# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1864_S310
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

News of Church History.    310

in the belief that all further difficulties had thereby been removed. A few days later, however, the bishop received a second letter in which he was requested to call again on Brigadier General Tuttle. He betook himself, in the company of Vicar General Grignon, once more to the general's headquarters. The latter at once addressed the bishop with the words: "'Bishop, you did not say that; you did not send me this book.'" The bishop replied: "'General, I did not say that I would send you a book,'" whereupon the general answered: "'It makes no difference; I procured this book myself,'" while at the same time sending an officer for it. The book in question was handed to the bishop, who thereupon made the remark: "'Exactly what I told you, General. This is a devotional book for the people; it is not the so-called "Missale Romanum," in which the churchly divine service is prescribed.'" — "'Good,'" answered the general, "'I request you to read this prayer. I am now completely satisfied. I shall regard your refusal to read this prayer as a sign of your disloyalty, sir! I hate a traitor. There are many traitors in this city, and I believe you are one.'" The bishop suppressed the feelings of indignation which these words of the general aroused within him, and replied simply: "'I thank you, sir, for your compliment; might I ask you whether you have any facts or evidence on which you base such a belief?'" General Tuttle replied: "'This is fact enough!'" and the bishop withdrew. Two officers of the United States army, both paymasters and likewise professors of the Catholic faith, finally went, in the bishop's company, to the general and explained to him that the offering of this prayer in Mississippi, under the circumstances now prevailing, would not merely be a contradiction but even an absurdity. This was, they said, a prayer for the President of the United States and for a rebel governor and a rebel legislature; the only governor now in the State of Mississippi was Governor Clark. The general was asked whether "'he wished prayer to be made for this governor, or whether it was his wish that the bishop divide the prayer, or whether he wished the whole prayer to be read.'" For a moment the general hesitated and reflected on the matter. Then, however, he said: "'Let the prayer be said exactly as it stands in the book,'" and continued: "'I do not command you to offer this prayer, but I request you to read it. If you do not read it, then I shall regard you as disloyal and shall punish you for your disloyalty.'" This is roughly the substance of the difficulty. Since then the bishop has applied directly to Major General Sherman and to President Lincoln, and has entered a serious protest against the proceedings of Brigadier General Tuttle. He protests against this on the following important principal grounds, namely, because divine worship in the Church, without any interference whatsoever from any other quarter, must be regulated solely and alone by the authority of the Church, and may not be dictated by any military, civil, political, or any other person whatsoever. He protests against it in the name of the 150,000 Catholic soldiers and officers now serving in the army of the United States. He protests against it in his own name and on behalf of the whole Catholic Church of America, as against an irresponsible and unjustifiable interference with the rights of this Church and of those who profess it. He protests against it as against a direct and manifest violation of the Constitution and as against a presumption overturning all the principles on which it rests. He protests against it especially also in the name of the 14 Catholic churches and congregations, and of their respective pastors, that still find themselves in the State of Mississippi, namely outside the federal lines, and whose churches the rebels might burn down should he be compelled by General Tuttle to take the course demanded of him, or the taking of which he is asked by him. These 14 churches, he says, are not and cannot be protected by the federal army. These are the grounds on which Bishop Elder