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DEVIL OR PRIEST?

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 17, 1881

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 7.

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DEVIL OR PRIEST?

The following is an extract from a letter by the Rev. T. L. Gulick, of Zaragoza, Spain, dated Dec. 31, 1879:—
The following incident which occurred a few days ago in the town of Cervera not far from Zaragoza up the river Ebro, vividly illustrates one phase of the present religious condition of Spain. We know the story to be true by letters received from those in the village who are personally acquainted with the facts.
A rich man, well known in the Province of Aragon for his advanced opinions, on his death-bed refused to accept any priestly aid, notwithstanding the entreaties of his family and the advice of his friends. There was a moment, however, when it was thought the patient had modified his determination. The priest of the parish presented himself by the side of the dying man, but finding that he persisted in his refusal, he retired, saying aloud to those who were present, that after the death of the reprobate, the devil would come in person to take charge of his body and conduct him to hell.
Two days after, the family were watching by the corpse, when the door of the room was suddenly opened, and a monster, clothed in scarlet, smelling of sulphur and dragging a hairy tail, presented himself before the mourners who fled in dismay. Hearing their screams, a man-servant who was in the next room seized a revolver and ran to the rescue. It is reported that for a moment he stood terrified at the sight of his Majesty, but, like Death at Hell-gate, thinking it better to kill than to be killed, he fired three shots at the flaming terror. Thereupon the friends of the deceased found themselves face to face with the Sacristan of the parish church with three wounds in his body and the foam of death on his lips. The next day he died. The authorities took four priests into custody, but it is not likely that they will suffer any serious penalty. Whatever his crime it is very seldom that a priest is brought to punishment like other criminals. About eight years ago a very similar tragedy with a like ending took place in another part of this Province.
What is to be thought of the character of men who can, on occasion, resort to such means to gain their ends.