The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-06
Too Fast.

A reverend gentleman. well known
III his denomination. takes us To task
for admitting the letter OF an inteili-
gent lady to our columns the sole
purpose of which article"-he says
"seems to be to assert amusing II
uncharitable errors to Mr.. Pratt" We
think our correspondent read too fast.
and without seeing such remarks as
the following-'I heard the lecture
and could see nothing uncharitable in
it's spirit - sthere was nothing disres-
pectful or unkind in his remarks =
''He was representing Roman Catho-
licism to his hearers, as it appeared to
him-in an earnest, impressive and
gentlemanly way" &c. sc.
The lady's criticism hinged upon
certain statements concerning the
rites and beliefs of the Roman church,
wherein, she alleged, he followed the
common report rather than the'teach-
ings of the church a mere difference
as to fact, and not derogatory to the
lecturer.
ouI pOllttCIl Gays II SCNu-
lar press of Raleigh particularly, has
lent itself for the dissemination of re-
ligious opinions respecting rites and
festivals which the vast majority of
readers disapprove but which they are
not permitted to rebuff"
We do not know whose toes are
trodden upon by this but strange to
say the wa majority continue to
p~atronize those very papers. For our
own part we have e~ndeavored t o speak
of all churches, and church proceed
ings, (such as are of public INTEREST,"
with the utmost impartiality though
it has happened that we have made
more mention of our correspondents
own denomination than perhaps any
other in the State. Beyond this we
shall Only remark that while we are
always glad to have respectful sugges-
tions, we toss into the waste-oasket all
COMPLAINTS, pettishly worded. If our
paper is not liked-there is an alterna-
tive to reading it. We have no wish
W uo any lhd llJuSllIe
hence we give a portion of the letter
referred to:
"Since you have admitted the arti-
Gle of NJ. B. c. l hope you will be SC
just as to insert a word in defence OF
Mr.. Pratt.
Such defence would not be necessary
if your readers We're all acquainted
with him.
They who know this clergyman. hi.
talents, his learning, his opportunitie,
for correct observation. and his charity
may be permitted to smile yer tn
statement that ian educated Catholi,
might have been amused by some O
the ~utterances" of Mr.. Pratt in hi
lecture on Romanism.
Though NJ. B. c.. may have ''spen
many years among just such people a
he described, Spanish American" We
Mr.. Pratt did the same, having bee.
for over twelve years an Evangelist t
Columbia all that time making Re
manism his special study, and bein
specially fitted for his mission. b
perfect acquaintance with the peopl
and their language, and literature, b
an acute mind and by thorough &C
~quaintance with theological contrt
versy on all points in dispute. NJ
Pratt is, in fact, an authority, and on
cannot but be amused to see no,
easily your correspondent is amused
When NJ. B. G.. says cit was only t
be regretted that he had crowded
mind fit for No. los into No. IS b
taking the belief of ignorant Catholic
as the faith of the church ITSELF" sh
accuses Mr.. Pratt of narrow minded
ness, and ignorance of the Roma
controversy and literature which onl