordination by this order.
Then lie viii be fairly and fully launched
upon his new career-a CehJaJe father Ia
the Church of Rome. Should he prove a
pulpit man Of a high order, great possibiii-
ties await him, for the Old Church. as his
tory shows, is ever polite aud utilizes
brains and position in the hrewdest and
most telling manner. II is not difficult 20
Imagine, ii young Sherman possesses a
tljhe Of Tie qualities Of a MassiliOn. a
B0WdaI0ne or n ChateaGbriaud that his
return 10 his native land would create
decided sensation. Indeed, il may ue that
the name Ul sherman, already familiar to.
the public car in connection with a Geuer-
al, a Cabinet Minister a Senator and a
Judge, To say nothing of old Roger Of the
Revolution, VIII yet bC associated with the
new dignity Of an American CaIdiual-
PhilG8e1pttu Record.