Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-28
esws s1I sxssHAs's SOW ror.
ne 0svs Up BriIisant worsdiy Opportunities
For the Priessiy Csssock.

For the Priessiy Csssock.
Rev. Thomas Ewing sherman, OF the So |
ciety Of Jesus, who has just been appointed |
professor of rhetoric in the Jesuit college at
Detroit 10 spending August at Georgetown
University, in West Washington. His life
reads like a romance. A few years ago he
was one of the most dashing aud popular
young men in Washington society. His
father was general of the armies OF the
United States and almost dotted on the prom
ising young man. A bright worldly future
was before him. His uncle, the senator, was
to initiate him into politics, aud soon, IL was
expected by his fond father, the boy would
add lustre 10 the Sherman name. He had
graduated from the classical department OF
the Georgetown college with highest honors
He was handsome, manly, full ot animal lie
and apparently devoted TO social pleasures.
There was even some talk of his Intended
marriage to young lady of Cincinnati Al
this juncture, however, when his parents anu
friends expected him to settle down and come
out brilliant future, all the Washington
world was shocked by the announcement
that young Thomas had made up bis mind to
forsake the world, don the Jesuit cassock,
and take the VOWS of poverty, chastity and
obedience. At first the report was ridiculed,
~ young Sherman had never shown any
marked religious tendencies, but, on the con-
trary had exhibited that spirit OF religious in-
difference which characterizes the young
man OF to-day. Still the report proved true.
All at once Sherman disappeared from tue
| drawing-rooms of the elite, and inquiries for
him elected the fact that he had gone to tue
Jesuit novitiate TO make preparations loI
entering the prie sthood.' 1t Is said religious
retreat at Georgetown had much 10 do win
| his change OF life. The college is under the
| charge of the Jesuits, and Sherman, who had
| been educated there, naturally had an alice
tiun for the teachers. though while under
| them there had been no mention of his
L farit, 4 tI,a tnf at
he took part in with zeal, was followed by
the announcement that he WAS about 10 JON
| the Jesuit order. 1t may be imagined that
| the announcement was a shock 10 his fond
| father. How great the shock was only the
| Sherman family circle knows, but certain II
| is that the old general was never quite the
| same afterwards. lie tried tn dssuade his
| son from the step contemplated by every
means he knew OF, but 1t was all III vain,
| Whether the father and son parted in anger
| or not is not known. Anyhow, they have
| had no communication with each other since,
| and Gen. Sherman, 1t is said, will have nc
| one mention his sons name in his presence
| Mrs Sherm IN visits Thomas quite often, how
| ever. She was of course bitterly dlsappolnt
ed that her son should give up his brillian
| future, but she is a deyout Catholic, and, ,lik'
| all Catholic mothers, is fond of her SOM
| ecclesiastical character. While Thomas was a
| the Frederick novitiate she went up Their
| weekly. Afterwards he was transferred
| Woodstock. Md, which is also within eas
reach OF Washington. When, however, hi
| superiors told him he must go 10 England
| complete his studies, and this arrangement
was evidently made for the purpose OF sc
| ting the young man as far IS possible iron
| his parents, Mrs. Sherman appealed To he
| son to come home and carry out his father
D | Wishes The general joined In this eutreat,
( | but Thomas had made up his mind to b'
! | come priest and nothing could shake h
] | determination. 1t is said that the paren
| then proposed aCompromise. They propose
3 | that he should give up the cassock aud stud
4 for the secular priesthood, since seculI
| priests have the opportunity to display the
: abilities aud to be advanced to the prelac
| while Jesuits and other members of orde
; | must pass their lives in comparative obscu
. ity, teaching in colleges aud giving mission
4 | Young Sherman would listen to no compr
I mise and even appealed to his superiors
o send him TO England at once, so that
b | might not be tempted by the entreaties of
+ parents, whom he loved dearly. So to En-
l. land he went, and for four years studied ha
| in the college at Stonyhurst graduating
philosophy. Then he returned to the L nit
, | States TO pursue his theological studies at I
= = Jesuit seminary at Woodstock, Md. No
u in accordance with the Jesuit rule, he mt
r teach a certain time to prepare himself
,r the life that is before him. AS he dist
N guished himself Tor literary talent while
"a college he is given the proiessorship in rh'
m oric. Alter two years in Detroit he will pre-
IN ably go 10 the Jesuit college at Washingt
10 to finish his studies and be ordained. /
w reappearance on the field where he v
known as a dashing society man Will eau
,f ! much interest, especially il he appears in
v | pulpit before those with whom ne formal
associated. lie is living very quietly now
4 | Georgetown college.