OCR Text |
Show Demolition of an Old Land Mark. ' (Union and Times.) The rectory of St. Patrick's church, tho demolition demo-lition of which has just been completed, was one of Washington's landmarks, not by reason of age, but because of the strong personality of Father Walter, who built it, and whose home it was for many years, made for it a place in the city's history. In the stormy days that immediately followed the close of the Civil war this house was the cynosure of countless eyes. The stern and fiery, yet tender and devoted, priest was still on the sunny side of middle of life. A native of Baltimore, he had never paraded, yet never made any secret of his sympathy with the South. As pastor, and later as the last spiritual adviser of Mrs. Surratr, he was firmly convinced of her innocence, and made every possible effort to save her life. When the last terrible ter-rible hour dreaw near he received from the military i authorities a suggestion that it would be better for him not to accompany his unfortunate parishioner to the scaffold. His reply, which was characteristic, was as follows: "Tell the secretary of war that I fear neither man nor devil. I fear God alone, and I will defend, with my life, the character of the least and lowliest of my parishioners." The heroic priest had heard Mrs. Surratt's last confession early in the morning, and at the hour of execution lie had no duty to perform except to sustain her by his presence. The lower limbs of the condemned were bound by soldiers designated for that duty. This service Father Walter had promised to perform for her. though he should be shot in the act. When the execution was over Father Walter sought his bed, and for a week afterward after-ward was prostrated by illness. . Father Walter devoutly believed that his sick ! calls were not all conveyed by human agency, and that the old fashioned bell of the rectory, on at leaszt a few ocerasions, had beeen rung by shadowy hands. Among his fav5ritu recollections was the visit to him near midnight fully a epuartcr of a. century ago of two little boys, who, having rung the bell, were waiting on the stoop when. Father Walter opened the door. They seemed to be about 8 and 10 years of age. They requested him to administer ad-minister to their dying father the last rites of the Church. The address that they gave was in a poor and remote quarter of the city, but the good priest lost no time in seeking it. It was a forlorn old building, and in one of its rooms, destitute of even the barest comforts, he found the dying man. Father Walter prepared the unfortunate for death and, as ' there was no other human being in sight or hearing, he said : "Mv son. where are your little ones? "I have no family," said the dying man. 'But," replied Father Walter, "the children who came to me said they were your sons. . , . "I once had two little boys.'' said the departing, ''but they died many years ago." |