The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-12
Card from the Rev. DR.. Westwood to
the Public.

|
the Public.
To IS Editor Of RItlateRlgmeeF. sf
I find in this mornings papers card
from the Rev. Bishop Whelan, addressed
to the editors thereof, and commencing
thus: ~ am sorry to be obliged to invoke
yoIr aid to, repel what ! regard as most
unchristian AtRck upon, the character OF
myself and the clergy Of my diocese, and
a large portion of the laboring classes who
compose my flock"
That the circumstances connected with
what the Bishop calls an attack upon hlm,
his clergy and his people, may be i9lly
understood, l wish TO state that on Sunday,
the Goth of last month, preached in my
pulpit sermon on Class Meetings, in the
course Of which felt It my duty to no.
tice and answer the objections which are
made this peculiar feature Of the econo-
my of the Methodist Church, Among
these objections was this, commonly made
by members Of other Protestant branches
Of the one true and Apostolic Church:
"They, the Glass Meetings. partake too
largely OF the natureo Of the Rolnish Con-
lesSional" OF course, in justice TO my
own church, and to one Of its most cher
ished means Of grace, it seemed TO me
right 70 show. the difference between 1t
and the Confessional. In his article the
Bishop asks these questions: ''What other
intention can we conceive for the utteranCe
of his Judgment but TO damage, to excite
suspicion ut. least in the minds Of his au-
ditors Is Christianity to be thus pro.
noted Docs Mcthodism, Professionalism,
require such means for its support or cX-
tension? Does the end justify the means ~
think that my candid statement, as
above given, will show the entire commu-
nity that had no other object in view
than the plain, honest truth, especially as
our Class:roOms had been likened unto
the confessional boxes Of the Roman
Catholic Church, and o comparison insti-
tuted between their services by those who
knew nothing about them. In my effort
to show the difference, suggested that
the confession Of faults one 10 another
in the former was nd could be only Tor
spiritual benefit, while the latter, being Il
private arrangement, and the confession
made to one man In a whisper, might be
used to accomplish any end. This was
the wherefore of my remarks, and | am
happy to be able TO state that gentlemen,
not Of my church, who were present that
morning, voluntarily have said 70 me
more than once that they were pleased
with my gentle handling Of a delicate
subject. The Bishop, ! think, is the last
man who should ask; docs the end iuStVy
tie means ~ He knows fun we'll why.
By some means the venerable prelate
heard OF the remarks made by me, and
without asking newly and how l spoke
on the occasion referred TO, although the
"AnOn.CathOlic" to whom he refers in his
communication, informed the committee
that called on him, Of tie CONNECTION in
which my remarks were made) put u
straight question to me, which my own
selErespect, without fear of>any damaging
revival OF intolerance, would not permit
to he answered in any other way than will
be found below. / wish 1t distinctly un-
derstood that have not rushed into print,
nor have invoked the aid Of editors OF
secular papers. / feel myself called on
merely 10 reply oitheeard Of the Bishop.
Then l shall he done with the subject, so
far as the press is concerned, feserving to
myself the right to speak in my pulpit
when occasion requires, upon any ques-
ton within the range oil pulpit discussion
and that too, without any fear Of that
which l have heard oil as ihvorite pas
time of the Roman Catholic clergy Of this
city-the dragging Of Protestant ministers
into the columns Of newspapers. 1t oc.
ours 10 me that too great readiness tonp.
peal TO- outside help, is m evidence of
weakness, either in the cause,or in the nd.
vOcatc. ..,...'-.-. trr.rs-
Enough hcrc-I present the cOrrespon-
dence, commencing with the Bishops let
ter, OF which the following is copy:
WHEELING, Dec. 8, 1870.
Rev. DIR. WEsTwooD, a g-......r
Sm:AI was somewhat surprised tohear
that in sermon preached by YOU, It is
said, on goth Of November, you observed:
Ito use the words in which the report was
conveyed t0me) 1.-THE Catholic Bishop Of
this diocese possesses knowledge ul all Ihe
private affairs of all the respectable pro
testant families having Catholic servants.
said knowledge being obtained through
the confessional by the priests and by
them impaired TO the Bishop"
Many considerations demand Of me to
enquire respectfully Of You whether my
information respecting this matter is cor
rect, substantially at least, and 10 what
extent. ,a.. |
1t is proper to state that It Is my inten-
ton to publish the correspondence. I'd
.sAF 900 With rcsDect, ''
I'd. ~, r. V. WnELAN,
. r. C. BiJ.Qp # Wheeling.
replied as follows:
aps FOURTH ST. NJ. E. Gu PARSONAGE, !
WHEELING, W. Va, Dec. s, 1870.
The Rec. Bishop IYheIa", D. D., Wheeling,
". Va:
My DEAR SR:-Yours OF this dnte was
handed me by your polite messenger this
morning. .rr. .gr
You say that l have been reported to
you as having said in my sermon Of the
Goth OF November last: "Thc Catholic
Bishop OF this diocese possesses knowledge
OF all the private affairs Of all respectable
protestant families having Catholic SER
wants, said knowledge being obtained
through tile confessional by the priests
and BY them impaired TO the Bishop"
You wish to know il said So In reply
would say that think your reporter has
done pretty well. With the addition Of
two or three words, that-not to put too
fine point upon it's about what said.
Commence my observation thus, II
doubt not that the Roman Catholic Bishop
of this diocese, &C., and insert the word
"ROman" before the word Catholic"
where it again occurs, and you have my
thought, l
0fcourse / do not kMOlo that you pos
scss tile knowledge alluded to. but doubt
not that you do, and so / said. Again,
whenever l have occasion 10 allude to