The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-30
A CARD FROM BISHOP KEANE.

RICHMOND, JAM %. 1879.
EprToRs OF THE ISpEx-APrEAL:-
ask the favor of little space in your columns to
vindcate myself from unjust aspersion. In
Tuesday mornings paper Rev. DIR. witherspoon is
reported having asserted to his congregation that
my lecture "Tho Church and Human Nature" was
''the cunningest sell that had been perpe.rated
on this community" and that "a number Of those
who attended the lecture had silence imposed upon
them to hear the reforners traduced and the Prot
estant Church made the subject of reproach." The
autographed from Petersburg TO New York
appearing in the Monday morning HERALD, and with
the following sentence, which seems to give the APP
parent ground tor this strange and otherwise utterly
unaccountable accusation lit Is charged that the
ministers OF the Protestant CHURCHES were inyitcd to
.cupy seats the platform and assured that they
would hear nothing sectarian in the address"
most earnestly declare that the above mentioned
invitations were sent without my knowledge, through
intention OF courtesy on the part OF the commit
tee in charge of the lecture, and when learned 10,
only few hours before the time Tor the lecture, at
expressed my regret through fear that this very
construction would be put upon it. never said to
any one nor authorized any one TO say, that there
would be nothing sectarian in the address," My
faith and my official position were we'll known to all
who chose to attend the lecture, and IL could not but
be evident to all that would trea, the subject from
the standpoint of my convictions. This is trust,
enough to show the groundessness OF the odious
assertion that my lecture ~ cunning sell per-
petrated on the community" an Insult offered to
any, the least. thought intention of anything
OF the kind, and deeply regret the existence of the
circumstances, over which bad control, which,
IL seems. occasioncd the charge.
The same despatch quotes Rev. Dr. Witherspoon as
speaking OF my having poured abuse the Prot
cstants." This. too, utterly disavow; and / con-
iienty appeal To- the audience present on the occa-
sion and TO the report given next morning in the
fpder-AJpedi. | never have stopped. and with Gods
help never shall stoop. TO utter abuse any sub
jcct or occasion. Those who heard dispass sion
ately certify that simply quoted unqucston-
able teachings stated unquestIonabe facts aud drew
from them, In the strongest and ccarest yet also in
the most courteous way could what seemed to
unquestionable logical inference. l have not and
cannot have the least objection to any attempt at ref
uation In the way, but strenuously repel the
mputation of a meanncss foreign to my principles
and to my nature.
In regard to tho discourse which Rev. DIR. Wither-
spoon has announced for next sunday, ''Intai be
Church-1nfallible Book-Which?' I beg leave to
say that the argument indicated by the Bble based
on antithesis which has existence. The in
ialble Church never has claimed to be substitute
the Churchs claim to thus represent her "a alter
native offering. itself 10 be chosen instead Oh the
Bible. Whoever has taken the pains TO look into any
catholic theological work knows that the Church
gives the Bible evidence for her commission md
authority and gives the Bible for every doctrine thnt
she teaches. repeat the Bible and the Church have
never been represented or acknow lodged az alter
natives or substitutes, but, on the contrary. in
separately bound together. Hence argument like
that Indicated by the above title Ii simply an ,gnor-
alto eienc-uttery beside the question. Protestant
ism says, THE Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing
| but the Bible" The Church says. "Ihe Bible, the
whole Bible, and therefore, together with the Bible,
the apostolic teaching Church, which the Bible gives
plainly the constitution of the United States
gives us Congress. the Executive and the yudidary'
| Your humble servant join J. KEANE,
Bishop of Richmond.