By Father James Maciejewski

Robert B. Troutman, one of North Georgia’s most prominent Catholics, died last Thursday at the age of 82. He was buried in Westview Cemetery after services at Sacred Heart Church at which Archbishop Donnellan officiated.

Surviving are his wife, the former Nellie Hood Ridley, and two children, Robert, Jr., and Mrs. Eleanor Bockman.

Troutman, the recipient of numerous civic, professional and religious awards, was a practicing attorney until shortly before his death. He was president of the Atlanta Bar Association in 1926 and the Georgia Bar Association in 1946.

In 1963, at the age of 73, he was named by Mayor Ivan Allen to a special committee to seek voluntary desegregation of Atlanta businesses and public accommodations and to promote job opportunities for blacks. Believing that the South had a unique opportunity to show the way in race relations, he said:

“We are the testing ground as to whether two races can work and live side by side in peace and justice to all.”

Troutman, the son of a circuit-riding Methodist minister, became a Catholic in 1959. His long-time pastor, Father Thomas Roshetko, S.M., recalled that for many years after his conversion and until he became ill, Troutman and his wife were daily communicants at Sacred Heart Church, members of the Third Order of Mary and leaders in the parish education program.

Father Roshetko, who attended Troutman at his death, remembers him as a gentle man and a humble man, a quality exemplified in an instruction he left concerning his funeral: “Let there be a simple celebration of Mass and no words of praise, even if the priest be inclined to utter such words – which I doubt. I would ask that all join in prayers for my soul.”

Just before his conversion to Catholicism in 1959, Troutman wrote a remarkable letter to a friend explaining his decision. Mrs. Troutman has kindly released an excerpt of the letter to the Bulletin.

It read: After many years of intense study, thought and earnest prayer, I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. The reasons are many and are convincing to me, although they may not persuade others. They are, however, sufficient to lead me to make the most difficult decision of my life.

I come from a long line of Protestants, Quakers and Methodists. All of my family – mother, father, sister and all of their children, except my brother Henry and his children – are Methodists. My father was an outstanding Methodist minister and a distinguished Mason. I was baptized in his church as a little boy of six or seven and maintained a nominal membership until about 1948.

I have been an active Mason for more than 40 years.

Masonry for years took the place of regular church attendance in my life. Under its teachings I had great latitude in my thinking on religious matters. And I liked it, because it seemed to relieve me of any responsibility to think concretely or specifically as to dogma, even Christian dogma, although I was supposed to be a member of Christ’s church. At the same time Masonry was a powerful influence and inspiration in my constant search for truth. It was more helpful that I can express. Yet I never seemed to arrive at peace within myself. All around me were men like you, who were active in their respective churches, with definite convictions accompanied with substantial work. My wife and children were members of the Catholic Church and regular participants in her teachings and activities. All the time I was just drifting along satisfied with the belief in a Supreme Being and in the immortality of my soul, and with living a moral life in this world. I don’t pretend to justify such a position. I state it as a fact.

There came a time, about ten years ago, when I felt that I should stand up and be counted as a church member.

Nominally I was a Methodist, but I had never taken the time to find out what Methodists were supposed to believe. So, to use a phrase of Bishop Moore’s, I decided to get out of “no-man’s land” as to my church affiliation and activities. Really, I wished to get straight on my relationship with my God.

Beginning with the Bible itself, and with the help of my pastor, I got many other books and literature from many sources. And with all the thoroughness of which I am capable, and with God’s grace, I began to study and seek the light. This search has gone on for ten years. I pursued it in my travels and above all, in my prayers.

I concluded what you have known for many years, that I believe in Christ, His teachings and His mission on this earth. I believe in original sin, manifested in the evil that exists in the world. Man had become in discord with God’s purpose in creating man and this world. So, through Christ, God afforded man and me a remedy for that evil. It was not to be found in merely a belief in God and the immortality of my soul. The only path to my redemption is Christ. He came on earth to afford me the remedy. A part of His mission was the establishment of His Church, to which man could look for guidance always and forever. Thus far, I am sure that you and I are in agreement. But here are paths separate. To me, Christ’s Church is the Catholic Church. It is, in my humble judgment, not the Methodist Church, although my family for generations have disagreed with me, as do so many who are close to me and wiser than I.

This difference has existed among professed Christians since the Reformation – more than 400 years ago. It has been fraught with much bitterness and sometime with bitter bloodshed, ever with intolerance and with little Christian love. I cannot remove those long and deep-seated differences. Nor can I erase the effects of assaults upon His Church from without or treachery against her from within her ranks. These institutions are in human hands. They have failed at times because of human error. I believe that He suffers again and again because of those failures.

I cannot unite all professed Christians into one Church, which I sincerely believe that He intended. Yet I pray for it every day. The strength of united Christians is needed to stem the threat of Communism and materialism. All that I can do is to follow my conscience and my conviction, which was reached painfully because of the history and relationships of my life. I do so with love in my heart for all who disagree with me, and with the hope that they will understand and pray for me, as I pray for them.

It seems that there is a conflict between Masonry and the Catholic Church, which renders membership in both to be incompatible. I regret that it is so, because I see much good in both. Nevertheless, the time approaches for me to sever my Masonic connections. I do not wish to be in a position where divided loyalties exist. I know that there will be criticism in some quarters and lack of understanding in many. I will have to bear them without attempting to explain or rebut. For this I am prepared. There is no easy way. As I see my course, there is no choice for me except to unite myself with what I believe to be Christ’s Church on this earth. I hope and pray that in so doing I will earn His mercy and help in my feeble way to show my love for Him and my gratitude for His sacrifice on the Cross.

With my affection and my best wishes always, I remain

Your friend,

Robert B. Troutman