“Ever wonder why our German ancestors left the comfort of home to come to America? One of the reasons was religious intolerance. The following article, titled PRUSSIA - Protestant Brutality and Propagandism, which appeared in the Diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Telegraph, on January 24, 1866, will give you a little insight into conditions in Prussia at this time in history. “In the course of last year, Dorothy Myer, a young woman, nineteen years of age, of Eilenstadt, in Prussian Saxony, became a convert to the Catholic faith. No sooner was her father informed of the fact than he repaired to the house where his daughter was in service and brutally struck her. Last October he compelled her to return home, maltreated her continually, and threatened to kill her unless she re-entered the Protestant Communion. He forbade her to go to the Catholic Church, and fixed beforehand the day on which she was to abjure the Catholic faith in the Protestant place of worship. The poor girl, pushed to extremities, escaped on the 23d of November to Halberstadt, detailed the circumstances of her case to the authorities and implored their protection. Instead of complying with her request, as they were bound by law, and summoning her father, they had her arrested on the high-way on the 25th, and restored by force to her father at Eilenstadt.” There are 25 Myer who have been baptized in St. Mary parish over the years. Wonder if any are related to Dorothy? Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.” - Ed Quickert