Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-22
KuDoLpa,s SECOND LECTURE.
He Tells why He Left the Roman Catholic
Friesthooc.

Ex-Priest George 2. Rudolph disap-
pointed q large audiedce at Odd Fellows
Hall last night From the nature oil
the subject npon which he was an
nounced to lecture II was generally sup
posed he would have some startling
charges of gross immortality and impro-
fpriety TO make against the Catholic
priesthood, but he did not, and
devoted about two hours and
half TO narrating his personal
experiences, none OF which was remark
able, to making light OF the things held
sacred by Catholics, and calling forth
laughter aud Applause by CRACKING
Jokes, many of which bordered very
closely upon the vulgar.
The gist Of his lecture was that he
was born in Switzerland, OF Catholic
parents, and was raised under strict
Catholic discipline. In spite OF this the
religion never took root in him, and at
no time while studying for the priest
hood or administering its functions ala
he feel respect for the calling be adopt
ed, as he says, through force OF circum-
stances. He quarreled with his super
iors even before his studies had gotten
we'll under way ADD kept it up until the
last, finally leaving the priesthood and
church because his other alternative
was to answer a summons from the
Bishop to come TO Cleveland, when
stationed at Findlay,0. BY his own state
pents he was never legisimately priest,
his mind at all times being In such state
that his performances Of ecclesiastical
rites were 10 him the merest butonery.
He prefaced his verbal autobiography
with a short denuciation OF the Catholic
religion, confning himself entirely to
the past. and using Catholic historians
as his authority. This he admitted had
no bearing upon the church to-day, ex-
cept in 4 traditional way.
ID. w. Martin aud Percy Beaumont
occupied the stage with Prof. Rudolph,
and Martins speech in Introducing the
Professor, though less correct gramat-
ically. and not so well committed TO
memory, was more entertaining Mar
tin has long been allowed certain
prominence in political, social and Sc
cret movements because he was willing
to do the little things which people
seeking less after prominence did not
care to do. For this reason he has been
put forward as q vanguard by the A. +.
A. to receive personally much OF the
public condemnation of the organiza-
tion. In his capacity OF major.domo oil
the A. p. A. he caled the audience To
order, and with the aid OF Prof. Pinkns
at the organ, had the first veTse oil
"America" sung standing.
Mr.. Martin then made speech, In
which he asserted that Rudolph has
been recognized as an ex-priest in
Cleveland for twelve years, and pro-
voked enthusiastic applause when he
announced that ne, Martin. was a
member OF the A. p. A, and had 1.-THE
| nerve to say it," Continuing,
he said his little boy, S years
of age, while going to the pub
lie school, had been knocked
down by Boman Catholic boy twelve
years old, with a boulder, because his
father is an A. p. A. / say this TO
show that they are desperate. want
to say as an A. =. A., have nothing
against the Catholic Church, but as an
A. p. A., our principles say she must
keep her hands off OF our civil govern
ment and religious liberties"
Prof. Rudolph then began his lecture.