August 12: Son of the South

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is August 12th, and our story is Son of the South. William Elder was a kind-hearted priest and exemplary bishop, devoted to his flock and prudent in his governance of church affairs. He just wasn't a fan of President Abraham Lincoln.

It's not that Elder had anything personal against Lincoln, but the bishop was a son of the South, born in Baltimore, educated in Emmitsburg, and, when the Civil War broke out, Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi. In the months leading up to the Civil War, Bishop Elder prayed for peace. When Mississippi decided to secede, however, he defended the decision. He then did his best to assist the Confederacy's soldiers, asking his priests to pray for the soldiers' safety and asking his parishioners to donate clothes, religious articles, and other necessities to the men.

When the war eventually came to Mississippi, Elder cared for wounded soldiers from both the North and the South. He made no distinction. Nevertheless, he had his limits. Brigadier General James Madison Tuttle, commander of the occupying Union Army, discovered those limits in 1864 when he ordered Mississippi clergy to pray for Lincoln in all religious services.

Elder refused, telling Tuttle that the government had no business mandating the prayers of the Catholic Mass. He then wrote the president, restating that opinion. Lincoln agreed, and Tuttle backed down. Tuttle, however, never mentioned the exchange to his successor, General Mason Brayman, and when Brayman arrived, he insisted officials in Washington had never rescinded his predecessor's order. He again commanded Elder to pray for Lincoln. Elder again refused. This time, the general had the bishop arrested and sent to a Louisiana prison. There, he was tried for treason and convicted.

Elder remained in prison for three weeks until officials in Washington got wind of the situation and ordered Elder's release. The bishop went home on August 12, 1864. Elder almost died 14 years later when nursing Mississippi's sick through a yellow fever epidemic. He recovered, however, and lived to become co-adjutor bishop of Cincinnati in 1880 and archbishop in 1883. The 85-year-old Archbishop died, still shepherding Cincinnati, in 1904.

Bishop Elder Model's courage grounded in principle. He balanced compassion with conscience, aiding all in need while defending his religious autonomy. Consider an area of life where principle conflicts with convenience. Take a step to uphold integrity today, even if it's uncomfortable.

Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, August 13th, for another story of faith and courage in America.