The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-01
Exponents of AmericaniSm Not
Engaged in Religious
Warfare.
"MR. YoRKE. CLEVER AND SLY"
The A. P. A. Official Promises, How
ever, to Thoroughly Exploit His
Slipperyness."

B. F. Hudelson, State president of the
American Protective Association of Cali
fornia, sends the following communication
to THE CALL:
B. F. HUDEIsoN, W.. BARNES,
state President. State Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE
STATE COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA,
Room 40, Academy OF Sciences Building. SO
Market Street,
SAN Francisco, Cal, January 81, 1896.
To the Editor of The CdIg-DEAR SIR: Into a
controversy which has occupied the columns
of your paper Tor several weeks the name OF
the American Protective Association has been
repeatedly drawn as though the principles OF
that organization were under discussion. That
such is not the case is reveaied by even a super
fetal examination of the facts.
The controversy TO which your columns have
been SO imparually opened, is IN its nature en-
tirely religious. On one side has been the
Catholic church represented, whether officially
or otherwise it matters not, by Peter C. Yorke,
one of its secular priests. On the other side
have been representatives OF Protestant creeds-
Unitarian, Presbyterian and Methodist divines.
These gentlemen have, with varying success,
hurled theological, philosophical and historical
arguments at each others heads, and here and
there in the melee have appeared individual
laymen who. being personally opposed to the
Catholic religion, have seen hit 10 make public
their reasons for holding such position. 1t has
Deen q Darlle OF TeNglOuS S6CIS, q Struggle De-
tween creeds, contest of theologians.
But Mr.. Editor whichever of the dis
putants may have gained an advantage, who
OF them emerges from the dust OF battle least
SCARED and mistaken is not for me TO Judge;
nor would ii be proper for me, having formed
such an opinion, 10 express it here, for the
American Protective Association has nothing
whatever TO do with theology. 1t STANDS
neither for nor against any religion, church or
creed. II stands simply for all that is great
and good and clean in American institutions
q Od American naTriOtiSm And for this
this disputatious controversy can of right have
nothing TO do either with the A. P. A. or with
me as the official head of the American Pro-
tective Association of California.
But, Mr.. Editor, although the A. P A. is not
opposed TO any religion, as such, the repre-
sentative OF the Catholic faith appears bitterly
hostile to it. Mr.. Yorke has brought the name
of the American Protective Association into
the present controversy under every pretext.
With slanderous and unsupported assertion
has he sought to defile its fair fame. BY IN
worthy insinuation and innuendo has he at
tackled it. False. assumption, palpably err
roneoUs premises, imexcusably distorted logic,
pedan9ic quotation of tongues to him I'M
known, specious argument, priestly sophistry
neglected in his bushwhacking attempts 20
place the organization in a false light before
the public.
MI Yorke is clever. Yes, Mr. Editor he is
more for he is sly. He has a certain dexterity
OF language which would be appreciated by
ordinary confidence men. His comparative
nimpleHess o. VII anu Skill Win the pen Woulu
be doubtless useful TO craftsmen in far
lowlier if not less honorable trades. And his
calm, almost hypnotic assumption of
superiority is surely worthy better man and
a better cause.
And because he is so clever, Mr. Editor, L
must assume that his attacks upon the A. P A.
arise not from ignorance OF its true objects and
motives but from q willful and bitter hostility
TO all that is good and true in Americanism.
Furthermore, Mr.. Editor, because of these
attacks upon the A. P. A, because of the per-
sistent attempts 10 delude the public into the
belief that the A. P. A. is engaged in religious
WARRINGTON these reasons / have deemed it
necessary for me in my official capacity to
commence the preparation of a series of arti-
Giles setting forth the real position of the
American Protective Association, and within a
readers. In these articles l shall also exploit
the unexampled "slipperyness' of Peter c..
Yorke. Very respectfully, B. F. HUDELsoN,
State President of the A. P. A. of California.