The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04
FATHER YORKE REPLIES.
he Continues His Analysis of DR.. Bovard's
Arrangement,
The following letter to THE CALL is self
explanatory:

he Continues His Analysis of DR.. Bovard's
Arraignment.
The following letter to THE CALL is self
explanatory:
January 3, 1896.
To the Editor of the CuIl-DEAE SIR: AS
stated in my last letter DR.. Boyard's commu-
n'cation consisted OF two parts, one dealing
with certain theological propositions and the
other giving a dozen reasons why Roman
Catholicism is under suspicion in America"
The first part is designed as an answer to my
refutatlon OF his claim that the Bible should be
introduced a standard of morals into the
public schools. The arguments which | urged
against him fell under two heads l. The
schools are open to the children of all tax
payets- We have no right to force the New
Testlment on the children of Jews, or any part
OF the Bible on the children of atheists or
nOthlngarlans. .. Non-sectarian Bible read
ing is an impoSsibility. In the first place
ProteStants deny the non-sectaTian character
OF the Bible by interpreting il through crecds
and by enforcing thisl interpre talion on the
members of the churchs. In the second place
the Blble IS not textbook of morals, and ii
read without note or comment would produce
ideas OF duty which might be more startling
than edifying.
In answer to my first argument Dr. Bovard
claimed ~ that the American Government
was Christian. How unfounded is this claim
l showed in my letter OF yesterday.
In answer to my second argument he holds
GU that all the Sects formed but one church.
~ That the Protestant creeds do not bind the
conscience. az That trials for hereSy do not
affect the moral status of the individual tried
% That under the Protestant banner every
man Is his own priest. (6) That the Protestant
idea OF the Bible is that il contains all things
necessary to salvation. Cd That the morals OF
the patriarchs can have no influence on young
Americans.
YESTERDAY I showed l2) that the theory which
would make ali the sects branches OF the one
kingdom OF truth cOntradictS the very notion
OF truth and (3) that creeds in Protestant
churches are statements of belief which limit
the judgment just as much as creeds in the
Catholic church. To-day intend to continue
my examination OF his other arguments, and,
II space viii permit proceed to q consideration
OF the reasons he urges to justify suspicion of
Roman Catholicism in America
a. adduced the fact that members of the
Protestant churches are tried for heresy as a
proof that in practice these churches interfere
with the right OF private judgment just as effec-
Iually as does the Catholic church. Mr.. BOvard
replies:
When Protestant desires to withdraw from one
OF the denominations he is at liberty to do So and
bears with him the good will of all. He thinks rs
he pleases both before and after. The Protestant
church simply asks the candidate for membership
ii he is acting freely, if he accepts the statements
OF faith as biblical The private Judgment is abso-
lutely supreme. The Protestant church claims no
power to change the moral status OF any one. The
trial and exclusion of person from Protestant
TO God.
You vii remark, Mr.. Editor, that there was
nothing in my argument which dealt either
from one OF the denominations or which con-
sldered his standing before God. My argu-
OF faith, no man, or no body OF men, has the
right to charge any one with heresy. Heresy
means originally to ''pick and choose" It
means q choice of doctrines. 1t is the Greek
for private judgment. If God has left the pri-
vate judgment absolutely supreme is it not i'm
pious TO call any doctrine heretical or false?
II, in the exercise OF his private judgment. q
Mormon follows the example of the patriarchs
or Presbyterian believes that prelaCy is un-
scriptural, why try him for heresy? If Metho-
dist comes 10 the conclusion by private judg-
ment that the Catholic church is the church
of Christ, why cover him with reprobation?
Private judgment has no limits but the limits
OF reason, and every attempt to cramp 1t with
creeds contradicts the theory.
As 10 the frame of mind with which Protes-
tants behold their members leave any com
munlon OF course L can give no opinion.
Human nature is much the same in all demon
nations and do not suppose that the loss of
members is looked upon exactly q blessing
The moral status" may not De changed, but
remark that the Methodists appear to have
very small hopes of those who leave them l
quote from a little book called The Doctrines
and Discipline OF Methodist Episcopal Church.
New York: 1856" In chapter II, section l.
the rules to be observed by Methodists are
given. Among them We find a prohibition
against "uncharltable OF improbable CONVEX
setiOn, particularly speaking evil of magis-
trates or OF ministers; 'the putting on OF
gold or costly apparel; "the singing those
songs or reading those books which do not
tend to the knowledge or love OF Cod
We also read that the brethren are expected
10 evidence their desire of salvation by
household OF faith or grooming so to be, en-
plOying them preferably 10 others, buying one
of another, helping each other in business
and so much the more because the world will
love its own and them only" Now if any
member does not observe these rules the dis
eipline goes on to say: 1--WE will admonish
him of the error OF his ways We VIII bear
with him for season. But if then he repent
not he hath no more place among us We have
delivered our own souls" OF course this may
be a way OF saying that the offender "bears
with him the good will of all" but IL is very
queer style OF expression.
In chapter " section q we find this aues-
ton: What shall be done with those minis
tiers or preachers who hold and disseminate,
publicly or privately, doctrines which are con-
trary to our articles OF rcligion?'
Answer: "Let the same process be observed
as in case OF gross immortality
In section Of the same chapter we read the
following order: eff member OF our church
shall he clearly convicted OF endeayoring to
sow dlssenslons in any OF our societies by in
Weighing against either our doctrines or disci-
pline, such person so offending shall be first
reproyed by the senior minister or preacher of
his circuit, and If he persist in such pernicious
practice he shall be expelled from the church.
have no doubt that DR.. Bovard would follow
the erring brother with respect and not con-
slider his moral status lowered, but ! think
these amlable sentiments arise from the nat
nral mildness OF the Alameda climate and not
from the provisions of the Methodist discipline
Mr.. Bovard continues:
II does not mathematiZe, curse and condemn
sense in the Bible.
am very much surprised to find that DR..
BoVard believes that any church curses or con-
demns people to purgatory. Surely he cannot
De thinking OF that obscene screed from Iris
Tram Shandy. The Catholic Church excom-
muhlcates her members just as the Methodist
Church eXpels them. The effects are precisely
the same IN both cases. GAS man by baptism
is mace a member OF the church in which there
Is communication of all spiritual goods, so by
eXc9mmunlcation he is cast forth from the
ehureh ana placed in the position of the heather
man ana the publican, and is deprived accord
lngly OF sacraments, sacrifices sacred offices,
Denehces' oignlties, ecclesiastical jurisdiction
ana power, ecclesiastical seputure-in word,
OF all the rights which he had acquired by bar
tsm-unul he makes amends and satisfies the
church"
hat astonishes me most of all is that DR..
Bovard should assert that cursing and anathe-
maiizing are not found in the Bible | am
afraid that he is neglecting that rule OF the
discipline which tells him to have the Bible
always open before him. If he will hut turn
TO the 2Sth of Deuteronomy he viii find a
ritual maledicuon, which for height depth
width, comprehensibility and copiousness OF
cursing is unequaed in any literature In the
New Testament we read the very expression
anathema, aud st. Paul does not mince words
when he hands the Corinthian bodily over to
the devil. If DR.. Bovard considers this non
sense he Will find plenty of ii in the Bible
do not think that Dr.. Boyard's answer