Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-12
THURSDAY. OCTOBER u, 1926.
from the United States Catholic Miscellany
LETTER III.


~, ne ra,boSes ,f the United STATES Of .4merica
MvFp,ENps-I shall continue my examina-
t;on of Mr.. Whites character, at some length;
and that my object in so dong shouid DC Dc. ma
n;fest shall inform you what it is; you VIII nrst
bear with my stating to you what mat ooJec, IS
-, do not examine his character TO Willy
him. in exposing his faults, of which the best
ofns ba. enough, by way Of retaliation Tor his
deserving our church, or for his having written
= gross attack upon our tenets. | should de-
snise myself were capable Of such misconduct:
however deficient this priest might have been
in ecclesiastical knowledge, hisignorance could
not make good any practice OF our church,
which in its own nature would be bad; however
bereft of faith he might be, his inhdelity could
not make foolish or vicious human invention
become part OF the revelation, or institution
of God: and however corrupt or protiigate ms
own conduct might have been, It's crlminalty
could no, make the crimes of other prohigates
become virtues, nor could they be excused be-
cause of his wickedness. My object then, is
not hy exhibiting the true character OF MIR.
White, 10 Justify in church, practices which
deserve condemnation; nor 10 excuse criminals
of our communion, because he whodenounceS
them has deserted our church, and was himself
= criminal; no, my oblec; is TO show that the
hare assertion of Mr. White is no evidence; and
believe that shall effect this by proving that,
from his character as given by himself, he is
totally unworthy Of credit. This is my object
in the very painful task which am performing
consider this TO be very necessary, because
the chief value attached to his publication aris-
es from his being credible witness OF facts
which he alleges to have BEEN under his own
observation.
believe have fully shewn that neither from
his rank, nor from his ecclesiastical lniorna-
ton. does this priest deserve any OF that extra
ordinary attention which Bishop Kemp, and his
Eniscopalian, Presbyterian, and Methodist as
sociates so emphatically claim on his behalf.
MIR. Whites rank was that OF a mere possessor
Of bene6ce ,ciihout the care sous, having IN
deed rank which pre-supposed some attain
ment of knowledge, certificate OF winch at
,ainment he could not obtain in the university
where he was educated; but 10 effect his pur-
nose he attained it al one OF those places which,
by virtue OF an old charter, can grant to any
one. and does grant TO the unworthy what was
intended 10 be given only to the learned. we
see that he scarcely studied his treatises, whilst
he was attending the dull lectures on divinity;
hut that he read light works OF taste, and sub
seouently devoured the antichrlstian produc-
rions of the French school OF inhdehty. lie, IN
ONE book, tells us of his innocence and his rel-
eion. whilst in another he ayows his CRIMINAL
{ ": and even in this testimony OF his innocence,
The recollection Of his misdeedS inyoluntarly
escapes from him. He, in one place, appears
TO be filled with the spirit OF virtue, at the time
of his ordination; aud yet he testlfes that II was
against his will, and because his mother was
bathed in tears he became an eccleslasuc. lie
bound himself to celibacy, because his mother
cried. when he hated to bind himself, because
,ifhe did so he could not lawfully cherish love.
Do not, my friends, do not turn away IN disgust.
1t is unpleasant; but you must bear more II you
will have correct information. have as yet
made No incision: am only marking the SUR
face. II is necessary for you TO view the sub
iect. and to observe the dissection.
Mr. White having been ordained subdeacon,
Informs us, in his evidence against Catholicism,
D. III, that upon his receiving his benetlce, a.
bout wear after his ordination In the priest
hood he felt it to be his duty "to devote his
whole leisure to the study Of religion He
adds. D. ls, 81 need not say that was fully
con,ersant with the system OF Catholic diyini-
"; forI owed my preferment to public DIS
play of theological knowledge; yet wished to
become acquainted with all kinds OF works
which might increase and perfect that know
ledge"
have shewn you what his studies we're
Now allow me TO say that the writer OF those
letters has made theology his principal study
during twenty years; that he has had patience
TO study for, and TO attend TO the dull lectures OF
divinity professors; that his love for that study
so far from being diminished, grows stronger
every 6ay, and that he still feels his deficiency
10 be so great, that, although he knows much,
ne could not presume TO say that now he is jul
~ conyersqnt ,cth the system Of Catholic dirinity
Il NAV be weakness on his part; but he never
can hear any young man, let his attention to
study have been ever so great, make such an as
sertion as Mr.. White has here made, without at
once looking upon him as very superhciaiiy M
structed, and impertinently vain: but IN tins
mans case, how could he have been fully con-
versant with'a system which he never studied
which he despised! Let us now, from his 9th,
sr letters (Doblado's, take his own account Of
the interval between his receiving saodeacon'
ship and his being ordained priest.
In my last letter, i stated, from his own
words, the very improper dispositions with