Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-09-02

GEN. sHERMaE's JESUIT SON.

&.viDg up Brilliant Worldly Oppor-
tHnitics-The Generals sorrow on
Account OF his sons Course.
Washington, Aug 2l-Ihe Rev. Thomas
Ewing Sherman, OF the society of Jesus,
who has Just been appointed professor
of rhetoric in the Jesuit college at De-
troit, is spending August at Georgetown
university in West Washington. His life
reads like a romance. A few years ago
he was one OF the most dashlng and
popular young men in Washington
society. His father was general oil the
armies of the United States aud almost
dotted on the promising young man. A
bright worldly future was before him.
Ills uncle, the senator, was to initiate
him lnto polltlcs.and soon it was expect.
ed by his fond parents, the boy would
be adding iustre to tine Sherman name.
de had graduated in the classical de-
partment OF Georgetown college with
tue highest honors. He was handsome,
mauly, full of animal life, and 8ppar-
emily devoted to social pleasures. There
was even talk of his intended marriage
TO young lady OF Ciunipuati. At this
junctu2e, however, WI 81 RS parents and
friends expected him ,a settle down aud
carve out brilliant future, all the
Washington world was shpcked by the
announcement that young Thomas had
| made mp his mind to forsake he world,
don the Jesuit cassock, and take the
VOWS of poverty, chastity, and
oredisnoe. At first the report
was fldiculed, as yonng Sherman
had never shown any marked
religious tendencies, but, on the con-
trR,y, mad exhibited that spirit of relIg-
ious indifference that characterlzes tue
young men of the day. Still the report
proved tyue. All at once Sherman dis
appeared from the drawing rooms of the
ite and inquiries for hIm elected tie
fact that he had gone to the Jesuit novi
tiate to make preparations for entering
the priesthood. 1t is said that relig.
ions retreat at Georgetown college had
much tasio With his change of life. Tie
college is under the charge of the Jes-
uits, and Sherman, who had been edu-
cat I'd there. naturally had an affection
FOR his teachers, though while under
them there had been no mention of bis
entering the ministry. This retreat,
which he took part in with unexpected
ZEAL was followed with the announce
ment that he was about to JOIN the
| Jesuit order.
1t may be imagined that the
announcement was o shock to his fond
father. How great the shock was only
the Sherman family circle knows, but
certain it is that the old general was
never quite the same afterwards. He
tried to dlssuade his son from the steL
contemplated by every means he knew
/ lf,F l,lt ~ NO lalf ryAt hot 4, h
father and son parted in anger or not il
not known. At any rate the,
have had no communication witt
! each other since, ard General Sherman
it is said, will allow no one to mentor
his sons name in his presence. Mrs
,, Sherman visits Thomas quite often
however. She was bitterly disappoint
: ed that her son should give up hi
brilliant future, but she is deyou
Catholic, and like all Catholic mothers
is proud of her sons ecclesiastical char
acter. While Thomas was at th
: nosItiate she went up there weekly
3 Afterwards he was transferred to Wood
I took, Md, which 1s also within eas
9 reach OF Washington When, howeYe
s his superlors told HIM he must 90 t
q England to complete his studies, an
? as this arrangement was evidently mad
q Tor the purpose OF getting the young ma
j as far as possible from his parents, NJ.
q Sherman appealed to her son to com
l. home and carry out his fathers wishe
9 The general joined in the entreaty, br
e Thomas had made up his mind to b.
g come priest, and nothing could shak
his determination. It is said that IL
g parents then proposed compromis
j. They proposed that he should give n
the Jesuit cassock and study for I'll
y secular priesthood, since secular prizes
g have the opportunity to display the
# abilities, and are advanced to the homo
n of the prelacy, while ,Iesui
and other members of Il
% order, must pass their lives IN compar
e tive obscurity. Young Sherman woul
of listen to no compromise, and even q,
8, pealed to his superiors to send him
=, England at once, so that he might not
= tempted to yield to the entreatles of b
. parents whom he loved dearly. SO
I'd England he went, and for four yse
r. studied hard at the Jesuit college
ef Stonyhurst, graduating in philosoph
: Then he returned to the United States
% pursue his theological studies at {
Jesuit seminary at Woodstock, Md. No
O. in accordance with the Jesuit rule,
% must teach a certain time to prepa
- himself for the life that is before hi
.. AS he distinguished himself for IItera
OF talent while at cci!esse, he is given I
professorship of rhetoric. After two YET
IN Detroit. he will probably come to t
Jesuit college here to finish his stud
Oh and be ordained. His reappearance
ce the field where he wss known as das
~ ing young society man will cause mu
= interest, especially if ne appears in 1
's- pulpit before those with.whom he form
er, erly associated. He is living very quie
Fl. now at Georgetown college, not haYi
of been seen II social circles since he car
)y to the capital. W. L. r