The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-17
GENERAL MORGAN REPLY FATHER YORKE,

sense, continue the cry that the A. P A. is not
organized TO make religious fight. 1t is gov
erned by preachers, advised by preachers, rep
scented by preachers, propagated by preachers,
and yet, like an uhdutiful child, 1t would dis
own its progenitors. 1t has singled out one
particular creed for its reprobation. When
truth cannot be made to tell against that
creed it has not serupled to resort to forgery
and lies. Day after day it mlSrepresents the
olic priesthood; reviles the Catholic peo-
pie. With heart full of malice and mouth
full of SANDER it comes piously on the plat
form of the Metropolitan Temple and rolls its
eyes to heaven and groans, ''We make no war
upon Catholics"
Let me ask these sanctimonious politicians,
Mr.. Editor, II they are not making war on
Catholics why do they mention our names so
frequently at their 'Christian patriotic" meet
ings?
Wherein have Catholics failed in their duty
to this country that the A. P. A., male or
female, should SANDER them as traitors?
Wherein have priests ever sought to- abridge
single right guaranteed by the laws, that our
names should be made a Kissing and a byword?
Ii the speakers of the A. p. A. know wherein
we have offended let them give names and
dates and places. We challenge them to the
proofs and we defy them to produce the facts.
Indeed, Mr.. Editor, the members of no re-
Hgious denomination are so free and inde-
pendent to make what political affiliations
they choose as are the members of the Catholic
church. We are the only religious body in
America which consistently keeps politics out
of the sanctuary. While the Methodist and
the Presbyterian and the Congregational pull
pits are IeSounding with political harangues
the Catholic alters are kept sacred to the
truths OF religion. Catholics would not for q,
moment tolerate political speeches in their
churches.
The conQuct of the sectarian preachers be-
fore election is perpetual source Of wonder
ment 10 US, and we look in establishment at the
patience with which our Protestant brethren
permit their religious gatherings TO be turned
into campaign meetings.
The priest who would attempt to use his
prieStly office for electioneering purposes
would receive his first rebuke from the mem
bers OF his own flock. Though they accept his
guidance in spiritual things they feel that they
are able to guide themselves in temporal
things. The priests OF this City can confidently
appeal to their record for nigh half a century,
and We can defy any preacher or politician to
show where have prostituted religion or
religious influence to political or private ends.
Though united in religion, Catholics, whether
ciericS or laymen, are free air to form
what political affiliations they will. Some are
Republicans, some are Democrats, some are
PopuliSts some are Single Takers. some are
Non-Partisan. They are as loyal to the princi-
pies OF the party of their choice as any other
class OF citizens. The charge that they vote on
religious lines is not made by the responsible
party leaders nor believed by responsible poll
ticians. The charge is made only by preachers
who mistake general assertions for argument,
and it is believed only by bigots who Judge
their neighbors by the standard of their own
narrow minds.
Mr.. Brewers declaration that the A. P. A. is
not engaged in religious war is not only con-
tradicGed by its false charges against Catholics,
but it is contradieted by its own authentic
documents. Before a man is received as
candidate for initiation into that order which
makes no war upon Catholics he is compelled
TO sign the following declaration OF principles:
81 hereby declare that am firm believer in
the Deity; | am not member of the Ro-
man Catholic church, nor have I any
in my opinion no Roman Catholic should
be allowed any part or parcel in the control or
occupy any position in our public schools; on
the contrary, realize that the institutions of
our country are in danger from the machina-
tions OF the Church OF Rome. l believe that
only by the removal of Roman Catholics from
offices of public trust can justice, right and
true American sentiment be fully subserved."
Among the many oaths taken before the
various officers during the progress OF the mi
tiation, the following is administered by the
chaplain:
81 do most solemnly promise and swear
that I will not allow any one a mem
Der of the Roman Catholic church
to become member of this order,
knowing him TO be such; that I will use my
influence to promote the interests of all Pro-
testants, everywhere in the world; that will
not employ Rom an Catholic in any capacity
if l can secure the services of q Protestant;
that will not aid in the building or in main
tanning by my resources any Roman Catholic
church or institution of their sect or creed
whatsoever, but win do all in my power to
retard and break down the power of the Pope;
that will not enter into any agree
q
disturbance whereby the Roman Catholic
employees may undermine and substitute the
Protestants; that in all grievances will seek
only Protestants and counsel with them to the
exclusion OF all Roman Catholics and will not
make known to them anything of any nature
matured at such conference; that | will not
countenance the nomination in any caucus or
convention OF a Roman Catholic for any Office
in the gift of the American people, and that
viii not vote for nor counsel others to vote for
any Roman Catholic. but will vote only for
place the political positions OF this Govern
ment in the hands OF Protestants (Repeat)
To all of which 1 do solemnly promise and
swear, SO help me God. Amen"
After the hoodwink has been removed from
the eyes of the candidate he is requested to
place one hand on the Bible and the other on
the crucifix and to make the following denun-
citation: 81 hereby denounce Roman Catholi-
cism; l hereby denounce the Pope, sitting at
Rome or elsewhere; L denounce his priests
and emissaries, and the diabolical work OF the
Roman Catholic church; and hereby pledge
myself to the cause OF Professionalism, to the
end that there may be no interference with
the discharge of the duties OF citizenship, and
1 solemnly bind myself to protect at all times
and with all means in my power the good
name OF the order and its members, SO help ne
God. Amen"
These declarations, oaths and denunciations
need no commentary. They show, as nothing
else can show, the true inwardness of the
society which, according to the Rev. Mr..
Brewer, is not making war on Catholics. In
/.
Washington GLADDEN., we'll known Protestant
clergyman, commented on the above docu-
ments, as follows: ''In the light of this OATH
which every member of the A. P. A. taxes with
his hand upon his heart, we must interpret
those outgivings printed in the newspaper
(such as Mr.. Brewer's)- When he says that
he attacks no mans religion as long as he
does not intrude it into politics, we explain
his saying well as we can, in view of his
oath that he will not employ Roman Catho-
lie in any capacity if he can obtain the ser
vices of a Protestant, and that he will never
countenance or aid the nomination election
or appointment to public Office of any Roman
Catholic. Not word is said in this oath about
any distinction between Roman Catholics who
attempt TO make their religion an element of
political power and Roman Catholics who do
not; Roman Catholics as such are sweepingly
prescribed. And when the champion of this
order tells us in the newspapers that he is lin
favor OF preserving constitutional liberty
we must bear in mind that he has
sworn to violate the first principle of American
constitutional liberty, which forbids discrim-
ination against men on account of their relig-
ious belief. The constitution of the United
States declares that mo religious test shall
ever be required as qualification 10 any office
or public trust under the United States' All
the State constitutions embody the same prin-
ciple. The oath of the A. P. A. binds its members
TO apply religious test to every candidate for
office-to give political Office to none but Prot
estants. This is what they mean when they
say they are in favor of preserving constitu-