Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-01-27

DIR. N. IL. Rice, formerly OF Cincin-
natl, has delivered course of Lectures
on Romanism in st. Louis, recently and
DR.. Orestes A. Brownson was at the
same time Showing up" Professionalism,
and defending his adopted faith. Ores
ties threw out an indirect challenge to
anybody who dared to answer his argu-
ments. Some of DR. Rice's friend ac-
cepted this challenge on his behalf, and
invited him to take up the cudgel against
Orestes.
Thirty Protestant clergyman address,
ed DR.. Bronson letter, inviting him to
meet their champion. Orestes declin-
ed, handsomely as follows:
Allow me to say, that the Protestant
Ministers OF st. Louis labor under a
grave mistake, and their assumed accep-
lance is the acceptance Of challenge
never given or even dreamed Of. The
article in the Shepherd Of the Valley, on
which they rely, contains no challenge
OF the sort; and Il il were not so. I am
not responsible for il; for it was written
and published without my knowledge,
authorization or consent. / am ready,
according to the best Of my ability, in
my Reuieio, and in my public lectures,
in my own way and time, to defend nv
religion. and to expose the fallacies and
vain pretensions Of yours, but 1 have
never sought to do II In the way propos-
ed; for am no gladiator, and no friend
to oral public discussions, from which
have never seen any good results.
| I could not, permit me TO say, consent
to meet your chosen champion, in the
way you propose, without in some meas
ure compromising the rights of my re.
ligion, conceding that the question be.
tween Catholics and Protestants is Q
debatable question, and granting thai
Catholicity and Professionalism in some
sense stand on the same level-a con,
cession to heresy and error, and an in.
dignity to truth, Of which trust in GOD
shall never be guilty.
| Moreover, during the last nine years
l have published in my Quarterly Reuies
a series OF elaborate articles in defen c,
of nv religion, and in refutation Of yours
These articles remain unanswered, and
so far as am aware, no Protestant ha
seriously attempted to answer them. =
would respectfully suggest that IL woui
be we'll for the Protestant clergy OF 81
Louis to make ut least an attempt Il
) answer them, before asking me to en-
gage in a public debate, and also, tina
Il will be time enough for me to conside
whether I will meet their champion o
not, when they have done so.
The Protestant clergymen were d.
termined that Orestes should not so ea'
lily escape, so they invited DR.. N. l.. Ric
to deliver lecture in answer to Brown
sons lectures. The Doctor accepted
the following terms:
assure you very highly apprecia'
the nattering opinion you express OF tn
d lectures have delivered on the compal
alive claims and effects Of Protcstantisl
and Romanism. | agree with you
the opinion that the subje cts involve
!. are OF the highest interest to individual
10 the Church Of Christ, and to our coul
y try; and certainly agree with you tn
a the retreat Of DR.. Brownson from di
Is cussion to which the Professionals Of III
n city were challenged In the language
a defiance, should not shield him and h
~ assertions from the exposure which tru
70 demands.
II Most cheerfully, therefore, accel
A. your invitation to deliver lecture In 4
a hall of the Mercantile Library AssocI
~ ton, on Tuesday evening next, at HI
y past 7 o'clock. The subject Of the u
Q tute will be. The comparative strength
AZ Protestanfism and Romdnism.