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"BY Tms SHALL ALL MEN KNOW 
 
THAT You ARE MY DISCIPLES* 
 
IF You HAVE LOVE ONE FOR 
 
ANOTHER." 
 
St. John XUI-3S. \\ $ 
 
 3O3O5 
 
booklet is offered to the public in 
 
the hope that it will serve as an anti 
 
dote to the slanderous attacks upon 
 
the Catholic Church, her priests, and her 
 
people, so recently made in lectures de 
 
livered in the City Auditorium, Macon, 
 
Ga., February 2-7,1916. 
 
For the sake of those who have borne 
 
false witness against us, the following 
 
text from Holy Scripture is appended: 
 
"A DECEITFUL WITNESS THAT 
 
UTTERETH LIES, THE LORD DE- 
 
TESTETH." 
 
(Proverbs 6-19) 
 
 FORWORD 
 
We were very happy in the sweet peace of concord and good will. We mingled with our fellow men and helped them and sought their friendly aid in upbuilding a moral Christian com munity. Catholics we are, and we are not ashamed or afraid to profess our belief in Christ and in His entire, un diluted doctrine. We are proud of this profession. And we have always be lieved that our non-Catholic neighbors were living virtuous lives, were seeking truth, professing Christ, with sincerity and in good faith. 
The harmony of our city was a thing we were proud of, and difference of be lief did not narrow our friendships nor warp our business confidence. We were surprised to hear the rumor of an ap proaching storm of hate and attack; we were amazed to see our city throw open its gates, and our public hall, its doors, to receive and abet the sower of the cockle in the field of concord. The. storm hissed and howled, there was more thunder than lightning. The mountain of ancient lies received a tiny contribution. The hideous heap was decorated, to save itself, by the sacrel fold of our Country's Flag. Yes, tlie blessed emblem of Freedom, guarantee of Liberty, of conscience and freedom of worship with equal rights, was dragged down to do service in an open persecution that smacked of Penal Days and Blue Laws. 
All this surprised us; and the sur prise was painful in as much as it re 
 
vealed, that what we believed was long ago extinguished by the cooling waters of modern broad-mindedness and tolera* tion characteristic of our age, the spark of religious hate, was still slumbering though concealed. Perhaps its flame did not spread far; but there were will ing hands, from quarters least expect ed, ready to fan the flame. 
What is still more remarkable and to a Christian's heart far more sadden ing was the lack of volunteers to help quench the flames when they could. Oh, how sweet the kind, Christian as sistance of a neighbor when you are at tacked; how efficient his prompt aid when your home has been fired by in cendiary hands. 
And yet Christ is the Prince of Peace and brotherly love; the avowed enemy of hate and discord. Our Lord's story of the man who fell among robbers and was left there unnoticed by the sup posedly learned and virtuous until the poor Samaritan fulfilled Christ's ideal of charity, still stands as the definition of the neighbor. 
There were some who came forth and spoke freely for truth and justice and fair-play. Men who were not Catholics, but who as Americans and Christians, could not bear that the restless tide, seething with rancor, should batter down the walls of peace and harmony. But how few these honest protests, how few these manly condemnations. P'' 0 we know is not always golden. 
Still, we are not angry; we will not 
 
f LIBRARIES 
 
 AX APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
let ourselves be soured against our fel low-men. We will love them more, we will seek to return good for evil, we will pray for them to our Father in Heaven as He has taught us to pray for those who persecute as. And we will go out of our way to help them find the truth, to show them what we are and what we teach and practice. We will return for every rebuff an act of Christian, brotherly kindness. 
Behold the purpose of the following pages. For those who are desirous of seeing behind the mist and fog, (not of our own making, bnt of those who find obscuring and misrepresenting easier 
 
than proving) which hinders many from seeing and knowing our Church as she is, they were written. We are glad and willing to lead them through our churches and our mysteries, to ex plain in simple words our beliefs and the solid reason on which they unshakably rest. May those who read these pages come to know the truth, to rea lize our view-point and to form unimpassioned judgment of our sincerity to God and of our loyalty to our Country. 
 
JOSEPH B. FEANKHAUSEB, S.J., Pastor of St. Joseph's Church, 
 
Feb., 1916. 
 
Macon, Ga. 
 
Washington and Religious Freedom 
The reference to this subject made by Washington in May, 1789, when ac knowledging the congratulations of the Virginia Baptists on his election to the Presidency, is thus quoted in Spark's "Writings of George Washington," Vol. XII: 
"If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it; and if I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny and every species of religious persecntion.. For you doubtless remember that I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be free to act according to the dictates of his own conscience." 
 
 The Church's Priesthood. 
 
Her ancient institutions the Catholic Church preserves with admirable fidelity, but her Priesthood she prizes with jealous love. To her Christ is the one, eternal High-Priest, as He is the one and only Victim. But He has many distributors of His power, as the sun has many rays. Christ's Church is vis ible; His perpetual Sacrifice is visible; His Priesthood must be visible. So He is represented on earth by men, divinely called and specially trained, as He Himself ordained when He com missioned His Apostles to go forth in His name to perpetuate His work. 
As the Supreme Head of all the elect. He is visibly represented by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome; as the Good Shep herd, seeking His lost sheep and caring for His faithful ones in all parts of the world, He is represented by the Bishops; as High Priest, offering sacri fice and pouring out grace and mercy. He is represented by the Priests who minister at the altar. So is our Presi dent represented by ambassadors and consuls throughout the world, who exer cise only that power which he is pleased to entrust to them. 
Hence the priest is not Christ, nor does he pretend to be. Neither would the youngest parochial school child con fuse the two. He is not divine; he is really human. He does not wish to be worshipped, but he has a right to be honored. Certainly no Catholic wor ships the Virgin Mother of God, though they all honor her because of her high office and privilege. 
The priest, then, is an ordinary man, but the office entrusted to him by Christ is not ordinarv. Mavbe this il 
 
lustration will give you an idea of what the priest's function is. What the great wire-mains and transformers are to the power-house, such the Bishops and priests are in the system of distri bution of that energy left by Christ to His Church in the grace-giving sacra ments. Ordination puts them in the living circuit and they carry the light of Christ's doctrine, the heat of Christ's love, the power of Christ's grace to the minds and hearts and wills of those who, without Christ, would sit in the shadow of darkness indescribable. 
REQUIREMENTS. 
Is it any wonder that the Catholic Church is so rigid in admitting candi dates for her Priesthood, so painstaking in training them during a course of twelve years, so jealously solicitious of the moral character and fitness for their high function? Aspirants to this honor must be of spotless morality, high ideals, good talents; they must be lovers of study and labor and prayer; unselfish, humble, and charitable. And what is more, this surrender must be generous and it must be voluntary. No persuasion, no fear, no conscription, fills the ranks of her army. They are her soldiers in Christ's spiritual war fare because they choose freely to heed the Master's call: "If you would be perfect, leave all, and come follow me." 
CELIBACY. 
Many are the sacrifices the Church requires of her soldiers. Perhaps the one most obvious to the casual observer is her law of celibacy. Her priests do not marry. They willingly pledge their 
 
 6 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
chastity to God, thus doubling their obligation to be pure and clean of heart. They must abstain from everything in thought, word, or action which could sully the conscience or taint the heart of one who daily touches the Holy of Holies. 
This heroic self-renunciation, volun tarily embraced by her priests, as well as the chastity of her consecrated vir gins, is at once the grand example and strongest bulwark which she opposes to the tide of loose morals and natural self-indulgence of our age. In this she glories, as it bears testimony to he:' fidelity to Christ's exalted teaching of the nobleness of celibacy (read Matt. XIX: 1 Cor. VII). 
But there are, besides the motive to fulfil Christ's will, many other ad vantages which must be plain to any one who considers the end and purpose of the priestly life. Some of these ad vantages are: 
1. The heart is undivided in its con secration to God's service, (cf. St. Paul, supra.). 
2. The force of character thus de veloped helps strengthen all the other virtues, as it also lends a special charm to them. 
3. It raises the priest to a higher plane for the common good, giving him greater influence as it merits for him the confidence of the people. 
4. It makes him illustrate in his own example the self-denying doctrine of the Cross which he preaches. 
5. He has greater liberty for obey ing duty's call, not being solicitous about the convenience and well-being of a family. 
0. He can be more brave and may 
 
freely risk his life in caring for the sick and dying in times of plague, pesti lence, or contagious disease. He is not worried or deterred by the fear that some are dependent upon him. 
7. He has more time for his spiritu al labors, and is prepared to go at a moment's call. 
8. He is much more efficient by reason of his singleness of purpose, as the results in mission fields amply testify. 
THE CRITICS. 
Many non-Catholics freely recognize these advantages which the Church has secured through a celibate priesthood, and pay unstinted tribute to the noble, self-sacrificing lives of the Catholic priests. Still some are to be found less well informed or wilfully blind who mistake the beam in their own eye for a blotch on the object they blearedly look at, who will not admit that other creatures may be nobler, more generous than themselves, and who consequently try to pull down from the pedestal of honor those whose virtues they have not the courage to imitate nor the good ness to appreciate. Some give ear to these iconoclasts, because they seem to advance some specious reasons against celibacy. Let us see some. They say: 
1. "It is not according to the Scriptures." Strange charge when one has read the New Testament, Matt. XIX, and 1 Cor. VII. And Christ's own example must not be forgotten, since He is the pattern and exemplar for His ministers. 
2. "It is unnatural." Certainly it is not contrary to nature, but it may be above nature. And it is; just as most of the doctrines of Christ, bidding us by 
 
 AN APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
force of will-power and helping grace to stand against our mere natural im pulses and to check our passions, are above nature; and in this sense, un natural or rather, supernatural. It is not natural to forgive our enemies, to love the cross, to desire persecution for justice's sake. By professing Christ ianity, we profess to act above our natural inclinations. To deny this, is to deny Christ. 
3. "It is impossible for man or wo man to resist perpetually the mightiest passion of our nature." But it has been done; and speculation on the pos sibility stops when the fact has shown it possible. There have been many men and women, not married, who were pure. You must have known some. Therefore chastity is not impossible. Moreover one who reads the Scriptures must know that no Christian pretends to make the fight of salvation against the flesh, the world and the devil with out assistance from God. "My grace is sufficient for thee." Were it utterly impossible to man alone, it would not be impossible with God elevating and assisting. "No word is impossible with God." Besides, those who profess a life of perfect chastity use the Scrip tural means of preserving this virtue prayer, watchfulness, self-denial, and penance. Again, if it were impossible, Christ would not have asked it of His chosen ones. 
INEVITABLE LOGIC. 
But stop! consider! What does a man commit himself to, when he says it is impossible for a person to practice continence. Plainly he goes on record for some awful assertions, as unjust! 
 
fiable as they are slanderous. He must hold: 
1. That all bachelors and spinsters, however pure they may appear to be, are hypocrites and immoral, for "'It is impossible for a human being to re sist." 
2. That every man who foregoes marriage because he deems it his duty to be the mainstay of an aged father or invalid mother, is, albeit secretly, a moral leper, for "it is impossible for man to resist the primal passion." 
3. That every young lady who gives up hopes of marriage because her moth er has died, leaving many little chil dren, and she chooses to be their shelter and protection; yes, and all those who remain unmarried because they believe they can do so much good for children in the school room are seeking immoral satisfaction someway, because "it is impossible to resist." 
4. That every widow and widower who are contented with the loving memory of the departed one and prefer not to plight their love a second time, are parties to clandestine passion, be cause "it is impossible to resist." 
5. That every doctor, especially if ma'TJed, who is seen going into an other man's house is on an evil errand, and his profession is but a cloak of his malice, for "it is impossible to resist." 
6. That every gentleman whose wife has become an invalid; that every hus band or wife, journing abroad with out consort; that every stenographer, working in a man's private office; have said good-bye to their fidelity and their chastity, because "it is impossible for human beings to conquer and subdue the primal passion." 
 
 8 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
7. And finally his words imply, al for being sincere and honest so long as 
 
most boastfully, that he himself, when you have not overpowering evidence of 
 
duty calls him away from home for a a very specific kind to make you dis 
 
longer period, does not pretend to re credit him; and even then, do not get 
 
main either faithful or moral. 
 
pessimistic and let your condemnation 
 
SEEKJXG TRUTH. 
Such charges must he be ready to defend who sweepingly asserts that it is impossible for a man or woman to conquer and control sexual passion by a strong will, assisted by the abundant 
 
go out to all other men. Condemn only those who individually are proven guilty. This is the spirit of our free and impartial America; thus do our laws command. 
F. D. Sullivan, S. J. 
 
grace of God. "With His grace I can 
 
A POINTED QUESTION. 
 
do all things." 
 
W. H. Van Doran, Protestant, editor 
 
Moreover, it is very unjust to con of The Ladora (la.) Ledger, puts this 
 
demn a class of men without proof. It pointed question: 
 
is very unscientific to formulate a gen "Suppose, for instance, some Catholic 
 
eral law by inductive method from a priest were to come into your own little 
 
few scattered instances observed. Even community and use the same identical 
 
if the instances were many (and facts, charges against you, your wife, your 
 
reason, and authority show they are mother, your sister, your religious be 
 
not) unless they are found universally lief. What would happen? He wouldn't 
 
as the rule and not the exception, no live long enough to get out of town. 
 
general statement could be drawn; And still you demand for your utter 
 
even it would be "scientifically"' rash ances, respect and sincerity. You 
 
to form an hypothesis or mere probable clamor for free speech, and yet at the 
 
opinion. But the blasters of reputa same time, if some Catholic were to 
 
tion, like the wanton destroyers of life come to your town and hold up the 
 
and the wreckers of property, are not many crimes committed by Protestant 
 
supposed to be either scientific or logi ministers as an example of what con 
 
cal. They are happy to be paid for stitutes the whole belief, you would be 
 
their bold cleverness in muddling the first to use 'mob' law as a penalty 
 
method, mangling facts, and murdering for such mouthings." 
 
If you seek truth about the celibacy of the Catholic priesthood, inquire from first-hand witnesses: ask reliable 
, ,<-,.. T,-]. O know facts: do not believe 
every line of unproved report or rumor in the papers, especially in maga zines of Hate (Hate is not a very good asset for historical investigation of truth). And above all be fair t'i 1 --' 'pn ra^ir'e: give everv man 
 
Protestants should be ashamed to listen to unfounded attacks upon the Catholic priesthood. . . . Put no faith in the attacks, but insist that evidence of wrong-doing be introduced in every case. There are as many, if not more, downfalls among the Protestant clergy than among the Catholic priesthood. Rev. Hay Watson Smith. Presbyterian, *"' ^ Prrinffs. Ark. 
 
 "THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE THE MASTER" 
 
THE CHURCH IS PERSECUTED AND MIS 
REPRESENTED TODAY AS HER DIVINE 
FOUNDER WAS AND AS THE EARLY. 
CHRISTIANS WERE. 
By Rev. C. Johan Liljencrants. (Father Liljencrants' ordination last May attracted widespread interest be cause he was the first 'Swede since the Reformation to receive Holy Orders. He was born Baron Liljencrants, is a Master of Arts, Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and has the distinction of being an "Officer d'Academic" of France. He became a convert after coming to this country.) 
"And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake (Matth. X:22). 
The Catholic Church of today, as in all ages, is made the target, no one can deny, of the gravest and often most vile accusations, and in this respect she holds a unique position, for no other religious body is being exposed to these or similar assaults. So persistent are these charges and so generally accept ed even by people of professed culture that it seems almost impossible that they should not, at least in part and in substance, be true. If, then, this not withstanding, as we Catholics know and profess, they are false, how are we to explain their extraordinary tenaci ous persistence and general acceptance? 
Our Lord and Savior during His public ministry on earth through His authoritative teaching, His departure from certain Jewish religio-ceremonial practices, and His claim to Divinity, aroused against Him the most violent 
 
opposition from the religious leaders in Israel, who not only resented the re bukes which He administered to them but also fully realized His power and influence over the masses and well un derstood that the continuance thereof would mean the loss of their own in fluence. Blinded to the truth of His claims and of His teaching they saw in Him a most dangerous competitor whose power and influence it was neces sary to destroy. To accomplish this end they- had recourse to accusations against Him by which they endeavored not only to discredit Him in the eyes of the people but also to secure His condemnation by the Roman authori 
ties. These, their charges, may be sum marized under four heads: diabolical power, immorality, irreligion, and op 
position to the State. Christ's teaching and deviation from 
Jewish customs were attributed by the Scribes and Pharisees to diabolical pos session and madness, and His miracles to the power of the devil exercised by hini- 
His moral conduct was sharply at tacked ;not only was He accused of breaking the law and of sanctioning His disciples breaking the law "And the Pharisees seeing them (the disciples plucking ears of corn) said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on Sabbath days." (Matth. xii:2, Luke vi:2) but He was pointed out as one keeping company with people of ill-repute and denounced as personally indulging in vices espe cially odious to the Jews: "And the Scribes and the Pharisees seeing that 
 
 10 
 
AX APPEAL TO PAIE MINDS. 
 
he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat and di-iuk with publicans and sin ners?" (Mark ii:16i "The Son of man canie eating and drinking, and thej say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of publi cans and sinners." (Matth. xi:19). 
But these accusations did not satisfy His enemies: still graver charges were brought against Jesus, charges of sins against Religion, yea with the most horrible sin of all. which according to the Jewish law was worthy of death, with blasphemy. "Why does this man speak thus? he blasphemeth.7" "Then the high priest rent his garments say ing: He hath blasphemed." 
These calumnies were sufficient ut terly to discredit and condemn Christ in the eyes of the Jews. Yet. before the Roman law prevailing in the coun try they were of no consequence. It was necessary, therefore, to add still other imputations in order to secure His condemnation by the Imperial authorities, and so Christ was de nounced as one who perverted the na tion stirring up revolution, rebelling against the Emperor and menacing the Roman State. 
And. when in spite of so grave accu sations Pilate remained unwilling to punish Jesus .the final charge of high treason was launched against Him by the Jews: lilf thou release this man, thou art not- Caesars friend. For who soever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar." It was this accusa tion that procured the triumph of Christ's enemies: on His cross there was nailed a statement of the crime 
 
for which He was condemned: "This is the King of the Jews." 
From the very earliest days of Chris tianity its adherents in the various parts of the Roman Empire were de nounced and treated as evildoers and criminals. This is set forth in the writ ings of the Apostles. Thus St. Paul: "But to call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you en dured a great fight of afflictions. And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made the gazingstock; and on the other hand, became companions of them that were used in such sort'1 (Heb. x:32). 
Contemporary Roman historians and early apologetical writers give clear and detailed accounts of the charges against the Christians on which the great persecutions were based. The charge of intercourse with the demons was by no means infrequent; thus we find imputed to the Christians the prac tice of magic.and of a strange and maleficent superstition (Sueton, Xero 16; Paulus. Sent. v). 
Yet worse were the charges of im morality which were brought against them. They were alleged to indulge in "abominations, horrible and shameful," in infanticide, cannibalism, promiscu ous intercourse and incest, and these accusations in the days of Xero had gained a general acceptance among Roman people. (Tertull. Ad Nat.). No doubt, these calumnies originated in malicious misrepresentations of the practice c - infant baptism, of the Eucharistic celebration, and of the giving of the "kiss of peace." (Athenag. Supplic. 3; Euseb.). And thus the Church came to be regarded as a band of male- 
 
 AN APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
factors and criminals who were liable to punishment by the State. (Tacitus Ann xv :44). 
To these and similar accusations chiefly directed against the moral and religious life of the Christians were added others directed against them as members of the State. They were said to form a secret society of anarchists dangerous to the existing order, and this and all other charges were summed up in the general accusation of "hatred of the human race," which alleged crime rendered the very name of Christian exceedingly odious and a sufficient warrant for capital punishment. (Pliny; ej). x:9G, x:24). 
But the erowniiig crime imputed to them, and for which no punishment was too severe, was that of lese-majesty and open enmity to the State the charge which they drew upon them selves by refusing to offer incense be fore the statue of the Emperor. 
In all these accusations against the early Christians, we find a remarkable parallel to those brought against Christ Himself. To be sure, they have in creased both in vehemence and in ugli ness of character, yet in their substance they are the same. What, then, under lies these calumnies? The hatred of the world for Christ, in its identity of expression towards Jesus and towards the early Church, showing the identity of Him with the principle of that Church. And this is more than a mat ter of inference, for Christ had fore told both the calumnies and the perse cutions which His true followers, His Church would suffer throughout the ages: "Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than 
 
his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. * * * But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him that sent me." (John xv 20, 21). "And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake." "If they have called the goodman of the house Beelsebub, how much more them of his house hold?" (Matth. x:25) "they will lay .their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake. And it shall happen unto you for a testimony." (Luke xxi:12, 13). 
This, then explains the extraordi narily tenacious persistence and gen eral acceptance of the present-day calumnies against the Catholic Church. Against her alone are hurled the very same accusations which were made against Christ and the early Christians. She is portrayed as the "Scarlet Woman," the very devil himself; her priests, in worst cases, are called devils incarnate, under less prejudice, performers of superstitious ceremonies and idolatrous worship. Her priests and nuns are accused of immorality and vice, and the Church itself is held up in horror as a political organization most menacing to the State. Could worse hatred be imagined than that dis played by her calumniators and ene mies? What further need, then, have we of a witness? 
"It shall happen unto you for a tes timony." 
The world, now more than ever, del>ends on Christ. 
 
 12 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MIXDS. 
 
IF WE WERE THE PROTESTANT We would visit all the Catholic 
 
CLERGY 
 
churches of the town, from cellar to 
 
garret, and report at once to our con 
 
We should tell our people to keep gregations as to the number of firearms 
 
out of the abusive prescriptive move concealed therein and thereunder. Good 
 
ment against those who worship at an Protestants would then sleep easier. 
 
other altar. 
 
We would take a benevolent view of 
 
We should gently point out to them one of the diversions of our hard 
 
that no Catholic will see the "errors working Polish and Italian fellow- 
 
of Romanism" by being persecuted, citizens, to-wit: their habit of parading 
 
abused and boycotted. 
 
of an occasional Sunday in bright- 
 
We should remind our dearly be-, colored regalia. 
 
loved brethren that Catholics have a We should allay any excitement 
 
right to believe dogmas of their own; about the arms of the A. O. H., or the 
 
and "Romanists" are not obliged to ex Knights of Columbus, by borrowing 
 
plain their beliefs to the liking of some of the swords and attempting to 
 
Protestants in order to vindicate a cut cheese with them. 
 
right to religions liberty and equality. We should urge our congregations to 
 
We should explain that, if the Catho do their share towards making Catho 
 
lic Church is now a political machine, lics welcome in the public schools on 
 
it is apt to be made mbre of a political an equal footing, without discrimina 
 
machine by being attacked as a politi tion, in a fair partnership, as pupils, 
 
cal issue. It will naturally organize and teachers and committeemen. That is 
 
defend itself. 
 
the way to strengthen, defend and per 
 
We should allay all panicky feeling petuate the system. Equal justice and 
 
by showing that the Catholics are fair play always cultivate loyalty and 
 
everywhere in a minority, and if they friendship. 
 
Try on any of the designs credited to We should vindicate liberty of speech, 
 
them, thev can easilv be outvoted. 
 
of course. But as to the policy of 
 
Protestants importing ex-priests and 
 
We should meet such alarm as there ex-nuns to assail the morality of the 
 
may be as to the influence of the Catho Catholic priesthood and sisterhoods, 
 
lic clergy in Democratic politics by we should ask our brethren to pause 
 
plainly proclaiming our belief that the and reflect that there are thousands of 
 
Democratic party needs all the religi pure Catholic households in this land; 
 
ous influence it can get. And if the that Catholics, too, appreciate the vir 
 
Catholic priests would take more of a tue of chastity, and that if the Catho 
 
hand in politics. Catholic wards would lic priesthood were not made up of 
 
send better men to our city councils good men the Catholic laity would not 
 
instead of pot-house politicians, so feel so indignant at the aspersions of 
 
often elected. The Catholic Church the questionable characters picked up 
 
might well do more work for the moral to give sensational evidence. 
 
ity and purity of politics. 
 
Finally, we should exhort our breth- 
 
 AN APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
13 
 
ren as to what good to the community training of heart and mind a vacuum 
 
or to Christianity is to result from all not easily filled. 
 
this stirring up of sectarian rancor. Is According to the Constitution of the 
 
it not getting us back to the evil days United States, there is absolute separa 
 
when heretics were grilled, and Calvin tion of Church and State. The State 
 
burned Servetus? and the Spanish In has no right to teach any religion. 
 
quisition was doing its bad work for Provided it were willing to do so 
 
we have all been equally sinners that which creed would it adopt? Protes 
 
way, dear brethren. Will it make us tant? Which denomination? 
 
better citizens, better Christians or The Jew rightly objects to any 
 
better neighbors? Is it charitable, Christian religious instruction. The 
 
brave, or honest? Does the end justify Agnostic and the Infidel object to any 
 
the means? 
 
religious instruction. 
 
And pursuing this line of exhorta The Church, therefore, insists upon 
 
tion, we should close by showing how developing her own sj'stem of educa 
 
we felt it a part of the duty and re tion. 
 
sponsibility of our position as Protes The teaching of religion in the school 
 
tant clergymen to turn down a wrong makes for "belief in God, in religious 
 
ful movement, especially when that obligation, and in definite moral re 
 
movement pretends to be a Protestant sponsibility." This fact alone is a suffi 
 
movement. 
 
cient reason for the existence of the 
 
parochial school. 
 
WHY ARE CATHOLICS AGAINST THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS? WHY 
ARE THEY BUILDING PARO CHIAL SCHOOLS? 
 
As to the quality of the instruction imparted, the parochial school is the equal of the public school. This state ment is confirmed by the record of parochial school graduates who apply 
 
for positions as teachers in the public 
 
The building of parochial schools by schools of this countrv. 
 
no means implies the condemnation of 
 
the public school as an institution. The 
 
THE JESUIT OATH. 
 
Church does, however, criticize the at 
 
tempt to substitute for religion as a The American Citizen, an anti-Cath 
 
basis of morality, and looks upon the olic paper, said (Feb. 17, 1912) : 
 
exclusion of religious training from the "Nearly twenty years ago The To 
 
school room as a dangerous innovation ronto Mail prined the so-called Jesuit 
 
likely to be far-reaching in its results. oath. The paper was sued for slander. 
 
The experience of centuries has Court after court, as it was appealed, 
 
proven conclusively that the only last declared against The Mail. ... It cost 
 
ing morality is that based upon religion, The Mail an immense amount of money 
 
and the omission of this important to fight the case, and they could not 
 
branch from the curriculum of the prove that it was a genuine 'Jesuit public schools leaves in the unified oath.'" 
 
 ill. The Catholic interpretation of John XX. 23, is corroborated by other passages of the Xew Testament, and the several texts quoted against con fession will harmonize most com pletely with John XX. 23. Before our diviue Savior died He promised to the Apostles a power of "binding and loos ing" i.Matt. XVIII. 18); on the day of the Resurrection He conferred it. In terpret verses 21 and 22 (John XX i in connection with verse 2:>, and there is no donbr iihniu our Savior"'; meaning: -As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you." Why was Christ "sent" to earth? Consult I Timothy. 1. 15: Matthew IX. U: Luke V. :>,2. Verse 22 indicates lnr ;3>e Apostles could carry on the very work that Christ was sent to do. It also answers the objections ottered against Christ Himself, when He. Who was regarded then only as man. pretended to forgive sin i Mark II. 7: Luke V. 21'): it should contain a satisfactory answer to all present-day obje;-ior>: Receive ye the Holy Ghost." Therefore, by the power of the Holy Ghost, not by their own power, the Apostles would forgive or retain sins in God:s name. "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins" (Matt. IX. 6); "and the multitude . . . glori fied God. Who gave such power to men" 
t ib. 81. Most of Christ's miracles symbolized 
the curing of the soul. the absolving from sin. His parables tended to teach the same lesson, notably those of the "Prodigal Son." the "Good Samaritan." 
 
the "Lost Sheep." He dealt with the individual sinner, whom He led to re pentance and absolved. for example: Magdalen. Zacheus, the Samaritan woman, the penitent thief, the man sick with the palsy. 
Xow. no man who believes that Christ's commission to His Apostles to baptize, to preach the Gospel, etc.. was to continue in the Church, can consis tently refuse to believe that the pre eminent work which He came on earth for. to forgive sin. was also to con tinue. And it was to be continued, after Christ's return to Heaven, by accredited delegates. God always dealt with men llM-or"!} nie::. whether through Abra ham. Moses, the prophets, the Apostles, (it- 'hf A ]; <(sties' successors. Christ did n if even prepare Saul for his new work t!itc<-11ij. but sent him to - Ananias. .Mi!lt!.:ias. Titus, Timothy, etc., suc ceeded to tlie Apostles, as Adams and Jefferson did to George Washington, and their commission was the same, since the Church was to remain the same throughout the centuries. 
(2). The Apostles did claim to for give sin in God's name: St. Paul says that God, Who reconciled us to Himself by Christ, hath given to us tJte ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. V, 18). Read also 1 Cor. IV, 1; 2 Cor. V, 20; 1 Cor. V, 3, 4; Acts XIX. 18. Only a forced and new interpretation of these texts could give them a different meaning. Confession is essential for the applica tion of the Apostles" commission, becarsi its exe'cisp is a jmlicniJ act, it is 
 
 AN APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
15 
 
either to bind or loose; forgive or re every one's satisfaction and remission 
 
tain. 
 
made by the priest is grateful with our 
 
However, the very best, and to all but Lord." 
 
unwitting people, unanswerable argu In the fourth century, St. AtJianasius 
 
ment is that from history and the prac (F-cr/it. Jit ilia i-crba. Iitcenietis pul- 
 
tice of the early Church. 
 
/;,";, ') : "If thy bonds are not yet loosed, 
 
Hence 
 
(oiniiiend thyself to the disciples of 
 
131. lu the second century, St. Jesus; for there be those that can ab 
 
Clement (Epist. 1, 2) : "But if perhaps solve thee, by the power they received 
 
sins of infidelity, or any other evil have from our Savior, when He said, 'what 
 
m>->t hiddenly into any one's heart, let soever ye shall bind,' etc." 
 
him, that hath a care of his soul, not In the same century, St. Ambrose, 
 
blush to confess these things to him (Orfit. in miilicreiii peccfitricein) : "Con 
 
that rules him, that he may be cured of fess . freely to the priest the hidden 
 
him by the word of God, that is, the secrets of thy soul, and shew them, as 
 
words of absolution instituted by thou wouldst thy hidden wounds to thy 
 
Christ, and good council. And again, physician." 
 
St. Peter taught us to break the evil In the same century ,St. Jerome (In. 
 
thoughts coming to our hearts upon i-.. 1(5. .Iliitvli.} : "As there, in the old 
 
Christ, and to manifest them to the lav, i!:e priest makes the leprous per 
 
pi-iests of our Lord/' 
 
son !o;in. or unclean, so here the bishop 
 
In the thinl century, Tertullinn (Lib. <:: ];: iwr bindeth or looseth." 
 
i!e '' ai'h'iii i reprehends thoes who for fn the fifth century, St. Augustine 
 
In-man bnshfulness neglected to confess (Hoinll. 1'2] : "Our God. because he is 
 
their sins. 
 
pious and merciful, will have us confess 
 
In the tJiirfJ century, Orif/en I Him:. our sins in this world, that we may not 
 
1, Jn. />.w7. :>Ti : "There is by penance be confounded for them in the next." 
 
the remission of sins, when he washeth And again (Lib. 2, <le adnlterino con- 
 
his bed with tears, and blnsheth not to jiif/. c. 10) : "If murder be committed by 
 
show his sin to the priest of our Lord.'7 a Catechumen, it is washed away by 
 
Also (Honi. 2, in Lerit] : "And again, baptism; if by one baptized, it needs 
 
Peter and Paul, and all such as have penance and reconciliation." 
 
been placed in the church after the 
 
Apostles, are also physicians, to whom IS THE CONFESSIONAL WICKED? 
 
the discipline of curing wounds hath 
 
been committed, etc., because God wills They tell of the danger to female 
 
not the death of sinners, but their re innocence in a private apartment with 
 
pentance." 
 
the confessor. This is pure fiction. The 
 
In the same century, St. Cyprian. . confessional, according to a prescribed 
 
(Tract. fJe Lafisis) : ;'Let every one of l;r. is a structure with two distinct 
 
you. I beseech you brethren, confess his apartments, the penitent being entirely 
 
sin, whilst he is yet in this life, whilst separated from the priest, to whom he 
 
his confession mav be admitted, whilst or she sneaks through a lattice or crate. 
 
 16 
 
AN APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
The confessional is placed in a public situation in the church, usually sur rounded by many penitents who are awaiting their turn; hence priest and penitent are alike under observation. 
The person confessing is not bound to secrecy; on the contrary, if the priest should make any improper insinuation, the penitent would be obliged to report the matter to the priest's ecclesiastical superior. The charges of wickedness .<ide against the confessional by apos tates from the Catholic Church should carry with them their own refutation, s; m-e. if tiiey were true, these men should have. iucli earlier, abandoned a ministry which tviey represent as essen tially corrupt. 
'i he pirn-rice jf confession is regarded as a sure means of sane-tineation by all Catholics, of every ag& ser, and condi tion of life. If it were as our enemies represent it, would it not be shunned by the virtuous? Would not its practice be forbidden by every parent, every hus band, every guardian of unprotected innocence? 
The professional slanderers of the Church carry with them some big book on moral theology and call attention to f. few pages, which treat of delicate, prurient matters. They tell their dupes that these pages contain questions which the priest must direct to female 
MH'tnts. 'Shall we say that they know ( 'iey utter a brazen falsehood? Even that would be too mild. Nowhere in that book is it stated that the priest must ask any questions. Those few leaves hunted out of a volume of many ' -. ndved pages are not even studied at the seminary; they are there, like a 
 
things in your house, to be consulted if necessity demands reference to the same. 
Kverv Catholic catechism tells the penitent how to prepare for confession; every Catholic prayer-book indicates how he should examine his conscience; every priest preaches that he must be ready to declare his deeds without being questioned by the confessor. Question ing, and then always with the greatest prudence, is done only when the peni tent has not aken sufficient time to re call his or her sins. Catholic theology teaches that the priest must let the con fession suffer by incompleteness, rather than that he should ask an imprudent question. 
Examine a confessional; Catholic churches and confessionals are always open. Ask your Catholic friend if con fession does not conduce to greater purity and holiness. He ought to know vherher it promotes good or evil far better than the ones who have never patronized it, and who have the most erroneous conception concerning its very nature. 
 
"The soul that loves is filled with .the object of its love. For this reason, if \ve love what is vile and frail, we beroine vile and unreliable ourselves." 
: ,'. 7 '." UN A ifiiinns. 
 
Those who have nothing to do but to amuse themselves are often the onnv vho can find no time for religion 01 cbavity. Rer. J. Havens Richards, 8.J. 
 
Kind words are the music of (he 
 
"''I. 
 
AVc. / '. \V. Pnbcr. 
 
 AN APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
17 
 
THE PATRIOTISM OF THE 
 
in a life to come. An institution, 
 
CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
therefore, which at a great sacrifice, 
 
spends millions of dollars annually, 
 
Patriotism has been defined by the without any encouragement or help 
 
Standard Dictionary as "love and de from the State, in order to support 
 
votion to one's country; the spirit that parochial or private schools where the 
 
originating in love of country, prompts knowledge and love of God is deeply 
 
obedience to its laws, to the support ingrained in the life of her children, is 
 
and defense of its existence, rights _ a benefactor of the country and con 
 
and institutions, and to the promotion sequently patriotic. 
 
of its welfare. 
 
An institution founded on the prin 
 
This definition being taken for ciple of self-denial and inculcating that 
 
granted, the attack on the patriotism of principle as the dominant one in the 
 
the Catholic Church is almost as ludi life of her children is preparing them 
 
crous as the attack of the three-inch to make great sacrifices some day for 
 
Lilliputians on Gulliver when they the welfare of their country. But the 
 
fired against him a shower of arrows Catholic Church obliges her children to 
 
an inch and a half long. Any sez-iou.s abstain from meat on Friday; to fast 
 
<-fi.use of the Church's patriotism is for the forty days of Lent; and to ren 
 
equally humorous to all who are fa der an account of any serious violation 
 
miliar with her teachings. Aud yet, of the commands of God; to restore-ill- 
 
because of the number who have not gotten goods or be cut off from com 
 
had the opportunity of studying the munion with the faithful. This prin 
 
doctrines of the Catholic Church at ciple of self-denial in the Catholic- 
 
their leisure, we feel it a serious duty Church inspired Catholic France to 
 
at times to clear away the wonderful come to our relief in the days of the 
 
fancies that imagination is capable of revolution and make victory possible. 
 
building up about an unexplored land. It inspired Lafayette, Rochambeau, 
 
It is not so long ago since some DeGras, Pulaski, Kosciusko, DeKalb, 
 
people believed firmly that Catholics and many others to risk their lives and 
 
had hoofs and horns. The only argu honor to make America free. It in 
 
ment against such a belief was to show spired an Irish Catholic society in 
 
them a Catholic. So the best logic in Philadelphia, the Friendly Sons of St. 
 
the present case is to show the Catho Patrick, to contribute |500,000 to the 
 
lic Church, and any honest American, patriots' cause during the awful crisis 
 
seeing her as she is, will admit that and dark hours of Valley Forge. 
 
she is the soul of patriotism. 
 
It inspired Catholic Charles Carro? 
 
The welfare, happiness and stability of Carrollton to sign the immortal doc 
 
of a country depends on the honesty ument and thereby risk his life and 
 
and morality of its individuals. This prreat fortune. It inspired the "Saucy" 
 
morality will exist in proportion to the Jack Barry, father of the American 
 
belief in a personal God who will re- navy, to refrse lord Howe's offer o? 
 
v-firc*. the gore', and prnish the wicked '".000 rrineas (?."5.000 a great for- 
 
 18 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MIXDS. 
 
tune in those days) and the command factor to tl.e world and to any govern 
 
of the best frigate in the English navy, ment in whose territory it settles. 
 
saying: "I have devoted myself to the But in spite of all thi.s so wonderful 
 
cause of America, and not the value an organization is branded by some 
 
and command of the whole British fleet people as a menace to the country. So 
 
can seduce me from it." 
 
was its Divine Master branded: He had 
 
A united country is a vigorous coun- given sight to the blind and hearing to 
 
(ry. and any institution that labors to the deaf; He had comforted the sinner 
 
strengthen the tie binding the indi arid restored an only son to a sorrow 
 
viduals to one another and to the head ing widow; jet they brought Him be- 
 
of the government is a patriotic insti before Pilate and accused Him saying: 
 
tution. The Catholic Church proclaims "We have found this man pervertng our 
 
and practices in her charitable institu nation and forbidding to give tribute to 
 
tions the command of < 'hrist: "Love Caesar, and saying that He is Christ, 
 
UP <:!><'ii>ei- as I have loved you." She the King." Christ's only answer was: 
 
also insists upon obedience to lawful "My kingdom is not of this world." So 
 
authority, so that a Catholic of the als:( t'ie Catholic Church's answer to 
 
Tnited States would follow the Stars all chaiges against her patriotism are 
 
and Stripes against any country or or the words: "My kingdom is not of this 
 
ganization in the world. And were the world." 
 
pope ever to command American Catho In a recent speech Archbishop Olen- 
 
lics to light against the Tinted States, non of St. Louis clearly outlines the 
 
we American Catholics would disobey Catholic position. He says: 
 
him. The pope has no authority over 1-Yi m the beginning our bishops, 
 
civil matters in these Timed States. i :'s's and people, not alone in Amer 
 
He governs in matters that concern the ica, but in all lands, clearly under 
 
.church and not the State. Moreover, standing the words and the will of our 
 
the purpose of his spiritual government Master, Christ, have rendered freely 
 
is to train Catholics to be law-abiding and devotedly to their country the re 
 
citizens, obedient to the president of spect and obedience that was its due. 
 
the Tnited States and to his subordi For their country and its rights and 
 
nate officers. The very habit of pei-fecl privileges, its continued and honored 
 
obedience to a spiritual authority in existence, they have with heart and 
 
matters of faith and morals will make hand throughout the years struggled so 
 
a Catholic better disposed t<> obey the that that country might prosper and 
 
head of his country in civil matters. the rights of the jieople might be pre 
 
An institution, therefore, that demon served. For these rights they with 
 
strates to the world the possibility of stood, when necessary, the tyrant king. 
 
uniting English. Irish. French, German. Are its people's rights denied them, 
 
.* vs'iian. Italian and American citizens then will the bishop be found to face an 
 
with many other nationalities so as to angry Caesar rather than that his 
 
make them of one mind in obedience and country's honor should be lost. As 
 
" - -i-\- rn ov svpveme head, is a l>e;ip ' rr--'-ss ;r> Aihv<'s-> of Milan, the Eng- 
 
 AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
19 
 
lish bishops at Runnymede and Thomas a'Becket. Is it attacked by the enemy from without? The first to confront this enemy with the staff of spiritual authority in his hand is the bishop. As witness in the long ages Leo the Great and in later days a Carroll, Hughes and Mercier. Unnecessary is it for me to sa}' that the bishop, as a citizen, shall be the first among citizens in his patriotism and devotion, and especially unnecessary is it to say that a bishop of the United States, and one from old Kentucky, shall give to the Constitu tion and government of this land of the free his unstinted support and devotion. 
"And when he has this done there remains that other country, divine in its origin and mission, world-wide in its concept, enduring in its character that kingdom, of which Christ the Great Shepherd is the invisible head, and the Holy Father, His representa tive, the visible one. To this kingdom his duty lies day by day in consecra tion of word and work, energy and life. Do you say that there must be antagonism between one and the other, as, for instance, that one has its seat of government at home and the other abroad? I respond that such a state ment shows only the terms and the kingdoms are misunderstood. The seat of authority in the Catholic Church is bound np with no government. The Church, being Catholic, is broader than any nation. It is without as it is within them. It is as much at home in America as it is in Italy. These people who talk of foreign princes and poten tates must necessarily regard Christ as an alien. Of course, His Apostles, whether they preach in Rome or Athens 
 
or Alexandria, were aliens all. So would be the martyrs and confessors and all the saints of God. Do they not know that a Catholic Church, univeraal and united, belongs to all the nations, and is equally near them all, for Christ died for all men, and in His kingdom all shall be included. 
"Church and State are different en tities, but they are not antagonistic. Each has its own mission its own sphere of influence its own methods, but back of both is justice, and over both is God. Each can perform its own mission and at the same time help the other. The best support the civil gov ernment has the strongest factor in its promotion the surest promise it has of permanence, are to be found in the Church and its teachings. In the very nature of things the better Catho lic one is the truer in his patriotism the purer his citizenship.1 ' 
ARE INDULGENCES A SOURCE OF GRAFT? 
Indulgences are usually regarded by well-meaning but badly informed nonCatholics as "licenses to commit sin." 
Of late we have heard of them al luded to as "clear absolutions," or graft practiced by the priesthood in connection with the confessional. To a Catholic this view is highly ludicrous. Why not follow the ordinary procedure of law in this question, and produce as witnesses before the bar of the world accredited victims of this supposed form of graft? 
The Protestant Bishop of Carlisle in England recently stated that Catholics purchased indulgences and paid well 
 
 20 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
to have their sins forgiven. When he "A lady householder, having read in 
 
was challenged for proof of his state the 'Times' my criticism on the Bishop 
 
ment he replied that he himself had of Carlisle's assertion that Catholics 
 
often given money to poor persons who paid for absolution in the confessional, 
 
pleaded with tears for money with wrote to me as follows: 
 
which to purchase indulgences. 
 
" 'I think it right to tell you that we 
 
Father Vaughan. the well-known have had K. C. maids living with us 
 
English Jesuit, was asked by some non- and going to their chapel here * * * 
 
Catholic friends what he thought of the and they always had to pay for abso 
 
statement of the Protestant bishop. lution. * * * One of them could not 
 
Father Vaughan said he presumed that afford to pay, so could not go to con 
 
the bishop knew what he was talking fession.' 
 
about, but if His Lordship's assertion "In answer to this letter I promised 
 
was true, then he (Father Vaughan) to investigate the case, adding how 
 
had a good deal of money owing to him. grateful I was to have a local habita 
 
He had been hearing confessions ever tion for it, but I felt sure that the 
 
since the year 1881. and in many conn- maids in question were trading upon 
 
tries and on many continents, but up the credulity of their mistress much 
 
to date he had received not even so in the same way as others seem to have 
 
much as a trumpery shekel for all the exploited the simplicity of Dr. Diggle. 
 
thousands of absolutions he had pro I supported my contention by saying 
 
nounced. It was too bad. Some of his that I knew a lady from whom her 
 
brother priests heard more than 20,000 house maid got sixpence every Satur 
 
confessions iu the year, and ought in day to pay for her weekly absolution. 
 
conseqnence to be nearly as wealthy At Christmas time she extracted half 
 
as the Lord Bishop of Carlisle himself, a crown, as absolutions were more ex 
 
only they were not. 
 
pensive at that season. When the ser 
 
Father Vaughan said that he had vant left 'to better herself the kind- 
 
often given to his penitents for their hearted lady discovered that her money 
 
penance after confession some indul- had not been paid into a box called 
 
genced prayers to say, but in spite of 'the confessional box,' in a Catholic 
 
the bishop's contention, not one of them church, but into a box called 'the ticket 
 
had as yet paid him any fee for the office' of a music hall, where she used 
 
indulgences gained. Why did they not to spend her Saturday evenings out 
 
hurry np? "I rather fancy," continued with her young man. 
 
Father Vaughan, "that the ladies and "Since writing that letter to my lady 
 
gentlemen who pleaded with tears for correspondent I have received a second 
 
His Lordship's money with which to letter informing me what I knew would 
 
buy indulgences went and spent it on be the case that she finds she was 
 
'a plenary indulgence' in the taproom under a misapprehension, and that she 
 
nearest the episcopal palace." 
 
much regrets that she should have writ 
 
Since then Father Vanghan sent the ten without verifying her recollection. 
 
following letter to the London dailies: "Tf am- of vour readers can cite a 
 
 AN APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
21 
 
definite case where payment has been priest from the lady and profuse 
 
demanded for absolution, verifying apologies. 
 
their recollection, I should be pleased 
 
to go into the matter fully." 
 
UNDERSTANDING THE MASS. 
 
THIS ONE HAPPENED IN PHILADELPHIA. 
 
A somewhat similar incident was HINTS FOE THE STRANGER WHEN HE 
 
told a Catholic Standard and Times STARTS GOING TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
representative by a local pastor, now For a Catholic with an interested 
 
deceased. He was called to the parlor Protestant friend, or for the non- 
 
one day and met a lady who was ap Catholic seeking the Church by him 
 
parently very indignant and deter self, the following points are worth 
 
mined, though somewhat embarrassed. noting about what is often the greatest 
 
However, finding the priest very gentle, difficulty namely the Mass. 
 
she mustered up courage to tell him The outsider feels strange in a Catho 
 
that she was a Protestant and came lic church because nothing in his ex 
 
to protest against the excessive tax perience with Protestant services helps 
 
levied on her maid-of-all-work, who him to understand Mass. 
 
came to her once a week for a dollar of He must get rid of the notion that 
 
her wages in advance, that she might the chief business of the officiating 
 
go to confession to him for the Forty clergyman is with the people. The chief 
 
Hours devotions. The priest asked if business of the priest on the altar is 
 
the excuse was always the same, and with God. He is celebrating a sacri 
 
being assured it was, he told the lady fice, not conducting a service. It is that, to start with, the Forty Hours because he is concerned primarily with 
 
devotions are held only once a year in God that the priest seems to ignore the 
 
any one parish, and again, that no congregation, speaking in a voice for charge is made for confession or abso the most part inaudible, keeping his 
 
lution. He expressed the opinion that back to the people, his face towards the the maid who would lie like that about altar. 
 
what should be sacred to her, would The Mass is in reality a holy drama 
 
steal, and he advised the lady to have in which the priest represents Jesus 
 
her watched when she next went weekly Christ offering Himself to the Father, 
 
to an annual event. The lady did, with just as He did on Calvary. 
 
the result that the maid was found to The first half of the Mass is all 
 
visit a house near the church, change preparation for the great act of the 
 
her dress there and come out wearing a Consecration. At the Consecration 
 
sunbonnet to save the sight of her and when the Sacred Host is elevated be 
 
carrying a can generally known as a fore the eyes of the people, the bread "growler" to the side door of a saloon, and wine become Our Lord's Body. The 
 
in and out again, and back to the house Victim of the sacrifice then is present 
 
from which she came, where she no on the altar. He is offered to the 
 
doubt poured out libations to Bacchus. Father and is consumed in the priest's 
 
The result was another visit to the Communion. With the Communion the 
 
 22 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MIXDS. 
 
act of sacrifice is completed, and the subsequent prayers are a thanksgiving and a petition that the participation in the Holy Sacrifice and the Holy Com munion may benefit all those present, for time and eternity. 
But what about the people, are they simply lookers-on? Not at all; their part is to devoutly and intelligently "assist" at what is going on at the altar. They do not join in hymn-sing ing or make responses as they would in a Protestant service, but they are par ticipating in the sacred ceremony in just as active, if not as open a way. Their participation usually takes one of three forms: (1) Meditation on the life and sufferings of Our Lord either with or without the use of the rosary: (21 Recitation of prayers out of a book of devotion, which contain the sub stance although not the exact words of the prayers of the Mass; (3) following with prayer-book or missal the actual words said by the priest in the sacrifice. 
The last is the most difficult way, yet it is by no means as hard as it appears at first. The directions in fine print given in the mass-books enable the reader to know, when the priest goes from position to position on the altar, precisely what prayer he is saying. The person with the book having before him parallel columns of Latin and English, can recite to himself in the latter what the priest is reciting in the former. 
The stranger should be impressed with the fact that the hearing of Mass secures for the worshipper an abun dance of divine grace, and he should be made to understand that the priest is offering the great sacrifice for the peo ple as well as for himself. 
 
As already stated, the Mass is a sacred drama. Each different color in the vestments has a special meaning purple for the pentitential seasons, Lent and Advent; red at Masses in honor of martyrs; black at Masses for the dead. Every act and gesture of the priest likewise has its significance. Thus the triple Sign of the Cross made over the chalice refers to the Blessed Trinity; the mingling of water with wine at the Offertory symbolizes the blood and water flowing from the Savior's side on the cross. 
Finally the Mass is said or sung in Latin first, because a universal Church needs a universal language and Latin has always been accepted as such, and second because the language of a Church destined for all-time must be unchangeable as only a dead tongue like Latin can be. 
MIXED MARRIAGES AXD THE "XE TEMERE DECREE." 
Marriage between Catholics, where ceremony is performed by a justice of the peace, are deemed not valid in the eyes of the Church. But they are valid under the laws of the State and the decision of the courts. 
Is the Church herein placing herself "above the State," and defying the civil authority? 
Xo. The Church is doing only what the law concedes her a right to do prescribing the conditions of member ship within her own communion. The attitude of the Church on the marriage question amounts to declaring that any Catholic who marries before a justice of the peace, makes his exit from the Catholic communion. 
 
 AN APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
23 
 
There is no conflict with the laws of DO NOT CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND 
 
the State. A Catholic judge on the PRIESTS! TAKE AN OATH TO 
 
bench, there to interpret and apply the 
 
EXTERMINATE PROTES 
 
laws of the land, must rule that Catho 
 
TANTS? 
 
lics married before a justice of the 
 
peace are validly married under the No. The oath taken by Bishops as 
 
statutes. 
 
found in the Roman Pontifical is as 
 
In becoming a citizen of the United follows: 
 
States, a man yields up certain rights I...... elected to the Church of N., 
 
and accepts certain duties. 
 
from this hour henceforward will be 
 
In becoming a member of the Catho lic Church a man also yields up certain rights such as marrying before a jus tice and accepts certain obligations such as that of the Easter duty. In this there is no encroachment of the liberty of the citizens, because one's membership in a church is wholly a matter of free will. And the sanctions are moral sanctions. 
The marriage laws of the Catholic Church do not concern the average Protestant except where he or she elect to marry a Catholic. 
 
obedient to Blessed Peter the Apostle, and to the holy Roman Church, and to our Holy Father, Pope N. and to his successors canonically elected. I will assist them to retain and to defend the Roman Papacy without detriment to my order. I shall take care to pre serve, to defend, increase and promote the rights, honors, privileges and au thority of the holy Roman Church, of our Lord, the Pope, and of his afore said successors. I shall observe with all my strength, and shall cause to be observed by others, the rules of the Holy Fathers, the Apostolic decrees, 
 
In that case, if the marriage cere ordinances or dispositions, reserva 
 
mony is before a Catholic priest, there tions, provisions and mandates. I 
 
are certain conditions and procedures shall come when called to a Synod, un 
 
(such as those set forth in the decree less prevented by a canonical impedi 
 
"Ne Temere"), which have to be ob ment. I shall make personally the 
 
served. If the Protestant party does visit ad limina apostolorum every ten 
 
not like those conditions, and if the years, and I shall render to our Holy 
 
Catholic party does not follow the re Father, Pope P., and to his aforesaid 
 
quirements of the Church herein, the successors an account of my whole 
 
marriage, of course, cannot take place pastoral office, and of all things per 
 
before a Catholic priest. It is not a taining in any manner whatsoever to 
 
Catholic marriage, and in that sense the state of my church, to the disci 
 
is not a valid marriage in the eyes of pline of the clergy and the people, and 
 
the Church. But that fact does not finally to the salvation of the souls 
 
affect the validity of the marriage in which are entrusted to me: and in turn 
 
the forum of civic society, nor the I shall receive humbly the apostolic 
 
legitimacy of the issue born to the mar mandates and execute them as diligent 
 
riage. 
 
ly as possible. But if I shall be de- 
 
 APPEAL TO FAIR MIXDS. 
 
tained by legitimate impediment, I of the divinity of the Christian Re 
 
shall fulfill all the aforesaid things ligion, and I claim the same to be won 
 
through a designated delegate having derfully accommodated to the intelli 
 
a special mandate for this purpose, a gence of all ages and men, and also 
 
priest of my diocese, or through some (therefore) of this time. 
 
other secular or regular priest of known Thirdly: Likewise, I firmly believe 
 
probity and religion, fully informed that the Church is the custodian and 
 
concerning the above-named things. I teacher of the revealed word of God, 
 
shall not sell, nor give, nor mortgage established immediately and directly 
 
the possessions belonging to my mensa, by the true historic Christ whilst here 
 
nor shall enfeoff them anew or alienate on earth; that the same (Church) was 
 
them in any manner, even with the con founded on Peter, the Head of the 
 
sent of the chapter of my Church, with Apostolic Hierarchy, and his succes 
 
out consulting the Roman Pontiff. And sors for all time. 
 
if through me any such alienation shall Fourthly: I sincerely accept the 
 
occur, I wish, by the very fact, to incur apostolic truths handed down by the 
 
the punishments contained in the con approved Fathers, in every way as ac 
 
stitution published concerning this cepted and received by them. There 
 
matter. 
 
fore I forthwith reject the heretical 
 
So help me God and these Holy Gos tenet of the evolution of dogmas, which 
 
pels of God. 
 
teaches that one doctrine gives way to 
 
The oath taken by a priest is as follows : 
I...... firmly embrace and accept everything defined, asserted and de clared by the infallible teaching pow er of the Church, especially those doc trines that directly oppose errors of the present day. 
 
another entirely different from that first accepted by the Church. I con demn as well every error which de clares that philosophic ingenuity, or the creation of human conscience, formed gradually by the efforts of men and to be perfected indefinitely by them, can supplant the divine deposit of faith, given to the Spouse of Christ 
 
And I profess, indeed, first of all. to be faithfully guarded by her. 
 
that God, the beginning and end of all Fifthly: With all certainty I main 
 
things, is certainly knowable from the tain and sincerely profess that Faith 
 
light of reason, through the things that is not a blind religious sentiment, 
 
have been made, that is, through the breaking forth from the hidden depths 
 
visible creation, even as a cause can be of subconsciousness, being under the 
 
known through its effects; and there sway of the heart and command of a 
 
fore it follows that this proposition can will morally informed, but (I hold) 
 
be demonstrated. 
 
that it is a genuine assent of the mind 
 
Secondly: I admit and acknowledge to a truth externally received by hear 
 
the external arguments of revelation, ing, through which we believe those 
 
that is. divine facts; above all, mira things to be true on divine authority, 
 
cles and prophecies as sure indications that have been said, confirmed and re- 
 
 AX APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
25 
 
vealed by a personal God, our Creator aid Lord. 
I also subject myself with due rev erence to an acquiesce with my whole mind in the condemnations, declara tions and all the precepts found in the Encyclical, "Pascendi." (8 September, ]907). and in the decree, "Lamentabile," (3 July, 1907), especially that which concerns the history of dogmas. Furthermore I disavow the error of those who claim that the faith pro posed by the Church can be repugnant to history, and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense they are now accepted, can not be in accord with the truer origins of the Christian Religion. 
I condemn also and reject the opin ion which teaches that the more eru dite Christian assumes a double role, that of a believer, and that of an his torian, as if it were permissible for the historian to hold doctrine opposed to his faith, or to declare premises by which dogmas become either false or dubious, provided that these be not directly denied. 
In a similar manner I detest that method of judging and interpreting the Sacred Scriptures, which clings to rationalistic principles, without regard for ecclesiastical tradition, analogy of faith or the standards of the Holy See, and which embraces, in a way hardly less licentious than rash, the criticism of *oxf a s.'le ml" and suureme form. 
Besides; I reject the opinion of those v-bo maintain that a preconceived idea, either about the supernatural origin of Catholic Tradition, or about a divinely promised help for the con servation of each and every revea'ed **Tt!i. must be nut aside bv a teacher- 
 
of historio-theological matters or who writes of the same; finally (I detest) that same opinion which teaches that the writings of the individual Fathers must be interpreted by merely scien tific principles to the utter exclu sion of Sacred Authority, and with that freedom of judgment too, which is com monly employed in the investigation of any profane subject. 
Lastly, in all things I profess that I as free from the error, in which Mod ernists assert that there is nothing di vine in Holy Tradition, or what is worse by far, to admit it in a pantheis tic sense, in such a manner that noth ing remains except a simple stripped fact, like unto any common historical event, to be developed from the school begun by Christ and His Apostles and continued by the industry, application and ingenuity of the men of succeeding ages. Again I protest my faith in the Fa. thers and I will ever cling to the cer tain chrism of truth which has been and will always exist in the succession of the Episcopacy from the Apostles; not that I might accept that which could seem better adapted and more suitable to the culture of the age, but (I affirm) that the absolute and im mutable truth preached by the Apos tles from the beginning should always be so believed, and never in any other Kense understood. 
All this I promise faithfully and sin cerely to keep in its entirety and to safeguard it inviolably, never swerv ing in the least, whether in teaching or in writings. So help me God and these Holy Gospels of God. From the Encyclical "Sacrorum Antistitum," of Pi^-e ~irs y, September, 1910. 
 
 26 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
THE ANTI-CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN nouncing tl>at he intends to give a lec 
 
AND HOW IT IMPRESSES THE ture on some near-by date upon Prot 
 
NEWCOMER IN THE CHURCH estant ministers, with a hint that he 
 
DOES PROTESTANTISM 
 
is going to throw some interesting side 
 
GAIN BY THESE SLAN 
 
lights on their private, family lives, and 
 
DEROUS ATTACKS? 
 
that anybody who is squeamish had 
 
better stay away! 
 
Calumny is a mighty poor weapon To our minds, as converts to the 
 
to use in any cause. When abuse of Faith the magnificent thing about our 
 
the other side is made to take the place Holy Religion is that it is so strong 
 
of fair exposition and advocacy of your with the consciousness of Divinity that 
 
side, then it is a sign of weakness on we don't have to attack others in order 
 
your part. 
 
to bolster up our cause. If those who 
 
This is the way we Catholics feel differ with us the adherents of other 
 
about the current anti-Catholic cam churches would only play the game 
 
paign. In the present-day literature fair, if they would use argument in 
 
directed against the Catholic Church, stead of vilification, if they would set 
 
there is absolutely no attempt to set their side against ours, each in its true 
 
forth Protestantism as it really is in colors,--we would have nothing to say. 
 
comparison with Catholicism, as it No instructed Catholic but who would 
 
really is. and ask a fair-minded public welcome the chance to pit the teachings 
 
to judge between the two. Protestant of his Church against Protestantism at 
 
ism, what it believes, what it stands any time and in any place. This com 
 
for. is kept in the background; the petition in a fair field and no favor is, 
 
whole effort is to draw a picture of however, denied us. We find ourselves 
 
Catholicism so repulsive that it will continually in a posture of defence 
 
fill with dread and loathing all those against misrepresentations and calum 
 
who read. 
 
nies, which we cannot think are all due 
 
If there is one thing more than an to ignorance on the part of those who 
 
other which impresses the convert com utter them. 
 
ing into the Catholic Church, it is the Is Protestantism in America reduced 
 
absence of bitterness, of the spirit of to such straits that it has to fight us 
 
attack, when religious doctrines are with these poisoned instruments like 
 
compared by the accredited ministers the Menace and the Peril and tha 
 
of the Catholic religion. The attitude Guardians of Liberty? It begins to 
 
of the priest in the pnlpit toward the look so. 
 
Protestant is simply that he has been Personally we cannot bring ourselves 
 
led astray by the acts of his forefathers, to believe that this campaign of slander 
 
for which he is not to blame. Imagine is making or will make converts to the 
 
a Catholic pastor advertising in the Protestant church. It does appeal to 
 
public press under some sensational the ignorant. It does perhaps give a 
 
caption, an assault upon Protestants handful of lapsed Catholics a ground 
 
;:rd P-Y;testantism.' Imagine him an for al tempted defense of self against 
 
 AN APPEAL 0X3 PAIE MINDS. 
 
27 
 
the Cause to which they have been traitors. But on the other hand it surely has its reaction for good in the ranks of our own people. It bucks up weak-kneed Catholics who have a spark of pride left which might not have shown otherwise. It fills the great ma jority within the Church with the spirit of fight which only unfair opposition can inspire. Thus the venomous thrusts of the Menace carry their own recoil. 
 
for the soul in Heaven who has reached the final stage of blessedness is un necessary and senseless. Praying for the dead can have no object unless there is belief in an intermediate state, where human souls after death go through a purging process to fit them to dwell forever with God. To shorten this period of cleansing and suffering is the only logical reason for prayers for the dead and for Requiem Masses. This is the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory. 
 
THE DOCTRINE OP PURGATORY. 
Views of the Rector of Trinity Episco pal Church, New York, and How They Compare with Article 21 of the "39 Articles" 
There is a great lack in our prayerbook. There is a need for a clearer and more explicit utterance, reverent and devout, in regard to the faithful-^-our loved ones in Paradise. . . . You will find prayers for the departed in every liturgy of the ancient Church, and it will not be long before we will have them back in our prayerbook. ... To omit all reference to those who have gone into Paradise is to act as if we had no connection with them. Nothing could be more untrue. This is a mat ter which through the strong sentiment of the Church, will shortly be righted, and it will help to bring us tack to our position in the Catholic faith." 
There would of course be no purpose in prayers for the dead, if all the "loved ones" who died went at once to Heaven. It is only the thought that departed souls can be helped that gives reason for prayers for them. Prayer 
 
IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH A POLITICAL MACHINE, 
Several Catholic gentlemen, as sembled casually the other evening, were conversing on the rumblings of the new intolerance, when the question was asked: 
"Did you ever hear a political ser mon in a Catholc church?" 
"I never did." "Nor I!" "Nor I!" said all the rest. Then why this impression in certain non-Catholic circles that the Catholic Church is something of a political ma chine? We look across the ocean to France and Spain and Italy, where the people are nearly all, at least nominally, Cath olic. If the Church is a political ma chine, it certainly ought to exert some power in those Catholic lands. But, apparently, it fails to do so. Instead of ruling secular affairs, it is scarcely allowed to rule its own af fairs; it is actually persecuted and de nied many of the advantages it enjoys in England and the United States. The Jesuits are not authorized to exist in Spain, the birthplace of their founder. 
 
 28 
 
AX APPEAL TO PAIR MINDS. 
 
The Notorious The Benedictines are not permitted to 
have monasteries in France. The bishop 
 
whom the Pope appoints to a vacant See in Italy cannot take possession 
 
K. of C. Oath 
 
without the consent of the Italian 
 
government, etc. Is it likely that a Church, which is 
thus powerless to exercise its just rights in Catholic countries, should be 
 
Investigated and Repudiated by Ma sonic Order Some of the Pur veyors Convicted. 
 
able, in some mysterious or subterran 
 
eous way, to get more than its just America is the greatest country in 
 
rights in this country? 
 
the world for fraternal organizations. 
 
The Catholic Church is powerful in There are in the United States, accord 
 
preserving the integrity of its doctrines^ ing to the World Almanac, one million 
 
staunch and strong in re-asserting and a half Freemasons, one million 
 
great fundamental principles of faith Woodmen, seven hundred thousand 
 
and morals, great in possessing a body Knights of Pythias, six hundred thous 
 
.of devoted priests and Sisters. But as and Good Templars, one-half million 
 
to grasping at worldly dominion, as to Moose, one-half million Elks, etc., etc. 
 
overturning dynasties or as to manipu The Knights of Columbus is a Cath 
 
lating elections, it has neither the olic fraternal organization started 
 
power nor the desire for power. 
 
about thirty years ago and now com 
 
prising 330,000 members. It is an in 
 
SILENCE IX ANGER. 
 
surance organization with social fea tures. Politics are absolutely excluded. 
 
If you would only pause to think, When mad enough to choke, 
That the word that cuts the deepest Is the word that's never spoke; 
You'd let the other fellow talk, Till the storm had passed away; 
Then he would get to thinking of The things you didn't say. 
 
The principal work of the organization outside of its insurance features has been collecting $500,000 for the Cath olic University. In other respects it resembles the Y. M. C. A. in providing club houses for its membership. There is '*a fourth degree," to which about 50,000 of its members have been ad vanced. The fourth degree is known 
 
as the Patriotic Degree. It cultivates 
 
We can never be too Pagan when we an interest in United States History; 
 
are truly Christian, and the old myths displays the flag at its meeting and the 
 
are eternal truths held fast in the members sing patriotic songs. 
 
Church's net. Prometheus fetched fire During the political campaign of 
 
from Heaven, to be slain forever in the 1912, there was distributed throughout 
 
fetching; and lo, a Greater than Pro the country an oath alleged to be the 
 
metheus came to fire the cresset of the oath of the fourth degree, K. of C. The 
 
Michael Fairless. Menace of Feb. 21, 1914, said, "We 
 
 AN APPEAL TO <FAIR MINDS. 
 
29 
 
know no more than the man in the Church, either as an individual or with 
 
moon, where the document originated the militia of the Pope." 
 
(meaning the alleged K. of C. oath), When the attention of the Knights 
 
and the Catholic Press lies when it says of Columbus was called to this fake 
 
that it originated in the Menace office." oath, they immediately put forth vig 
 
Nobody has been able to trace its orous denials. This, however, was not 
 
authorship. 
 
sufficient to convince many Protes 
 
This fake oath purported to pledge tants; and so two other steps seemed 
 
the Catholics who took it to a policy necessary. 
 
of bigoted hostility to Protestants, a mean and cowardly opposition, utterly un-American and prescriptive. We subjoin some of its alleged pledges: 
"I do further promise and declare that I will, when opportunity presents, make and wage relentless war, secretly and openly against all heretics, Prot estants and Masons, as I am directed to do, to extirpate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex or condition, and that I will burn, hang, waste, boil, flay, 
 
First To exhibit the entire ritual of the K. of C. to leading Protestant gentlemen, and have them pronounce upon it. 
Second To bring the matter into court, in some manner, by action against those circulating the oath to the end that it might be denied under the form of sworn testimony, and those engaged in diffusing it, obliged to either submit proof or to admit the falsity and fraudulent character of their work. 
 
strangle and bury alive these infamous The first step was taken in a number 
 
heretics; rip up the stomachs and of localities. 
 
wombs of the women, and crush their At Seattle, in October, 1912, members 
 
infants' heads against the walls, in of the Knights of Columbus laid before 
 
order to annihilate their execrable race. a committee of non-Catholic citizens, 
 
That when the same cannot be done including J. P. Lowman, President of 
 
openly, I will secretly use the poison the Chamber of Commerce, and J. E. 
 
ous cup, the strangulation cord, the Chilberg, Vice President of the Scan 
 
steel of the poniard, or the leaden bul dinavian Bank, the actual Fourth De 
 
let, regardless of the honor, rank, gree obligation of the Knights of Co 
 
dignity or authority of the persons, lumbus; and this committee thereupon 
 
whatever be their condition in life. 
 
issued a statement, upon the facts, de 
 
"That I will not deal with or employ claring that the obligations taken by 
 
a Protestant, if in my power to deal the Fourth Degree members "is one of 
 
with or employ a Catholic. That I will loyalty and patriotism to our flag and 
 
place Catholic girls in Protestant nation." 
 
families of the heretics. 
 
A still stronger presentation is ex 
 
"That I will provide myself with hibited on page 2817 of Vol. 52, of the 
 
arms and ammunition, that I may be Congressional Record (Friday, Jan. 
 
in readiness when the word is passed, 29, 1915), Hon. William Kettner, a 
 
or I am commanded to defend the Congressman from California, reports 
 
 30 
 
AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
the matter in a speech on the floor of fensive to Protestants or Masons, or 
 
the House. We quote: 
 
those who are engaged in circulating 
 
"As a thirty-third degree Mason and a document of peculiar viciousness and 
 
a working member of the Masonic wickedness. We find that neither the 
 
order, I esteem it a privilege to present alleged oath nor any oath or pledge 
 
this report of these distinguished and bearing the remotest resemblance there 
 
fair-minded men on a subject which has to in matter, manner, spirit, or purpose 
 
been grossly misrepresented, and has is used or forms a part of the cere 
 
caused religious bitterness and strife. monies of any degree of the Knights of 
 
I belieye in justice and fair play. * * * Columbus. The alleged oath is scur 
 
The alleged oath haying found publica rilous, wicked and libelious, and must 
 
tion in the Congressional Record, I be the invention of an impious and 
 
think it but fair that this report deal venomous mind. We find that the 
 
ing with the oath of the Knights of Co Order of Knights of Columbus, as 
 
lumbus by this distinguished Masonic shown, by its rituals, is dedicated to the 
 
committee should likewise be given th-j Catholic religion, charity, and patriot 
 
same prominence." 
 
ism. There is no propaganda proposed 
 
"We hereby certify that by authority or taught against Protestants or 
 
of the highest officer of the Knights of Masons or persons not of Catholic 
 
Columbus in the State of California, faith. Indeed, Protestants and Masons 
 
who acted under instructions from the are not referred to directly or indirect 
 
supreme officer of the order in the ly in the ceremonials and pledges. The 
 
United States, we were furnished a ceremonial of the order teaches a high 
 
complete copy, of all the work, cere and noble patriotism, instills a love of 
 
monies, and pledges used by the order, country, inculcates a reverence for law 
 
and that we carefully read, discussed, and order, duty, and holds up the Con 
 
and examined the same. We found that stitution of our country as the richest 
 
while the order is in a sense a secret and most precious possession of a 
 
association, it is not an oath-bound knight of the order that to our minds 
 
organization, and that its ceremonies could be objected to by any person. 
 
are comprised in four degrees, which 
 
"Motley Hewes Flint, 
 
are intended to teach and inculcate "Thirty-third Degree Past Grand Mas 
 
principles that lie at the foundation of ter of Masons of California. 
 
every great free State. Our examina tion of these ceremonies and obliga tions was made primarily for the pur pose of ascertaining whether or not a certain alleged oath of the Knights of Columbus, which has been printed and widely circulated, was in fact used by 
 
"Dana, Reid Wetter, "Thirty-second Degree Past Grand 
Master of Masons of California. 
"Wm. Rhodes Hervey, "Thirty-third Degree Past Master and 
Master of Scottish Rite Lodge. 
 
the order, and whether, if it was not 
 
"Samuel E. Burke, 
 
used, any oath, obligation, or pledge "Thirty-second Degree Past Master 
 
was used which was or would be of and Inspector of Masonic District." 
 
 AX APPEAL TO FAIR MINDS. 
 
31 
 
The matter was also brought into court. 
In February, 1913, one Megonegal, a circulator of the bogus oath in ques tion, was haled into court, at Phila delphia, and was held on the charge of criminal libel. Upon the hearing, James A. Flaherty, national head of the Knights of Columbus, went upon the witness stand and repudiated the oath as bogus. We quote from the Philadelphia Ledger of Feb. 20, 1913: "Mr. Flaherty was asked whether there was a word of truth in the allegation of the papers represented as the oath of the order. 
"It is a tissue of falsehood from be ginning to end," he declared. 
Subsequently: C. H. Stage, 4143 Lancaster avenue, and Charles Me gonegal, of Forty-third and Brown streets, entered pleas to indictments charging libel and conspiracy to libel the organization, in Quarter .Sessions court, on Jan. 30, 1914, says The Phil adelphia Evening Telegram. 
Megonegal, who printed the circulars, entered a plea of guilty on the indict ments, while Stage, who distributed them, did not contest the charges, en tering a technical plea of nolle contendre. James A. Flaherty, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and Attorney Joseph P. Gaffney, counsel for the order, told Judge Wil son that the Knights of Columbus felt that they had been vindicated by the pleas entered by the defendants, and expressed themselves as satisfied if the court would discharge the defendants under a suspension of sentence. 
In granting the requests for leniency, Judge Wilson said: 
 
"It is a very proper action on the part of your society to relieve any doubt that may exist in the minds of other persons concerning this oath. I realize that your Church is doing a very important work in the community, and while I am not a member of your faith, I have no prejudice, either at heart or intention, and fully believe what Mr. Flaherty has said." 
* STATEMENT OF A METHOD* 1ST MINISTER WHO WAS * FOREMAN OF THE JURY 
"The case was very simple. "1. The publication of the socalled oath in the defendants' pa per was proven. "2. Its diabolical character was proven. "3. Its circulation in Waterville was proven by Rev. H. P. Chap man, pastor of the Congregational Church of that city. "4. Its utter and complete falsity was proven by two witnesses of the highest standing in the order, viz., Dr. Buckley, of St. Paul, by whom or in whose presence the fourth de gree was conferred on complain ant Lawless; and also by William J. McGinley, of New York, supreme secretary of the order and custod ian of all the written and oral work "The case was the result of an anti-Catholic spirit (which has had other deplorable results), stirred up by the advent of Annie Lowry, the pseudo nun, whose trail across the State is quite visible and cer- 
 
 AX APPEAL TO FAIK MINDS. 
 
* tainly not enviable. Such things 
 
* exhibit the strange anomaly of a 
 
* religion of love producing the keen- 
 
* est haters and a gospel of peace 
 
* engendering strife and animosities 
 
* more bitter than the disputes and 
 
* rivalries of the most profane. 
 
* "Yours, for the peace of Zion, 
 
* "(REV.) THOMAS BILLINGS, 
 
* 
 
' "Foreman of Jurv." 
 
A RECENT CASE IN MINNESOTA. A M. and G. E. Morrison, of the 
Mankato Journal, were found guilty of criminal libel in the court at Mankato, Minn.. on July 29, 1914. 
Their paper, The Journal, had pub lished an article charging that E. M. Lawless, of the Waterville Sentinel, had taken a treasonable oath on becom ing a member of the fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus. William J. McGinley. of New York, custodian of the rituals of the Order, submitted to the court the complete obligation taken by members of the fourth degree, and Dr. E. W. Buckly, of St. Paul, who was master of ceremonies at the time the obligation was administered to Mr. Lawless testified that was the only obligation taken by him. The foreman of the jury which found the Morrisons guilty was a Methodist minister. 
The Morrisons subsequently appealed the case, but withdrew their plea, plead ed guilty and paid a fine of f25. 
 
* "We have steadily refused to * * print the alleged oath of the * * Knights of Columbus because on * * the face of it it appealed to us as a * 
 
* fake document and we had never * 
 
* had any evidence of its authen- * 
 
* ticity. 
 
* 
 
* "The latest development in this * 
 
* case is that even some who have * 
 
* circulated this alleged oath now * 
 
* admit that there is little reason to * 
 
* believe that it is authentic. Our * 
 
* sense of justice and our applica- * 
 
* tion of the golden-rule forbid that * 
 
* we should employ any methods in * 
 
* the controversy with Rome which,.* 
 
* we should be unwilling to have * 
 
* Rome use in dealing with us, and * 
 
* we therefore shut out from our col- '* 
 
* umns every statement and every * 
 
* argument which we think to be un- * 
 
* fair or unsound." Protestant * 
 
* Magazine for March, 1914. 
 
* 
 
Hail to the morning fair, that falls as a flame on the greensward, 
Hail, too, unto Him who bestows her, the morn ever fruitful in blessings, 
Robed in her pride she comes, the bril liant sun's little sister, 
Hail to thee, Dawn, thrice hail! that lightest my book of the hours, 
Thou searchest the secret dwelling, on clansmen and kindred thou shinest. 
White necked, beautiful, hail! who makest thine uprising golden! --St. Cellach. 
CONTENT AND RICH. 
I feel no care of coin, Well-doing is my wealth, 
My mind to me an empire is, While grace affordeth health. 
Spare diet is my fare, My clothes more fit than fine; 
I know I feed and clothe a foe That pampered -would repine. Robert SoutbweL'.