The San Francisco call., 1895-12-12
Father Yorke Answers DR.. Cases
Letter Upon the Catholic
SiSterhood.
THE CONFESSIONAL EPISODE
Origin of the Title Father" and Why
Used by the Roman Catholic
Priests.

There is another phase of the Yorke-
Ross controversy Just appearing and that
is the question of the selection of the
Judges. The two already chosen by Rev.
Donald Ross and Father Yorke are not
only confronted with the task of deciding
who shall be the third man, but who shall
be the first and the second also.
Attorney H. ". Outflow, who is to rep
resent Mr.. Ross, stated in an interview
yesterday that he had not conferred with
Mr.. Foote, Father Yorke's umpire, and
did not know by what manner they could
agree upon the selection of the third
judge.
AZ hardly know what to say" said he,
regarding the contest or rather argument
over the question. But 1 know 1 shall
only decide upon the evidence. That is all.
Mr.. Ross must produce his proofs or the
decision will be against him. NY we'll
known A. P. A. sympathies will make not
the slightest difference. The judges will
be, at least they ought to be, like jurors
who have not read the newspapers ana re-
ceived opinions therefrom.
Father Yorke need not anticipate an
unfair ruling from me. l don't know what
Mr.. Ross has to say or what authorities he
has, and in view of the fact that | NAV be
one of the judges CT this controversy,
don't care to know. l shall surely decide
against Ross if he fails in his authorities.
l accepted this duty very reluctantly, but,
as | did finally accept, Will do justice to
both sides OF the question. | have no
reply to make to Father Yorke. l under
stand that he did not know that | had just
been selected as one of the judges, and
~
withstanding his feeling over my remarks.
presume Iii see Mr.. Foote shortly and
hear his decision in the matter
Mr.. Foote'S attitude in the matter puts
the question back into its first principles,
as in it he states that he is not certain he
will act as one of the umpires.
81 see by the papers," said he last night,
THAT Attorney Outflow has been named
by Mr.. Ross as his arbiter. never heard
of the gentleman before, and have not yet
received any communication from him re-
garding the appointment of the third man,
l had hoped that Mr.. Ross would have Sc
lected man known to everybody, and one
who is known to have no leaning toward
either party in the controversy. | have
do know that there are scores
of such in San Francisco. II |
am informed Alright Mr.. Outflow
has on several occasions taken leading
part in A. 2. A. discussions and has
figured at many of their meetings. His
appointment, therefore, is somewhat of
surprise and disappointment. l had de-
pended on being associated with man
who knows absolutely nothing of what we
are to pass upon. If either of US be known
to have any partisanship in the premises
it must naturally impair to some extent
our standing as umpires and will detract
from the value Of our decision.
"If the report i hear of Mr.. Quitzow's
standing in the matter be correct, and if
he has any connection whatever either
with the A. 2. a. or with the Roman
Catholic church, l shall reserve the right,
upon such facts being Substantiated, 10 re-
consider my consent to act on the COM
mittee. This being 30, | have not as yet
given any thought as to my choice of a
third man, neither shall l do so until l
hear something more definite from Rev.
Father Yorke, whom I have consented to
represent. When 1 was first approached
on the subject 1t was with the distinct
understanding that all three lawyers We're
to be absolutely unbiased and so far as
possible ignorant of the questions that
were to be submitted to them. OF course
if l find such not to be the case, it gives
me the privilege OF reconsidering the mat
ter. Tomorrow | expect to hear from At
torney Outflow and Father YorKe, and
then [ shall know where l stand. Till
then / cannot speak definitely as to my
future course"
Father Yorke, in the following COM
munication, discusses the remarks of DR..
Case in Metropolitan Temple last Sun
day; also his letter in the public press:
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. IL, 1895.
To the Editor of The CdLt-DEAR SIR: In let
ter published in your columns this morning
am accused by DR.. Case of "misrepresenting
his statements and OF calling him bad names"
cIHf11 a hlx rlod fs-NA< ~.
lshed reports of DR.. Cases lecture in Metropol-
itan Hall had misrepresented him. 1t is not a
pleasant thing to believe that any man, not to
speak OF clergyman, could be guilty of such
utterances.
Before proceed to examine DR.. Cases asser-
tions wis TO say few words about his refer
ence to The title given to Catholic priests
Father" | do not care to advert to the bad
taste which characterized that reference.
When by the common usage of society this or
that appellation is given to a man or a class of
men, only the vulgar imagine that they score
point by refusing it.
The title Father has always been applied
by Catholics to their priesthood. The title is
not unscriptural, contrary to Dr.. Cases extraor-
binary misrepresentation OF the meaning of
the Bible. ST. Paul claimed it, and what ST.
Paul claimed is scriptural enough for me. The
reason why the appellation Father is given TO
priests is beautifully expressed by one who in
time of need proved himself Father to his
people-the great Cardinal Manning. Priests
he says, care fathers OF all who are born again
by water and the Holy Ghost; but in
special sense, and with more intimate
and an eternal relation, they are fathers of
those whom they have baptized. st. Paul says
to the Corinthians, If ye have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers, for
in Christ Jesus by the Gospel have l re gener-
ated you. This title is the most simple and
Ineligible to all, old and young, learned and
unlettered. The relation of father and child
is universal in the order of nature, and it be-
comes spiritual instinct in the order OF grace.
The title of father is the first, the chief, the
highest, the most potent, the most persuasive,
the most honorable of all the titles of priest''
DR.. Case disputes the accuracy of my knowl-
edge of his utterances at the Metropolitan
Temple last Sunday. l am afraid that DR.. Case
has not given my letter sufficient attention. If
he had read it he would have discovered that
/ was careful to give the source of my infor-