Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-24
: YOUNG SHERxaNs CB0Icrs
He Becomes Priest Witho,t -,
er's Consent, and much to that c r.a'
tleman's Grief and DisaDnoint..en wa

The st. Louis Republican ,,hr'
the following letter. which wa puulishes
to a gentleman of that citv ~, "iH'en
Sherman's son: y zen.
No. 912 GARRISON AVENUE. ST. 1o,
Mo-, June l, 1S7S.-Hon. SAMrEl RUS nosls,
My Dear SRI sail on Wednesdam :;
10th inst, from New York for he
pool, by the steamer Scwhia Of tho ..', Y"
nard line, and as the purnosa - W.
voyage has relation to the who'll t. my
course Of my life, l desire that Won u'ose
4 friend and kinsman of the fam; as
should know definitely and exnI;0aI!y
what that purpose il. You are awan!
my dear sir, that / graduated az sae,
weeks ago at the law school If n
Washington university in this c; .ne
You know, too, that my father ho, o Nv
me a complete education for the hsr
having sent me to Georgetown collaaa,
to make my classics and mathemat;es'e
then to the scientific school at Yale IS,
a foundation in natural sciences a ,oi
modern languages, and finally 10 ou-
st. Louis law school, where | have -,
tended the full course of lectures Sun
ing the past two years under the KIND
instruction of yourself and our other
learned professors. For some tima
past have had strong leaning for
ministry, and SO having now reaeheJ
the age when every man has to choosa
his own career in life, and havins
weighed this important matter Of .
cheice with all the care and delibers
ton of which am capable, have do
cided to become Catholic priest. How
long ago reached this decision. what
means l have taken to contest and con-
firm myself in my resolution, and wbv
having finally decided, l now choose ~
60 to England to make part of nv pre.
paration for the priesthood, are in.
quiries which are of no interest to any
one but myself, and to answer them
would be apart from the object of this
letter. l write to inform you and to
communicate the information to those
who may inquire concerning me that
l assume to myself the whole responsi.
bility of my choice, as with me alone
rested the duty and the burden Of
choosing path in life, so with me alone
rests the blame or praise of having
chosen the church instead OF the law
My father, as you know, is not a Catho
lie and, therefore, the step am taking
seems as startling and as strange to him
as l have, no doubt, it does to you, nv
dear sir. l 60 without his approval.
sanction, or consent; in fact, in direct
opposition to his best wishes in my be.
half. For he had formed other plans
for me, which are now defeated, and
had other hopes and expectations my
regard which are necessarily dashed to
the ground. In conclusion, my dear
sir, l have one request to make. and
make it not only to you but to aO
friends and relations to whom ;oumay
see fit to show this letter or communi.
cate its contents; it is this: FearMs
painfully aware that have grieved and
disappointed my father, l beg my friends
and his, one and all, Of whatever rell-
gion they may be, to spare him inqul-
ries or comments Of any sort, for can
not help feeling that anything OF the
kind would be ill-timed and inapproprl'
ate. Trusting to your delicacy and to
theirs to appreciate my motive IN TINS
and to comply with request so easily
fulfilled, l remain with great respect, az
fectionately and sincerely yours
THOMAS Ewing SHERMAN.