The Portland daily press., 1881-07-08
PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT.
A Circular Letter from the Archbishop
Of Baltimore.

A Circular Letter from the Archbishop
Of Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, July THE Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Baltimore has sent the follow
ing circular letter to each of the 258 priests in
his archdiocese:
James, by the grace OF God and favor OF the
Holy Apostolic See, Archbishop of Balti-
more, to the clergy secular and regular of
this Archdiocese, Health AMI Benediction in
the Lord:
You, in common with all others, have heard
with amazement and horror OF the late at
tempted assassination of HIS Excelency the
President of the United States. 1t is scarcely
possible to imagine deed more appalling to
men or more Ubiquitous before God for if it is
such crime to Stay even private citizen,
what an enormity is it to attempt the death of
one who, while representing the whole nation,
is also, as to matters temporal, the highest vice
regent of God himself in the land, and the act
of the assassin is the more heinouS since he
had neither private grievance to avenge nor
the semblance OF public wrong to redress.
And our detestation of the wretch who has
stricken down our head is yet more increased
when we add to the official dignity of the suf-
ferer his accessibility and affability to all, and
his committing, like all his predecessors, his
personal safety entirely to the good will and
good sense of those over whom he presides
| Well may we stand aghast VIXEN in this crime
and in another like crime perpetrated few
months ago we see the mischief of which a
single individual is capable when he has once
ceased to fear God, to valne man, or to dread
the consequences Of giving free scope to his
own passion In the fact, then, of this most
hideous deed, we are called upon to express at
once our loathing of the crime aud our deep
sympathy with him whom this crime has
placed in such great suffering and such immi-
nent peril, for while the Catholice Church is
happily above all our parties and is far from
the wish to take to herself the decision of the
very transient and, as rule, not very momen-
tous questions as to which of these parties are
at issue, yet none more than the Catholic
Church inculcates respect for every duly con-
stltuted authority, or more reprObates or
threatens everything by which such authority
is assailed.
You will, therefore, with all the power at
your command, urge our people to pray during
mass and at other times for the recovery Of
His Excellency, and on Sunday next, should
he then still survive, you will say IN his be-
half, before or after mass, and together with
all your people, the Litany of the Saints, as at
once entreating God to spare his life, and also
as making an act Of expiration for a crime
which appertains to US as nation, and not
only concerns but furnishes us all.
Very faithfully your servant in Christ,
JAMES,
Archbishop of Baltimore.
BOSTON. Mass, July IA meeting was held
in Faneuil Hall at noon to-day to give express
sion to the general thankfulness that the life
of the President has been spared and for be-
seeching Almighty God that recovery may be
speedy and complete Edward L. Tead presid-
sided. The ices, which consisted of read
ing portions of the Scriptures, prayers and ad-
dresses, were participated in by Mr.. Tead,
Rev. DIR. Clark, VIM III. Baldwin, Rev. A. j.
Gordon, D. D.. Rev. Mr.. Taylor and D. w.
Waldron.
Public Fast Day in Kentucky.
FRANKFORT, July THE Governor has is
sued proclamation making Thursday, the
14th a day of public fasting and prayer for the
recovery of the President