The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1883-05-19

f"omHa"jraied
hpIr"Gs tai IHE tt,isElFe
Gcotjrysra had .es.ntl-cti II, give. in
tie last aH,ash'-F "f year paper, the res-
$,'n why h, braufial engine of' Opelou-
sas Steam Fire 20 No WIS NOT bless
ed by i minister ot' the gospel I'll the
Saiae tiaE !f:tt IL Was rhrsteHed hy the
tliensh~rs Of said~.ompany, hut want nj
satisfactory information prevented my
doing sa, But now give Il fuH. fair
statement OF Fff fine ftets.
he committee ii nine, csafttp posed Of
members of Steam Fire Co. No /, who
constituted the committee of arrange
faentS tor the performance at said cere-
H'ony, had lett that part Of the pro-
gramme embracing the christening of
the engine 70 NE and deemIng it ap-
pr9priate that in order ~ give to this
ceremony more sotemnibT and also be
source of satisfaction 10 our iremen and
to our community, [ thought it proper
80 invoke the blessing Of 4 minister of
the gospel OH our beautiful little engine
and onr pride on the day of it's christen-
ing. For this purpose, through a spe-
eIal messenger, earnestly requested
the Rev. Father j. Montillot. President
Of st. Charles College. to beseech the
good and venerable old Father Abadie,
Of Grand Coteau, and ii. his default. the
President himself. to be with as on that
occasion My request Was granted. the
good Father Abadie was at my house at
Fhe hour OF II o'clock, and dined with
nyself, family and friends, and every
thing wts i'll readiness for the occasion,
when Suddenly ii dispatch from Father
MoHtill9f, directed 80 Mr.. & Raymond.
containing Il pefsmpt0Fy order not to
perform said ceremony, was handed to
Father Ahadie. Said telegram gave no
reasons Hor explanation whatever for
this course, and was brought to my
knowledge too late fag action Since
that period. Rev Father MnntiHot SAYS
that Immediately after having requested
Father Ahadie t8 come IA requested by
me. upon reflection remembered that he
vas sending Father Abadie out Of his
jurisdiction and in the jurisdiction of the
Catholic Church at 0peiauaas, wherefore
he sent this telegram but he adds he
forgot to state therein the wortls - with
cat the consent Of Father Raymond"
thereby showing eonctusiyely that said
ceremony caaEd haze been performed by
Father AbatTis tritk the consent of Mr..
Raymond.
The above Observation-Disclosures the facts
OF this matter, fairly and positively.
New, my reasons for the Invitation
extended to good Father Abadie are be-
cause lie Is the same minister u iIo, forty
one years ago, conferred upon nie the
holy sacrament of baptism, beraase in
yearsleng since gone hy he Mas not only
the spiritual adviser of my father and
mother, who taught all of their children
from early infancy 10 respect and esteem
the good priest, bat his name was a
household word in our entire family,
aud therefore not strange If the early
aud sweet remem brances of Youth re-
yeFted to him on this occasion. | did
not then believe that | was violating
any 1T the ordinances of the Chareh of
Opelousas, nor enereacbfng upon any of
it's prerogatires: this being the blessing
of an inanitBate object, af a prieate resi-
deHce, On special invitation and without
Eereaae Or remuneration to any church.
Claiming that my action in this mat
ter can be called mistake, or simple
omission, but not a wrong, because its
purpose was good; and even were it
wrong, contend that the non perform
ance of this ceremony, hich I consider
wrong, cannot be justified, because "two
wrongs do net make right
In conclusion, besides the above state
ment aud reasons given, must frankly
state that the consent Of bfr. Raymond,
the Catholic priest of GpeIousas, was
not asked and therefore not given, as
must appear from the statement above
given. Now, why / did not select one
of the Fathers Raymond to perform this
ceremony I will state is on account OF
personal reasons which I can give at
any time, when called upon By them to
do 20, through the pubic press. or in
ans shape. form or manner suitable to
their comfort and convenience.
Respectfully yours.
r. FERREoE PERRoDIN,
Pres OpeIonsas Steam Fire Co. No. /,
--sss . -
Statement
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