[
182]
One Sunday during the
Civil War, while engaged in instructing some children,
Father O'Keefe received the following telegram from
General Benjamin Butler:
‘
General Butler sends his compliments to
Father O'Keefe and desires to know if he prays for the
Federal authorities at the vesper service.’
Father O'Keefe's reply is characteristic.
He wrote the following on the back of
General Butler's note:
‘
Father O'Keefe does not return his compliments to
General Butler.
I do not pray for the
Federal authorities at the vesper service, nor do I intend to do so. Furthermore, I never heard of such a thing.’
Of course, it was thought by every one that on the receipt of the reply from
Father O'Keefe General Butler would immediately order his arrest.
However, he did not. Years afterwards
General Butler and
Father O'Keefe met, and the interchange of telegrams between them was referred to.
“I would have arrested you,” said the
General, ‘but on account of the charitable works you were performing.’
“I was anxious that you should arrest me,” replied the priest.
‘I wanted to get to the front, but the vow of obedience to my bishop prevented me. If I had been arrested I might have had an opportunity to have gone there.’
