The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-20
Written for the ADvocArE
THE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC
QUESTION
CONCLUDED.

SYRACUSE, ~ ", MAY, 1876
The next group we approach are equally
excited, and the complexion of their reli-
gious belief will not be long subject for
conjecture. Let us interrogate the one
who is gesticulating so wildly.
What is that you hold in your hand,
my friend H.
1T is a brick bat, sir.
and what do you propose to do with
your brick bat D.
Faith | Will threw it at the first
bloody Protestant that shows his head
around yon corner.
'Who do you call Protestants r.
ANY religionist that is not a Cath
olic"
II am sorry to disagree with you, sir,
but must pronounce the term a misnomer,
although ! admit that your definition is
generally accepted. 1t might possibly be
decided that it is applicable il SO, it is
suited to vou quite as well as to those you
menace.
How do you make that appear, sir r
Since the term is applicable o.Ily to
one who protests against the acts, dOgmas,
or doctrine Of another These people,
who hold religious views not in accord
with yours, may protest against yours,
and 1t needs no other evidence than the
missile in your hand, together with the
acknowledgment Of your purpose, to make
It apparent that your protestation against
theirs is equally emphatic Then, accord
ing to the broadcast sense of the term, you
are both Protestants, and as each Of you
believe that your views are right, and
should become the church unirersal, you
may both, with equal propriety, claim to
be Catholics. But let us hear what is your
especial objections to the fundamental
principles Of those about whom you seem
to be so violently exercised y
ITO begin with, then, they don't be-
lieve that Peter is the"
Hold There, my friend, we have no
time for obsolete arguments and ideas !;
we are after fundamental principles. Peter
was first, bad man, since he denied his
Lord afterwards he became, through re-
pentance and the mercy Of Christ, as good
as he had been bad. His bad acts you
can not too much abhor, and his goodness
Won can NOT too rnn.h rava-a - AHA
you, with all my heart, to shun the bad
part Of his conduct and emulate the good.
You also claim that these Professionals, as
you term them, are wanting in reverence,
and underrate the character Of the Virgin
Mary. Now, every Christian, whether he
attaches the Importance to her mission
that you do or not, may search the records
in vain for any charge against her. as a
spotless woman and true Christian. Would
to God that the females of our age would
strive to be more like her. YoHSmust re-
member, if you read your o,Cn Bible, that
so much was she impressed with the spirit
Of the divine master, that through the en-
tire course of the cruel persecution that
eliminated in his death on Calvary, al
though she was his mother by nature, her
lips never moved to revIle, or utter re-
proach like Peter, after Pentecost, she
was baptized into the spirit Of pity and
mercy, that prompted jesus to pray for
his enemies even upon the cross. His in
struetion was to yOM as to them, and all
others, when he said Quoting from the
Roman Catholic Bible): 'Ye have heard
that it hath been said. an eye for an eye,
and tooth for tooth bat ssy to you,
to resiSt not evil Now really, my friend,