The Irish standard., 1895-12-14
RAMPANT BlooTs


a distressing element. Our Protestant
brethren, however, as rule have one re-
ligious hobby which is paramount to all
| others and that is that they are free to
think as they please. They boast of their
unfettered minds and as a consequence
they are at liberty to analyze the thought
of the world and accept it or discard 1t
as their Judgment tells them. OF course
they pity the poor Catholics who are OBJ
liged to think as the church dictates
while they. on the contrary, have freedom
of mental action. They admire those who
possess this quality and despise those
who are unfortunately deprived of it.
According to their preaching, before
Catholic dare think he must send to
Rome to obtain permission or get the per-
mission from his pastor, which is the
same thing, as the pastor is only the
agent of the Pope. When the permission
is granted the Catholic can think, not be-
fore. Still, every day we find the knowl-
edge cropping out that large number OF
~
dom of transcendant thought-are will
ling to tolerate any one who will agree
with them, but are bitterly opposed in
every way to those who may think other
wise. They are worthy descendants OF
Puritans who left their native land be-
cause they could not worship as they
pleased and upon being settled in the new
world they prosecuted all those who
would not agree with them.
The best Illustration of this statement
is that furnished by wing OF the Wo-
mems Christian Temperance Union and
in the classic confines Of Boston, too.
When this wing got together recently It
discussed the action of the National con-
yention in Baltimore for passing reso~
luton inviting Catholics and Hebrews
to send fraternal delegates from their
annual conventions to the national con-
yentions of the w. G. T. u, and suggest
ing that they form white ribbon clubs in
their own localities This worthy action
of the Baltimore convention the Boston
wing adversely criticised and from it
letter was sent to Miss Frances E. Will
lard. president of the National Women's
Temperance Union, denouncing her for
permitting the resolutions to pass, besides
taking her to task for allowing q priest to
have anything to do with the convention
at which she presided. These are the
words which the fledglings sent to Miss
Willard:
while we recognize the breadth and
wisdom of fraternizing With all VINO
may honestly desire to abolish the sa-
loon and do away with the drink trait
tic, vet we view with alarm the lnroads
which Romanists are making in our
ranks, preventing freedom Of speech and
action. and we believe that great care
should be taken lest they do serious I'M
dermining work.
eve also protest against allowing
Roman Catholic priests in our religious
exercises at conventions, and call your
attention to the fact that Roman Cath
benediction at Baltimore.
1--WE beg you in your investigation,
which covers so wide a scope, to 1nVestl-
gate the doings of the Jesuits, especially
at Washington. After thorough, candid
investigation we believe you will be con-
WINGED that our action RS a national body
must he exceedingly guarded toward this
most dangerous class in the community"
TO this Miss Willard sent an answer at
once. portions Of which are here repro
duced:
TN 1881 Father Clear was with us in
fremont Temple, Boston, as a fraternai
delegate. when he made an inspiring
speech, which was warmly received,
and on one occasion pronounced the
henediction, it being my custom as pres
ident to ask any minister or White rib
bon woman accustomed to do so, thus TO
dismiss the audience at the close OF the
session. At our National worlds conven-
ion in Chicago at the Worlds fair, Arch
bishop Ireland was OH the platform while
Bible reading was given by MRS. Bar
ney of Rhode Island, at the close OF
which he pronounced the benediction.
In Baltimore O. parish priest welcomed
us in the absence of Cardinal Gibbons,
who was absent from the city, Rev. A.
Doyle Of New York, secretary OF the
Catholic Total Abstinence association,
addressed us as fraternal delegate, and
the priest who accompanied him pro-
nounced the benediction.
ssThis is the sum total Of the part OF
Catholics in our conventions, except that
Mrs Lenora Barry-Lake, one of the few
Catholic women who have joined our So
ciety, has spoken at perhaps three OF
our conventions, where she has always
been received with utmost cordially and
has delighted US by her eloquence and de-
votion. The facts are, that so far
from seeking to do the undermining
work, with which your protest charges
the Catholics, no member af that com
munion has ever sought, so far as 1 can
learn, to gain any influence whatever in
the w. c. T. U.
t"The first movement in that direction
was made by me in August, 1891, when,
having learned by the daily papers that
the Catholic total abstinence association