Catholicism In The Army

The papers nre discu-sing the question whether any of the American officers nnd suliiicrs are requiïed lo eon,furm lo the ceremonies of' the Catholic religión wllileía Mexico. The following extract is to the poi'nt .' 'Sergeant W'ii'et, of Capiaih Nnylor's I Cma--y of Philadc ],hii Uangers, thud . distinclly rrnews. throegh the National AniTican, a stne:nent made by letter-wriiers frora J:il)pri at the time at' its occurronce : " We yesteiclay had the plensure of i conversing with first Sei-g. anl Vi']ets,of : Gapt. NayJor'i Company of Philadelphm : Rnngrrs, Inlely from Jula)a - he hnving ' arrived at home on Tuesdny. Se-gennt Willits confinns :he accounts lijihrto pubfisticd in the Sun of the forced kn-e!ng of the American (roo.os to ihe Cwlhoj lic host, by order r.f C..I. C ii.'d-, Military Governor of Jalapa. The ordrs ere ksued to oflicers of ihe gnaid and lo the ofïicer of the day, Co!. Roberts, of the second regiment of Pennsvlvanii vo!unteers. Both regulare and voIun(eMs, offi.ersand men, wore cnmpeKeJ to obey the at the peril of their lives ! A the host passed by, ihe men were brouglit lo present arins, tlipn dropped to one h-nee, the bayor.et fallingto li,e groiincf, the buliof ihe mu--ket revpr-cd, nnclerths right arm, whfle ihe lefl hand lifted ihe cap fj-oin the head end bung it upon the rock of ihe musket' 'l'he men vtero dur ing the whole morning drillcd to this cpremony by the officer of the guard. The men prolrsted. The' officer of the guard m))ed, ' Aly ordes are to drill you to the performance of thisdulv. If you refuse to [lerfonn it, you know the consequences.' ('olunel Roberts kneele'i down with tlie ros:." [f this is a true story, and it certainly looks so, the public have a right to know wberesuch an infamius order orig'nated. Thequestion si, heiher American citizens, in enlistingfor the service of their country, foifeitiheir riglits of conscience, and become liable to compulsory idoülry. For bureel ves we would just as soon kneel to a piece ofwood or stonp, as ti a loaf of bread. Either we sh-aild