Letter XXXI.
TO A FATHER OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS.*
Conversion of Randolph Benton, son of Thomas H Benton.
REVEREND AND DEAR FATHER
While Kossuth was in our midst, stirring up civil and religious dissensions, God consoled his calumniated children by the conversion of several Protestants. To comply with the wish expressed in your last letter, I will relate to you the details of the conversion of young Mr. Randolph Benton, the only son of the distinguished and Hon. Thomas H. Benton, one of the most eminent statesmen of this vast republic.
This great man, who, for thirty years, with the greatest distinction and with a patriotic zeal, has served his country as Senator from Missouri, professes, with the rest of his family, the Presbyterian religion. Young Randolph, possessed of talent, and yet very young, had been difficult to manage, and had proved the source of a good deal of anxiety to his worthy parents, particularly to his aged father, who lead formed great hopes of him. The son was only twenty-two years and four months old when he died, and yet, though so young, lie lead rambled over the greater portion of the United States, New Mexico, California, and Oregon. At the age of fourteen he accompanied his brother-in-law, the celebrated
(* This letter was transmitted by Father De Smet, after Col. Benton's death, to the "N. Y. Freeman's Journal," and published May 1, 1858)
Colonel Fremont, in the exploration of the Great Western Desert. Four years later, he resided for some time at Westphalia, Missouri, where we had a residence, and there applied himself to the study of the German, under the instruction of one of our Fathers, and perhaps it is owing to this circumstance, that ever since be has felt so much respect for our holy religion. I will briefly relate the details of his conversion.
He had returned from New 'Mexico to St. Louis, and for some weeks had been staying with his patents. He conceived the idea of applying himself to the study of the sciences and of the ancient languages, and of rapidly acquiring
a knowledge of them. In this intention, and by the advice of his father, he called upon the President of the University,* and asked to be admitted to its classes as an extern, if his age should be an objection to his entrance as a boarder. The arrangements for his admission had all been fixed, when a few days later he was attacked with bilious diarrhoea, which very quickly prostrated him.
It was at this moment that, meeting the honored Senator, I was informed by him of the sad news of his son's dangerous illness. At his request I visited the invalid, and found him in a condition truly alarming. Young Randolph expressed to me the very great joy he felt upon seeing me, and thanked me warmly for my visit. I seated myself by his sick couch, and' exhorted him to place all his confidence in divine Providence, and in the mercy of our Redeemer. He listened to me with marked attention, and at the same time manifested sentiments both of piety and resignation to God's will. "O God," he exclaimed,-" yes, O God, thou dost send to us what is best!" I then spoke to him of the
(* St. Louis University).
essential points of our religion, to all of which Randolph expressed his assent, couched in words replete with fervor and piety. The Senator was present during the interview, and seeing in his son such Christian sentiments, affectionately clasped my hand, and leading me away a little distance from the bed, said to me with transport, "Oh, but it is consoling! The words of my son fill me with joy, despite the grief which tears my heart. God be blessed. If he dies be will die a Christian." The venerable old man then burst into tears, and retired into a neighboring room in order to conceal his emotion. I returned to the bedside of Randolph, and he announced to me his desire of being received into the Catholic Church. "I desire, with all my- heart," he said, "to be baptized. It is a great boon which Heaven vouchsafes to me. My father certainly will consent to it." I immediately entered the apartment to which his father had retired, to communicate his son's wish, and to console him by the condition of his son in a religious point of view. I also spoke of the urgency and the necessity of baptism. The Senator willingly consented. He would have desired that the ceremony should be postponed for a few hours " until the opiates, which for a day past bad been given to the patient, should have procured for him a little sleep," but there was danger in thus delaying. This forced sleep made me uneasy. I remarked to the Senator that the ceremony could not in any manner disturb the patient's sleep, except for a very- few moments; it might have a beneficial effect in tranquillizing his mind. He affectionately asked me to perform for his son the duties of my holy ministry. The latter learned this consent with joy and gratitude, and immediately prepared himself to receive the holy sacrament of baptism. While I was administering it to him, he devoutly crossed his arms over his breast, and raising his eyes to heaven prayed
with fervor, thanking God for the signal grace accorded to him. I then left him, urging him to try and take some sleep. I left in order to procure the blessed sacrament of the holy oils. An hour later I received the following note, written by Colonel Benton:
HALF-PAST 11 o'clock, March 16, 1852.
MY DEAR FATHER DE SMET:
I went into the room the moment you left me. He immediately said to me, "Are you pleased with what I have done?" I said, "I am;" and then engaged him to yield to the opiates he had taken, and go to sleep. He said, "Excitement and happiness have done more for me than sleep could do," and immediately turning his eyes to heaven as he lay on his back, the head raised on the pillow, lie said in a clear, calm, modulated voice, and radiant look, "Thank God, I am happy !" Then turning his eyes to me, with the same voice and look, he repeated the words to me, and said, "I intended to do it long ago, but did not know whether you would like it" I told him be made me happy. And truly it is the first feeling of relief I have had in these five terrible clays and nights. So, dear Father, all is in your hands now. You are giving peace to me in giving it to him.
Affectionately,
THOS. H. BENTON.
In another letter of Colonel Benton to me, on the day subsequent to the death of his son, he wrote as follows:
DEAR FATHER DE SMET:
This is to introduce to you Mr. Burke, a school comrade and friend of my poor child years ago. I wish you to talk with him. He will show that it was indeed long (in his short life) that lie meditated the step be took-even four years ago. He will give to you gratifying details, as he has to me, and will show (what you and I well knew, from himself and from (,in- observation) that it was not the near approach of death and the sick-bed that brought him to this act., but his own heart, in the happiest state of his health and mind.
THOS. H. BENTON.
Young Randolph, during his last hours, was surrounded by many of his near relatives and friends. During his lucid moments lie did not cease to manifest the deepest gratitude to the divine goodness, that he should have been led back to the fold of Christ. He received the last sacraments with sentiments of great fervor; and tranquilly, about sunrise of the 17th March, 1852, went to sleep in the Lord, confident in the hope that lie exchanged this mortal life for another and a happier one forever in heaven. The funeral services were performed at the cathedral. The Most Rev. Archbishop himself officiated and pronounced a beautiful discourse, well suited to the occasion. These circumstances, together with the edifying scenes of the last moments, and of the conversion of his son, cannot fail to leave a deep and favorable impression upon the mind and the heart of the venerable and illustrious Senator; for lie shared the happy sentiments so piously and so tenderly expressed by his son, before and after the latter had had the happiness to receive the grace of baptism.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
P. J. DE SMET, S. J.