The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

editions to deceive Protestants then we are tn e
accusation why did he undertake to argue
with me7 II my authorities are mutiiated my
editions Sarbled, my quotations forged. then L
am beneath contempt. But If Dr. Wendte
makes this charge without reason, Mr.. Editor,
and thus attempts to destroy the credit OF my
words beforehand. to cut the ground from
under my feet, to infuse into the imaginations
everything l may say in reply to him, then to
use the words of Newman, he is guilty of the
cowardly and unmanly crime of poisoning the
wells.
ROMAN FoRGERIEs.
To give some evidence for the truth of his
charge, Dr.. Wendte appealed to Janus" who,
he asserted, exposed 1.-THE literary forgeries of
the Roman church, on which, in large degree,
it bases its pretensions to divine right and abb
solute rule. These fabrications are quite well
known 10 Roman Catholic scholars, and are
yet defended, passed over in silence or con-
doned by them, while the Oh urch continues to
make use OF these fictitious documents to es-
tablsh itself in both spiritual and worldly
power"
Now, as matter of fact, the first to expose
the forgeries to which Janus alludes were
Catholics, and that long. before the Reforma-
ton. From the very beginning OF Christianity
sagas and legends had sprung up attaching
themselves to the Apostles, the martyrs and
men of note in the church. AS Professor Ram
say remarks in his book just published, "paul,
the Roman Citizen and Traveller" these tales
were intended TO take the place of the often
times impure novels or stories in which the
pagan world delighted.
1t is absurd to state that these documents
were forgeries and wicked inventions. One
might as well accuse our popular historical
novelists as guilty of this crime. During the
dark ages, so-called, these tales and docu-
ments received O certain belief, but 1t would
be inst as critical 10 say that the legend of
George Washington and his little hatchet was
invented to support the supremacy of the Fed
eral Government as to Say that the stories OF
the Donation OF Constantine were invented TO
support the primacy OF the Roman Pontiff.
I ic ann ~ la hU a n nyTnenna
that these sagas and legends were not the bases
OF the Roman church's claim to the primacy,
but that the fact of the primecy obtained for
these legends certain credence. 1t Is also
demonstrable that the church does not use
these forgeries to substantiate their claims.
Moreover 1t is absolutely untrue to say that
Roman Catholic scholars defend or condone
these spurious documents. AS have already
remarked, their true nature was demonstrated
at a time when there were no scholars but
Roman Catholic.
However, even If it were true, as Dr.. Wendte
asserts, that the historical claims of the Papaey
are based on forgery, can he show that have
used them? The observant reader will readily
note that the forgeries in this discussion have
been all on the side of DR.. Wendte. He, not |,
has cited garbled extracts and spurious de.
crees. He has not been able 70 breathe even
q suspicion against the authenticity of q
single passage quoted by me, while the greater
part of my time has been taken up in showing
how he has doctored and gerrymandered the
utterances of Catholics.
To complete his task OF poisoning the wells,
DR.. Wendte cited the case OF certain sbbe who
discovered that Roman Catholic authorities
were garbled, falsiied and untrustworthy, and
who in consequence became q Protestant.
asked DR.. Wendte for the name of the abbe but
DR.. Wendte refuses to give 1t, under the plea
that the old man does not wish TO be perse-
cuted. This unfair insinuation against CathO-
lies is characteristic only OF congenital mean
ness. Let me inform DR.. Wendte that his In
formant has lived here for years without per-
secution, though every one knows him. Let
me inform him, TOO, that the story Is too
''sweet' to be wholesome. II the 'abbe'' Will
give the name of the book which he found
fsisifed 7 can have the whole matter examined
in the British Museum. Until DR.. Wendte's
informant does this, l am compelled to credit
the common rumor for the cause OF his defec-
ton. consider it beneath the dignity of q
scholar and gentleman to make charges
against the trustworthiness or honesty of e
great church on anonymous testimony, and |
imagine that Dr.. Wendte would have bettered
his cause If he had given facts instead OF re-
failing gossip.
Let me repeat that this sweeping charge of
untrusIworthiness in which DR.. Wendte in
dulges is q cowardly subterfuge. 1t is par
alleled only by the device OF the sneakthief
who, when tried for stealing lady's purse, at
tempts TO escape by aspersing his accuser's
honor.
8. DECLARATIONS OF RECENT PoPEs.
To prove that the Catholic church teaches
that the state is in temporal matters subord1-
mated to the church DR.. Wendte quoted the ut
terances of some recent Popes.
(d) Leo XIII.
He asserted that Leo XIII had said words
which warranted US in believing that the
Papacy if it had its way would soon suppress
free government.
/ showed by means of the deadly parallel that
DR.. Wendte had mutilated Leos sentence by
suppressing half of 1t and that the suppressed
clause expressly stated that the church could
use only the moral means which every sect
employs to-day.
he shortened the sentence in the interests of
brevlty, aud he proceeded incontinently to go
into Mysteries about the bloody prosecutions
of the church OF Rome.
For these prosecutions see the Rubbish Heap
(b) Plus TX and Gregory XVI Dr. Wendte
next quoted what he called the Evangelical"
and syllabus of Plus TX as condemning free
schools, free science. a free press, liberty of
conscience and OF religious worship.
All of which, including that specimen of
physiology" the Evangelical and syllabus"
as having nothing to do with the civil supre-
macy of the church are hereby consigned to
the Rubbish Heap.
Dr. Wendtes endeavor, therefore, to prove
from the modern. Popes that the church
claims civil supremacy over the state only
quotations to bolster up bad cause.
a. DECLARATIONS OF MODERN CATHOLICS.
Dr.. Wendte now produced the sayings of
certain eminent modern Catholics as testi-
monies that we are seeking to control the
state. Let US see how his witnesses Jared.
(d) Louis Veuillot.
The editor of the Paris Univers was first
called to the stand. His sentiments were that
Catholic principles denied free speech.
What this has to do with the supremacy of
the church l do not know, but l asked Dr.
Wendte to produce his authority for ascribing
this statement to Veuillot.
DR.. Wendte replied, "I am not fonu of con-
troversy."
(b) Doctor Brownson.
Then DR.. Wendte quoted the Catholic Re-
view and DR.. Brownson as saying that
Professionalism had no rights where Catholicism
was triumphant
In reply 1 remarked that Brownson had
nothing to do with the Catholic Review and
/ demanded the date of the quotation.
DR.. Wendte retorts that it is wrong to sneer
ct cooks and tailors.
(c) Bishop GilHour.
DR.. Wendte then produced Bishop Gilmour
as saying that "Nationalities must be made
subordinate to religion"
1 explained the sentence as a rebuke to a
movement which was then on foot to divide
the Catholics OF this country into various Ma
tional groups.
. DR.. Wendte replied by quoting more of the
pastoral, which completely justified my expla-
nation.
But DR.. Wendte insisted "the Bishop saws.
we owe unqualified obedience to the state in
all that does g OF conflict with the law OF God,
and this is treason"
Does DR.. Wendte wish US to obey man rather