Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-08
The Clionian and History.

Ed. Ragister-A few weeks ago, there APP
pcarcd in your paper, i'll what seemed to be
IN official report of the proceedings of the
Clionian historical society, suggestion that
1t would discuss the question, WAS Henry
VIII. the rock upon which the Episcopal
Church was founded." When / read 1t
said, well, this society is perpetrating
grim joke in this last quarter of the nineteenth
century," SO, in sort of quizzical mood, l
suggested in your next issue, over the signi-
ture, ..ibsurdum" (not "Absurdem," as
printed,, that if this was the present state OF
historical learning, the Clion1an had hnc
missionary field to operate III. L dld not
have any idea that 10y this suggestion would
draw the heavy fire of the Cliontan on the
unfortunate church thus assaulted. l GER
taialy had no intention then, as have not
now, of indulging in any religious contro-
versy; and rs have entire confidence i'll the
stgtus of the church thus attacked, have no
desire of my own to defend 1t historically.
No satisfactory conclusions can ever be reach
ed ON such questions in a newspaper corre-
spondcnce. But, in your issue of the 1st, the
Clionian con,cs boldly to the attack again,
reiterstins the charges and Illuminating a
very formidable additional indictment against
a church which has generally been supposed
to have seme fairly respectable standing-at
least until the Clionian has turned its atten-
ton to making history. l read the article
and laid the paper aside with smile ut the
time, having no thought of saying word
i'm reply. But since then, several persons,
some of them not members of the Episcopal
-, 81, n,h,,
an insult, and ought to he resented. Tprom-
ised them would express their views on this
point. i have said that the attack was made
10y the Clionian Society. This is presumably
so, but am not certain about that. The Of
fensive matter first appeared in the official
report of the proceedings. The las, article
commences with personal prOnoun, az"
hut it says sour poor Clionian Society was
rcmanded, mem. con-, to the dense shades of
ignorance for debating such subject" The
signature, "Clio.," would imply either "Cli-
onian''-the society-or "CIiOnus''--a MEM
ber-aecording to the termination reserved.
I agree therefore with the agrievcd parties,
that the logical conclusion is the "Clionian"
is responsible, and from it, as society, re-
spectfully ask, on behalf of the parties who
feel insulted, an explanation as public rs the
assault has been. The society will please
not fall back upon the plea that the dsc.us-
sion was sin the interest of history" They
formulate the proposition thus: "Was Henry
VIII. the rock upon which the Episcopal
Church was foundcd?' Suppose the ques-
ton was: "Were John Knox AMI Calvin the
rocks upon which the Presbyterian Church
was founded:" or, ''Was Luther the rock upon
which the Lutheran Church was foundcd!'
or, "Was John Wesley the rock upon which
the Methodist Church was foRnded?" or,
"Was Alexander Campbell the rock upon
which the Christian Church was founded?
or, "Was st. Augustine the rock upon which
the Roman Catholic Church in England was
it be an insult to those
communions! I presume every one would
so understand il. Who can read the spirit
ual mind of Christ Historically except as He
manifests Himself by favoriug and blessing
efforts to do yoeds They may say, "Oh, it
was only \ query" Indeed. suppose some
member Of the Clionian should, '.iust in the
interest Of history" propose to discuss the
rirtne or integrity of some lady of standing
in Ironton? Would it not be likely to bring
out shotgun brigade of husband and "big
brothers?' Would it be any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION that "it was only in the interest Of