Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-03
DISGUISED WITH IMAGES.
4 Religious War In a Connecticut Town
Excited Over tile Fancy OF "a
Catholic Priest.

SNDuohC
New Haven, August 2G.-Lakeville,
Il pretty little town on the borders of
Lake Wononscopoinac, IS just now in
II ferment very nearly akin to that
which New Yark enjoyed during the
discussion of Mr.. Salmi Morse's Pas
sion Play. The Rev. Father HenryJ
Lynch has be IN in charge of the Cath
Ole parish at that place for the last
eight wears. He is an active and en-
t,rprising man, and has done much to
forward the Interests of his flock
When he first took charge the Cath
elcs worshipped i'm II little wooden
structure Situated in patch oil
swampy ground. Now they have u
new and handsome church, sur
rounded by well-kept grounds, and the
priest lives in neat little eJttage late
~ erected. Last October Father
Lynch put up in the main walk lead
ing from the street to the church door
across = feet high. on which WAS n
figure of the Saviour very little smaller
than life size and executed with con-
siderable skill. The face bears an eX-
preston of pain, and from wound in
the side blood appears to be trickling
This emblem aroused the good people
Of Lakeville, who regarded it as sac
rilege. They openly denounced the
priests action in placing the figure
there, and talked OF lawsuits to compel
his removal. Before their oppoSitto !
had been organized so that il could act
with effect another report came to
their ears that only Increased the pre-
vailing excitement. Father Lynch
som time ago bought a piece Of ground
and began the erection Of n building to
I've used as convent and parochias
school. 1t WIS rumored that Father
Lynch proposed to adorn this build
ing with other realistic representa-
lions Of scenes from, the life oil Christ.
Lakeville's Protestant people, proba
bly, overlooking the fact that wha,
Father Lynch chose to do with his
own property was exclusively II matter
of the reverend gentleman's own bust
ness, drew up the following address
ave, the undersigned, citizens o
Lakeville, respectfully demonstrate
against the erection of images repre-
senting sacred characters already ex
posed, or u Toe hereafter exposed, I,
rut lie view GA grounds adjacent t,
The village of Lakevllle. Believin,
that such display Is not in harmon,
with Americaa ideas and customs, i
shocking To the sensiltlities OF many
and entirely at variance with the sen
tlnlentS ana WISHES OF great portlOi
of the people OF this community. w
respectfully ask til. Rev. III. j. Lyncl
10 use his influence In procuring tn
removal of the images now erected an,
in preventing the erection td others q
like character"
Seventy-two people, among then
nearly all the store keepers of Lake
vile. signed this address and ap
pointed Ex Governor Hosley, II. l.
Norton, cashier OF the bank, and Mr.
Topper. "A justice of taae pence, TO wal
upon Father Lynch and urge him (,
,accede to what they termed 1the sen
tiuents of the people" The commit
tee called on the priest and were re
ceived with great courtesy. They eN.
nlained the object OF their visit, anC
Eether Lynch, when they had con
cluGed their oratioa. showed them
i,,rouph the new buildi@gs and dwell
lMipgly upon the great advaln ages
,ilat would accrue Ia Lakesille from
having such an Institution Within it,
borders. He SAID nothing about renee.
ing the images, but he was sc
gracLsus .sayout other things that the
committee felt certain that lie WOULD
oblige them in that respect. And they
so reported ts the public-spirited com
mittee OF stAsspty-two who had sent
them. They drought that until last
Monday. Hereto, IRE the Catholics
have dealt largely W. IA the Lakevllle
storekeepers,a aud the D.. Tx OF the orders
for goods was received on Mondays.