Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-09-28
Catholic Priests, Protestant Minis
tiers and the Yellow Fever.
Memphis Appeal.

Under the head of can Episco- |
pal Minister'S Query" the Chicago |
Times publishes the following COM
municatiOn:
Since the breaking out of the fever in the |
south have been an anxious and attentive |
reader of all I could gather, from whatever |
source, of its ravageS, and the work of those |
mainly by the telegraphic reports day after |
day, is so important that l have thought fit |
to speak of it especially. The devotedneSs
of the Roman priesthood to the work of |
their holy calling cannot be gainsaid. The
present epidemic places another laurel upon
the venerable brow of their spiritual
mother. In the sad rOll-call of those who |
have fallen amid scenes Of unequaled in ter
rOr by the most thorough ball-plOwed battle
field, where only those who are made of
genuine martyr stuff are standing firm and
undaunted, and with which the press and
special dispatches are every morning laden,
appear the names of the faithful priests and
other devotees of the Roman church. But
| have failed to note more than one allusiOn
to those who occupy the relation to other re-
ligiouS bodies that the Roman ministry hold
to their church. Now The writer ofthiS makes
the plain inquiry Where are those of the
various religious bodies who call themselves
pastors, priests, ministers, and so on ? Have
fhpv fled like hirelingS at the approach of
danger? The question is asked by one who
has great reverence for faithful and true
ministers of whatever name, but with
thousands of Others he ScOrnS as dishonest,
cowardly, and a sham, those who stay away
or desert, when helpless, suffering men
women, and children, reach forth feeble
arms, and as in tears of pain for help. Is
fear characteristic of the ministry not
Roman? fit is, and from the telegraphic
reports the conclusion is evident, should
they not retire and give place TO those VINO
show in their lives, and by their death, that
they believe what they profes>-that they
and they, as a miniStry-aIone are worthy
SrEPHANUs.
The above while doing justice to
the brave soldiers who follow the
banner of "hOly mother church."
does, unintentiOnally we are sure,
injustice to those who are of the
PTOstentant household of faith.
While a few of these have disgraced
themselves by fleeing the fever and
leaving their charges to the mercy
of God, to find spiritual consolation
wherever they might, most of them
in Memphis have stood to their
posts and have sealed their devotion
in death or in long siege of the
plague, a few only have escaped.
When the fever began there were
four Episcopal ministers on duty
here-Rev. DIR. George White, rec
tor of Calvary, Rev. George Harris,
dean of St. Mary's Cathedral, Rev.
C.. C.. Parsons, rector of the two
Parishes of st. Lazarus and Grace
church, and Rev. Mr.. Gee, rector
of the church of the Good Shepherd.
All of these gentlemen remained to
share the fate of their people, only
two of them eScaping-Dr, White
and Mr.. Gee. Mr.. Parsons died
and Mr.. Harris is slowly cOnVa-
IeScing, snatched as he was from
death by the timely aid of DIR.
Mitchell. When the last two fell
prey to the epidemic Rev. Mr..
Schuyler, of HobOken, N J., and
Rev. DR.. DaIZell of Shreveport, La,
volunteered. The former paid with
his life for the noble act of herOism,
and DIR. Dalzell is on duty in charge
of st. Mary's Parish. This is a
noble record, a record of which any
church or ministry might be proud.
The plague had no terrOrS for these
men, pledged at the altar to a duty
that embraces sickness as well as
health, all times and chimes, and all
the changes and chances Of life. All
honor to them. OF the Methodist
ministers, Rev. MeSSrs. Slater and
ROSebrOugh devoted themselves to
their people with a singleneSs of
purpose worthy the martyrs of the
| early church, laying down their
lives as an attestatica and seal Of
| their faith and zeal as officers of the
| church. Forever bright be their
memories, as single-hearted follow
/ eTS in the footsteps of the Divine
| Master. OF the Presbyterian min
/ listers who remained, the Rev. DIR.
/ BOggS, of the Second Church Is still
on duty, and that with him, as with
all of his Protestant brethren who
/ remained, means personal and
nursing attention and care, as we'll
as tbs consultations of his office. His
record is bright and clear. Rev.
/ Mr.. Daniels, of the FIRST Church, re-
siding in the midst of What was
originally the infected district, fell
/ early in the action, and has found
some difficulty in overcoming a
/ severe attack of the fever. OF the
Baptist ministers Rev. DIR. Landrum
alone remained. The witnesses of
his zeal are as many as have died
and are living. Even when the
fever invaded his own household
he was Iaboring in the streets as a
/ member Of the Relief Com rnittee
and in the homes of his people, car
rying 1.-the bread of life," He is
now cOnValescing, so is his wife,
but he mOurns the death of a son
of great promise and has another
sick, who demands what little of
nursing care his stregth will admit
! of. OF the German Protestant pas
tors, Mr.. Thomas died from over