The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-09-19
.SILE n N C A BIGO 7


was rampant, the notorious Father
Slattery" was engaged by that un-
American society to lecture" in the
Southern cities. 1t was arranged that
the campaign of SANDER should begin
in Memphis, Tenn.
The coming of Slattery was told on
insulting posters. His press agent
was ingenious and Industrious.
AS the night of the lecture drew
near, the excitement grew intense,
and at last even many Catholics be-
lieved that there would be trouble.
Then the populations began to invade
the Mayors Office. The Chief of Po-
lice was a Catholic. He knew that ap-
prehensions of violence were ground
less. The other side pretended to be
suspicious of him.
The morning Slattery was billed to
arrive a deputation of ministers wait
ed upon the Mayor They were dread
fully in earnest. They insisted that
a body of trusted" special police
should be appointed to guard the lee
turer. The Mayor at last believed
that the situation was alarming. He
assured the ministerial deputation
that he would give the matter his per-
sonal attention, and requested them
to return in one hour. The Mayor
was a man of superb culture and lib
crafty, one of the leading citizens Of
Memphis and deserving of the conf
dence which all classes reposed in
him. He at once sought the Catholic
pastors and some of the leading Cath
Ollie laymen.,
When the ministers returned, his
plans were made. He told them the
course he intended to follow. He in
tended to take charge of Father
Slattery" himself. All reception COM
mittees and guards were to be dis
pensed with.
He would meet the lecturer" at
the railroad station with his own car
riage and make him his personal
guest. The press heralded abroad
that the Catholics were snubbed; that
the Reverend Slattery had to be
saved from death by the personal in
reference of the Mayor The Mayor
in his carriage, met Slattery at the
depot. There were no policemen in
evidence. The Mayor briefly ex-
planned the situation, promising him
complete protection and ordered his
coachman to drive to different points
Of interest in the city, which he
wished his guest to see. They first
visited the educational institutions,
public and parochial, then the
churches, libraries and the magnificent
hospital erected by the city for the
Sisters. Though the Mayor treated
his visitor with the utmost kindness,
the latter seemed to be bored, and
could not be led into conversation.
Evidently the Mayor was not just the
kind of man he relished, and the alb
sence of violence on the part of the
Catholics was monotonous and morti-
flying. The Mayor inquired of his
guest if he was weary, and politely
asked him if he wished to see any
more of the city. Slattery bluntly
told him that he had seen enough.
The Mayor, told him that there was
one more place of interest which he
wished to show him. They were soon
at the gate Of a cemetery. They en-
tered and walked toward a marble
shaft that lowered as high as the beau
tiful southern trees that draped it
with their luxurious frontage.
"Mr. Slattery," said the Mayor, 81
have a purpose in bringing you here. y
His voice was husky with emotion,
and his eyes cleaned more in sorrow
than in anger. Let me read what is
written there" The Mayor read
aloud the inscription which stated
that the monument had been erected
to give testimony to the everlasting
esteem and love, and to commemorate
the heroism, devotion and self-sacri-
fee of the Catholic priests and nuns
who laid down their lives on the altar
of Christian charity in the dark days
of the terrible plague. The Mayors
eyes were filled with tears.
Read the names upon that shaft, "
he continued. "The pastor heads the
list. He was one of that race to
which you are disgrace He was
Natures nobleman-benevolent, pure,
faithful to every trust and lover of
liberty. The other men whose names
are on there were like unto him. They
had neither kith nor kin in our city.
Read that long death roll of these
devoted women whose earthly names
even were given up for charity. Where
can you find parallel of heroism and
Christian devotion? No earthly mo-
tive moved them. Until the dark
days of our sorrow came, they were
unknown to us. Then, when dread
and sorrow filled every heart, when
the most sacred ties and obligations
| failed to save our sick from desertion,
when there were no hands to smooth
the throbbing brow, or give drink to
the parched lips, angelic women en-,
tered our homes, dared the horrors OF
the plague, smiled at the spectral
face of death ITSELF and for the lives
of our children and our wives, gave
up their own.
Look at the fourth name on that
roll of angels. | do not know her
name, but she was a beautiful girl
and her voice had the mellow
"brogue" of the south of Ireland. She
was stricken down; the terrible death
/ marx of tho MIA ono cot ifc coal IN hoI