Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-15

POISTMEST As A DIRECTOR OF ROMAN cAIHo-
Lie INsrIrUTIoS-BE THINKS IT Is TIME TO
LET BYaoSEs BE BYGoSEs.
The appointment recently of Rev. "m- A.
Bartlett. D.. pastor of the New iork avenue
Presbyterian Church, as a director on the Doaro
of the House of the Good shepherd, q Roman
Catholic charity. was regarded as an uhusuai
thing. DIR. Bartlett has accepted the appoint
ment. The comment that arose over this Incl
dent has led to the publication by Dr. Bartlett
in ;be current number Of the Christian Union
Of the following article under the heading.
Christians Working for Humanity. Can
Professionals and Roman Catholics Co-operate?':
Ought thew so to work? Do they 90
work? Yes. unanimously. to both questions.
That settles many pressing difficulties ii
we do not finch from the conclusion.
The Protestant branch OF christendom.
so called does in fact work. There can be
90 fair doubt OF this. The creed variations and
the ecclesiastical differences and the methods
81 worship are non-vital 20 Christian charac-
ter that today the Protestant working forces
fairly in one army.
The Episcopal regiment and the Baptists
have insisted ON keeping up one length OF
fence ia the middle of the field kind of ex-
clu=ive protest, but as the remainder OF the
obstruction is removed on both sides there is
no practical restraint upon free intercourse.
certainly none IN the most important depart
ments OF Christian activity The assemblies
under one name another which have con-
Vene1 in the CITY of Washington this fall have
demonstrated that Take off the label and you
could not identify the denominations in their
great discussions on the pressing questions Of
the hour.
The Protestant army is practically one. Are
there indications that the other grand divisions
of the Christian host are Indifferent and
Isolated from fellowship? This Is q day In
which al branches OF the church are passing
through a revival of revision This Is the
recognized religious bacillus of the era The
wIsest doctors seek to cure. not by extermination
but by guidance The conventions which
gather in these interests do not originate with
difficulties They are the results OF Wide
spread demand The revolution has gone
beyond control before the convention Is called.
Ii accepts the fact The question of the con-
yention is how much and of what kind?
In this universal travail this grooming which
Is struggling for utterance, the Roman church
has not escaped. The loss of the popes tenn
pOral power under the providence of Massini,
Victor Emmanuel, Cavour, Garibaldi and Ga
vaZZi. believe Will prove a blessing for which
some elear-headed pope will thank God In the
near future. the enormous grandeur of
Christ proclamation, My kingdom Is not OF
this world" startles him.
The Roman Catholic church is putting itself
enrappOrt with this nineteenth-century environ
ment In Europe and the United States and else
where The pOpe's encychcals, though at first
wayering are now firm IN recognition of the
mighty socialistic uphea val the significant labor
problem The sermon Is becoming more prom
inent in worship, more of the vernacular is en-
PlOyed in the service. a preaching OF Christ cru
cited pure and simple Is more frequent See
III Italy the Jealous Franciscan monk, Padre
Agostino da Montefeltro, filling the great
cathedrals by preaching the simple Gospel
Count Enrico di Campello. an Italian noble
man. but recently a canon In ST. Peter 8, stir
ring orator, is leader of the Roman Catholic re-
form movement
Literature is more free and full The publ
cation of the life of Christ in parts in Milan is
conducted by Signor Bought, and has an initial
subscription list of 20, 0OO Sonzogno, a wealthy
Italian. Is printing thesIartini Bible in leaflets
with illustrations and brief commentaries, with
the consent of the pope and under the en-
enlargement Of 81, coo subscribers.
In a recent interview with our most excellent
anu statesmanlike minister 70 Italy. who is on
a vacation visit home, lie speaks hopefully and
intelhgently OF the Italian problem.
Read this from current periodical, under
the caption .'Our Shame:' '.The last council
Of Baltimore put a stigma on the liquor BUSH
ness for Catholics which cannot be removed.
The public opinion Of the times il
so much against II thai the very children are
ashamed of the father who keeps . grog shop.
HIS character counts for nothing in such
business II would be forever a stain upon his
good name" 1t then quotes the names of the
York aldermen, twelve IN number. and SAYS:
At hey are Catholic almost to n man; perhaps
eight Catholics on the city's legislative board,
all liquor sellers They will do ell in their
power for the spread and continuance of liquor
selling. What is the council of Baltimore to
them!
Is this Il sectarian assault o: some politician
for party purposes? No, it is from the Roman
Catholic Review
Read this from an address before Roman
GatkpGC thaolOuical atrrdauta. ssHist0vv has
not pages enough to record the absurdities
committed by Christian priests and princes.
This is Gods lesson to US. Ii Is outlined in
the history Of every individual OF His church
from the sayagery of st. Peter pulling his
sword TO chop of the servants ear down to the
cruel shooting of Hugo Bassi- Why do Catholic
writer's seek to cover up the horrors Of St
Bartholomew, the cruelties of an inquisition
which burned the flesh of human beings made
In Gods Likeness or the self-suificient wisdom
which refused to recognize the truths dis
covered by Calico? Even today in New York
you wait in vain before Catholic affairs for
sermons commensurate with the subject against
corrupt city rule and the evils of unlimited
drinking saloons. although there are Catholics
who are fully responsible for the existence of
both these evils
What is the use after this Of reminding the
Romanists of the false popes" and ''the con-
Trajectory infalllbility' and blazing persecu-
lions Of a past age? We do not care to face our
past prosecutions and holy murders like the
burning of Servetus- Why not let bygones be
bygones and 90 10 work together for Christ
Jesus! We agree on the standard moralities
and charities, We agree on the essentials Of good
government. on the fundamentals of Chris
Eanity. The intelligent men of both COM
munions do. There are bigots and fanatics in
most churches that disgrace each by their ig-
norance and narrowness-
Under such impressions accepted the invi-
tation to act as director on the board Of the
House Of the Good shepherd, Roman Catho-
hc charity for reforming abandoned women.
The question is, ought Christians to work to-
gether for humanity! l have been Sust and
honest IN dealing with the Catholic question.
/ have fearlessly criticized when necessary, but
always fairly / believe they do reach a mass
of citizens whom could not We have
neither the fnen, means nor machinery for
nlinistering 20 their religious want. respect
the cardinal resident in Baltimore as patriot,
scholar and Christian, doing his best under his
great responsibility.
Let Us purge our confessions and theological
seminaries and pulpits from that rubbish of
malignant controversy about 1.-THE great who're
OF Babylon" 1.-THE beast Of the ten horns" and
the pope as antichrist." and use that charity
which Is at once the evidence and the glory of
Christianity. Whatever has BEEN this is q new
day. An open world, mostly heather and pagan
can be successfully grappled with only by a
united Christendom.
That church owns the future which car pro-
duce the most valuable practical results. The
day Of hocus-pocus Is past The church which
most self-sacritcingly deals with the moor and
ne degraded makes 10 truest =. n :