The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-24
LETTER FROM BISHOP HUGHES.
To The Editors Of Tie

Courier and Enquirer:
In your respectable journal of the I4th instant
read tor the first Time, the wonderful account of
g some two hundred German Catholics withdraw
ing publicly from the Roman Catholic Chnrch
with which they had been hitherto connected :"
As the chief Pastor of that portion of the Catholic
Church residing in The diocese Of New York, I
was started at an announcement so unusual and
so extraordinary. inquired Immediately of the
several Pastors of the city, and no one knew any
thing about such a movement The clerovmen
having charge of the German Catholics had not
missed single recognized member of their res
pective flocks.
Two Catholic gentlemen called on me. one a
German, the other an American TO say that thew
were at the Tabernacle on Sunday afternoon. Just
To ascertain as they expressed it, tire .gnllbiI-
~ of our Protestant friends The German
thinks there were ABBOTT t,oenty eight of his coun
trymen. Of these he knew about seven who had
been, or at least claimed to he, Catholics, until
they began to "walk disorderIy,' through con
tempt OF The church's law on the proper condi-
ton of marriage. These bad marriages have al
ways been fruitful secesSions from the one Faith.
As to The points of dissent which this new form
OF Protestant Christianity has opened with. " re-
jeciion of the Pupe's preensions' - prestly alb
solution" and generally all the distinctive fea
lures of the Roman Catholic belief they are
trte subjects tor the capital of a new relinion
| They are now. and have been, much more clearly
and intellectually discussed in our evaDneIical
pull pits generally from week to week than in the
Tabernacle last Sunday afternoon They are a
standing dish with the Reformation Of Christian
doctrine. and the only variety INV possible is in
the seasoning. Whether the Oracle at the Tab
ernace used new and frequent spices to
tempt the public palate. it is for those who heard
! him To decide
| In report Of the proceedings, I am represent
ed as beraying my opposition TO reading the
Scriptures. in Preface to German Testament
published under my sanction and with my appro.
baton. II the ex Franciscan Priest re no sound
er IN his new theology than in the statement of
mere human facts, fear that he will make but
poor Apostle, after all never w role any Pre-
face 10 the German Testament It had been an
proved by several Bishops in Germany and at
Rome, as substantially correct German version of
the Holy Scriptures; and, as such. merely sane
TONED and approved of its publication.
nave the consolation, then, To assure you
that the German Catholics of New York are firm
in their old faith, devoted their church, and in
the main plons and exemplary. OF course. they
are free Gin that sense which We are all free To
| DO Tlght or wrong,) TO join any religion they
please to select. But they are satisfied with that
which they profess. and not little indignant at
| the insult which has been offered TO them as a
body. by The fasehoods reported from the proceed
ings of the "Seceders," fDrsoolh II the Tabprna
Gle on Sunday afternoon. From among them
selves they deny secession whatever
The person who oficiaied for The lille flock,
is not, | am told, an ex franciscan Priest, hut a
converted German Jew. who having provided
himself with very respectable Italian name, has
been going about the conouy for several years as
an ANTI opeTy lec,urer--in which capacity he
! mas sometimes brought himself and his patrons.
(asin Protestant pulpit IN Boston sometime ago, }
into very awkward predicamenls.
AS the character Of portion Of my flock was
brought into question in the reports Of the pro-
ceedlngs, thought it due to the public that this
simple statement Of facts should be laid before
them, so that they may Judge for themselves.
JOHN HUGHES. Bishop, New York.
.Netc York, Dec l6, 1916.