The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
Caustlt Arrangement Of the Priesthood Of
the Church in America.
THE NATURAL RESULTS OF CELIBACY.
Alarming Prevalence Of the Vice Of Drunk
enness Among the Clergy.
THE DECREE OF lNFALLIBiLITY.

hood OF Horticultural Hail tonight, IN the expec-
nation OF disturbance resulting from the lecture
delivered by the ex-priest, John W. Gerdem
Inside the nall every seat ana almost every inch
OF standing room were occupied long before the
hour liked for the beginning OF the lecture. The
lecturer was introduced by Il. H. K Elliott, or the
evening Express, ana upon taxing the stand read
@ letter from Father Stack, urging him TO avoid
personal vEuperation, ana advising him TO use
mis- power to effect reform in the Catholic Church.
rather than ASSAULT. He then proceeded to speak
as follows, his lecture being interrupted at the
END OF every sentence by ,vociferous applause:-
THE LECTURE.
As YOU see BY the letter just read to you, Stack
ana myself agree upon all points Dut one. he Is
still a Catholic and priest; l have ceased TO be
elmer. Father Stack hopes for an impossibility-
the Roman Church. Reform Is sadly
needed IL has been the hope aud demand or the
world and the never seriously attempted, never
fulfilled promise OF the Church. To return to the
Cnurca 81 the early ages, TO the simplicity OF
the apostolic times, would mean suicide TO the
Church or Rome. No doubt II the apostles or FIRST
CHRISTIANS entered the Catholic Cnurcn they never
would recognize IN IL the CRurcn OF Christ. And
full tue Church OF Rome looks upon ltseli as tRe
very acme o. perfection. IN latter times she las
anu universal dominion upon eartn with more
IMAM ordinary ylgor. Father Stack Is afraid that
vita the Church practically, not theoretically; as
IL Is, not as II should be. DO not take issue wIth
our day and OF our land. What l Will say tonight
! ala not learn from BOOKS or hearsay wan
and heard with my own ears.
The speaker then detailed at great length his
connection with the Church and the reason and
manner OF his abandonment OF it, and defending
himself in energetic and eloquent language
against the charges made against him, OF which
he asserted MS entire innocence. In showing
how his faith in the doctrines OF the Church had
become shaken, he continued
PAPAL AVAILABILITY.
Before the dogma oil Papal availability was de-
elared ! would have sacrificed my life inch by inch
Jor the Catholic Church. The day the cable brought
the news OF the proclamation OF that new dogma
prayed earnestly and long TO GOO TO enlIgnten
and guide me, and got up confirmed Protestant
Prom tnat day / commenced LOOK the doc
Irlnes OF the Roman Church with open eyes. 1t
took me over three years before was fully con-
WINGED OF the fact taa the Church OF Rome could be
the Church OF Christ. The dogma or inlabillty
was forced upon the Catholic world, not so much
by the good n2tuted, vain old Pope himself as
by his VIE and scheming 9dyisers-the Jesuitical
party in the Church. The leading bishops OF The
heard Of 1t ana does not understand It's revolu-
tonary tendency TO-DAY. san 1t was carried. The
paoy were IN every way encouraged; those who
consclen5iously opposed 1t were iroRned upon and
Denied hearing, Ike Bishops Dupanlonp aud
Stanssmeyer o. Europe, and ArchDisnops Kenrick
and VerOt, oil the United states. NY convictions
were put TO a test 10 1872 when was at the point
of death from smallpox. When the doctor declared
ne has no hope OF my recovery, the priest, Re-
-. After as mature consideration as my sickness
allowe,, me 10 make, ielt convinced that was
right IN rejecting the neY dogma, ana informed the
i 70 es6S sS aS ss 9 Se nSs
what my reason reyolted at. 1 certainly ore ~
expect 10 recover at this time, and yet ! remem-
Der how happy and peaceful felt Elac" mar
time studied harder about al psSters I had
DOUBTED before. Here csme 1Ts, tue inordlnate
worship VI tue cil-A, sain.S generally, al
though Ine seizures tell us plainly that there
- SIIy one name in which We can be saved, that
Of Christ Jesus: sun; Catholic olylnes BIAS
phemO1siy assert that Mary i, through ner inter-
cessIon, more powerful than her divine Son him
sell, and the Catholic prays ten times to her
where ne scarcely thinks once OF Coz. Further
looked al the want OF charity In the claim Of the
Roman Church 10 exc uslve salvation. could
not believe that merctiul COD should condemn
NJ well-meaning Protestants. who, II perhaps they
believed less, certainly practlsed more OF
CHKISTis TEACHINGS
than the Roman Catholics. thought OF the word
OF Scripture that 10y their fru Is Ye shall know
them,'i aud Judging oy that standard the balance
was IN FAVOR OF Professionalism. Anc now can 10
he otherwise The protestant believes that as
the tree ialleth so SHAH 1t lie, and yes accord
1ngly. The Catholic believes That a few words OF
priest Will save him IN the Lass moments, after
an Ill-spent he, and also liyes accordingly. TIE
snc nIe the Catholic depends largely on medals,
induEences lasting, the blessing OF the priest
a ~as C wa ssSop %ood Os his Oca
VISITS TO the country parishes saw nina
medals blessed by the Pope. Being surprised at
the great quantity he gave away asked him now
the Pope managed 10 biess so many things Tor all
the bishops, and learned something very interest
log. lie told me that the BOXES Containing the
medals, crosses, &C., arrived the same Gay the
Pope was gong TO dine wltn the American bishops
In the Coegium Amerlcanum. They were stand
Ing, mailed last as they arrived, IN the corridor.
sign OF the over the boxes passing by.
When told the Bisnop that he might nave saved
himself the trouble OF having them shipped 10
Rome, he might as well have blessed the IN in
Enaedeln, switzerland, or, Tor mat matter, In
Philadelphia, was Simply told that was queer
man. sui the poor people kissed those things as
reverenlly as II they had been the Saylour's very
feet
IN ,or,mentino nDon ths nricethood n, The
Catholic Church in America the speaker said
THE PRIESTHOOD.
Besides the doubts hac on doctrinal matters
was lar more disguised with the Roman Churcn on
account Of my knowledge OF It's priesthood In
TACT. Il would not nave feared 70 become bad
man, IKE tue majority OF priests Know Of, might
he IN tnclr ranks yet. repeatedly heard good and
sincere priests say t was blessing the American
people aid not know tue true character Of tue
sweep them out OF the courtrg, and assure you,
Il you could knew them as do, you would not
CONSIDER that remark as aEy too harsh. In tue
nrst place, they inoruinate desire Tor
money. The poor people are asked for money az
All times aud occasions. The more man gives
the better be is liked. lie must pay every time he
comes TO church, and every time the priest comes
10 nm. No matter now poor the family may be,
how hard the man may woik, now mucn the
mother may save, how poorly tue children are clad
priest insists on his dues. Baptism, marriages
and funerals must be paid ior and woe TO
less fnan S.. Too mucn ne can never give.
Go on any Sunday 10 almost any Catholic
cnurch OF this city and you Will hear something
spous money always. When frat met the late
yonn Mcguire, a cOnveyancer, and good Roman
Catholic, ne warned me against tins vice OF the
PRIESTS, saving that ne never yet attended cnurch
IA this country wItnOUt having listened TO more
eloquent remarks on the money question than on
me Gospel OF the day. The more a priest returns
90 tie bishop Tor seminary or other purposes.
ne higher ne rises IN the bishops esteem Pro
gioea a priest IA sound on the money question
ms ofGcr qualities are or minor Importance.
know over i've hundred priests and
stxtv bsshops in this country | have been
freouentiy ia priests ana bishops company,
,ud whenever the question came on the cOngreRA-
,t,n. rAev never asked, NOW are your people f;
- thoy temperate, ,aithful In attendance az
rht,rch: . DO iEey raise tae1r cnlldren wchW but
~iwavs "Hew much pew rents 90 you Rett'
sWrst do your collections amount TO ~ "Whas
al VIM Ger At Cnristmasg' "What are your iees
o-rsnfisrn and marriage ~ And II the sums did
ac, ~ iarrr sfouRi you would hear a " Dana
a.. tratia gtilcv when Bishop 10 bDe came hOne
20 ms PEOPLE IN CoviDRt?u AVN an absence ol
10 month"; tie nrst sunday ne appeared