The Rhode Island Privateer [pp. 323-334]

1874.] THE i?HODE JSLA~VD Pi?Jt')4 TEEi?. 329
of this kind, accustomed to judge others we Roman Catholics adore the wood or
by themselves, are not able to imagine the brass, but we use it to nourish, so
that an honorable man-that a priest- to say, our devotion. For how could a
was able and obliged to keep his parole reasonable being remain unaffected while
in such a case. beholding the figure of a God dying on
\Vhen the day dawned, he seemed a the cross for His love to us? What eflittle less uneasy on my account. To- fect may not be produced on the soul
ward eight o'clock, they all placed them- and the heart by the image of a martyr
selves at table, and, after a miserable who is giving his life for Jesus Chnst?"
repast, one of them attempted to enter "0, 1 do not understand it so," said
into a controversy with me. He put the Englishman to me, and I well knew,
many questions to me about confession, from his manner, that their ministers deabout the worship which we gave to the ceive them, in telling them that the Pacross, to images, etc. "Do you confess pists, as they call us, superstitiously revyour parishioners?" he presently asked erence and adore the cross and the imme. ages, valuing them for themselves.
"Yes," I replied, "whenever they I was anxiously waiting for the return
come to me; but they do not do so as of those who had been to visit the dwelloften as they should, or as I could wish ings, when they came to me to say, that
them, for the zeal I have for the salva- it was necessary I should go on board
tion of their souls." the ship, as Captain Potter wished to
"And do you really think," he added, see me and speak with me. I had done
"that their sins are remitted as soon as everything in my power, by urging, sothey have declared them to you?" liciting, and representing, as earnestly
"No, assuredly," I said to him; "a as I was able, all the reasons I had for
mere confession is not sufficient to pro- not embarking so soon. But I could
duce this; it is necessary that it should gain nothing, and I was obliged to obey
be accompanied by a true sorrow for the in spite of myself. The commander of
past and a sincere resolution for the the party on shore, wh~ in the absence
future; without which auricular confes- of the others, was the second lieutenant,
sion will have no efficacy to blot out when I came to speak to him on this
sins." point, taking hold of his tongue with
"And as to the images and the cross," one hand, and with the other making a
he replied, "do you think that the prayer semblance of piercing or cutting it, gave
would be equally efficacious without this, me to understand that if I said any
which is the external of religion?" more, I might expect bad treatment. I
"The prayer is good, without doubt," had reason to think that he was annoyI answered him, "but permit me to ask ed at the strong and pathetic address I
you w;th regard to yourself, why in fam- had made with regard to the profanation
ilies do they preserve the portraits of a of the ornaments of the church and the
father, a mother, or their ancestors? Is sacred vessels.
it not principally to awaken their own We embarked, therefore, toward three
remembrances, in thinking of the bene- o'clock in the afternoon, in a canoe, and
fits they have received from them, and to although the ship was not much more
animate them to follow their good ex- than three leagues distant (the captain
amples? For it is not exactly the pict- having now caused it to enter the river),
ure which they honor, but it brings back we nevertheless only reached it in about
to them all which it represents. In the eight hours, in consequence of the resame manner, you need not imagine that miss ness of the rowers, who were con VOL. 12. - 22.