Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-07-25
YOUNG SHERMAN'S CHOICE.
He Becomes Priest Without his Faith.
er's Consent. and much to that Sen
tleman's Grief and DisappOintment.

.,- The St. Louis Republican publishes
! the following letter. which was written
to a gentleman of that city by Gen.
| Sherman's SOM r..1
~ No. 912 GARRISON AVENUE, ST. LOUIS,
Mo, June /, 1S7S.-Hon. SAMUEL REBER:
| Dig Dear Sir sail on Wednesday, the
10Th inst, from New York for Liver
pool, by the steamer ScytIiia Of the Gu
nard line, and as the purpose of my
voyage has relation to the whole future
course of my life, desire that you, as
friend and kinsman of the family
should know definitely and explicitly
what that purpose is. You are aware,
my dear sir, that / graduated a few
weeks ago at the law school of the
Washington university in this CITY.
| You know, too, that my father has given
me a complete education for the bar,
having sent me to Georgetown college
to make my classics and mathematics.
! then to the scientific school at Yale for
a foundation in natural sciences and
| modern languages. and finally to our
st. Louis law school, where [ have at
tended the full course of lectures dur
ing the past two years under the kind
learned professors. For some time
past [ have had d strong leaning for
ministry, and SO having now reached
the age when every man has to choose
his own career in life, and having
weighed this important matter of q
choice with all the care and delibera-
ton of which [ am capable, [ have de-
cided to become Catholic priest. How
long ago [ reached this decision, what
means [ have taken to contest and con-
firm myself in my resolution, and why,
having finally decided, / now choose to
go to England to make part of my. 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. [ write to inform you and to
communicate. the information to those
who may inquire concerning me that
| assume to myself the whole RESPONSE
bility of my choice, as with me alone
rested the duty and the burden of
choosing a pathin 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 nota Catho-
lie and, therefore, the step | am taking
seems as startling and as strange to him
as | have, no doubt, it does to you, my
dear sir. l go 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 III my
regard which are necessarily dashed to
the ground. In conclusion, my dear
Sir, | have one request to make, and
make it not only to you but to all our
friends and relations to whom you may
see fit to show this letter or communi-
cate its contents; it is this: Feeling
painfully aware that have grieved and
disappointed my father, beg my friends
and his, one and all, of whatever reli-
gion they may be, to spare him inqui-
ries or comments of any sort, for l cam
not help feeling that anything of the
kind would be ill-timed and inappropri-
ate. Trusting to your delieacy and to
theirs to appreciate my motive in this
and to comply with a request so easily
fulfilled, lremain with great respect, af-
fectionately and sincerely yours
f- THOMAS EWING SHERMAN.