The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-03
Religious Tolerance the Rule
Despite a Coterie of
Foreigners.
PRINCIPLES OF THE A. P. A.
Editor Hubbell of the American Patriot
Gives a Statement Of the
Platform.

Father Yorke makes the following re-
ply to Dr. Bovard's letter on 'Why Ro-
man Catholicism is under suspicion in
America" THE Catholic church" says
Father Yorke, us net under suspicion in
America al all, " and he proceeds TO show
DR.. Bovard that he has fallen into error,
thus:
January ., 1896.
To the Editor OF the CaU-DEAR sin: In his
letter this morning DR.. Bovard advances GER
tain reasons which he thinks explains "Why
Roman Catholicism is under suspicion in
America He opens his communication by
commenting on some statements in my last
letter, and then ne proceeds TO give dozen
reasons TO justify suspicion OF the Catholic
against Catholics and that he desires 10 be
fair. readily give him credit for his good in
tentions. and in turn l ask him 10 consider me
as actuated IN this controversy with the sole
desire TO set forth the truth. the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
In the beginning would take exception to
DR.. Bovard's statement OF the question.
think / am justified in denying that Roman
Catholicism Is under suspicion in America"
Among the members OF certain churches,
among immigrants from certain countries,
among natives raised in certain remote locali-
ties, the Catholic church is regarded with sus-
plclon. But Americans harDor no such un-
worthy thoughts. Men and women who have
been trained 10 respect the rights of others do
not permit themselves 10 indulge i'll unfOunded
tons, and not by rumOrS. Before there were
any Methodists in existence Catholics had
dwelt in America, and We have yet to hear of a
single disloyal deed done by Catholics which
need cause US shame. The overwhelming ma
1Orlty OF the Catholic church were born under
the stars and stripes. Catholics and non
Catholics have grown up together in the same
towns. They have studied at the same
benches, they have played at the same games.
In manhood they have been united, in bust
ness in politics, in social, in family life. When
the republic was threatened they went to the
front shoulder TO shoulder, and there was no
talk OF suspicion then. ii to-day any civic en-
ferDriSe is IIndertaken Catholic business men
and Protestant business men work hand in
hand. When misery or distress appeals for
aid catholic money is given as freely as Protes-
tant money. In the great. real, broad life of
the people there Is no room for suspicion. 1t
is an un-American word. 1t is the prerogative
OF those who live in corners and who spin
cobwebs all day 10 furnish vacant minds 1t
tells of low ideals and OF limited opportunities
1t belongs to bats and moles and owls and all
things that hate the light. II has no place in
q republic such ours, and the American peo-
pie reject ii and all II suggests with scorn.
No. Dr.. BOvard, the Catholic church is not
! under suspicion IN America. coterle of
foreigners, who make up in noise what they
lack IN numbers, try to have it appear that it
is. But no one in his senses looks upon them
Americans Their leaders are not even citi-
Zens and the followers are principally Irish
r and Canadian Orangemen, seasoned with
Scandinavians OF various degrees of freshness
TO these, certain second-rate politicians have
attached themselves, and several preachers
more deSlrOuS OF nOtorlety than of charity, and
the.whole motley mass goes out into the streets
trailing the flag in the mire and shouting it.
self hoarse against the Catholic church, and
ell IL the name OF our glorious institutions
and true Americanism.
Hence it is that object to DR.. Bovard's state
ment of the question. Roman Catholicism is
not under suspicion in America. 1t is under
the suspicion of certain people, who ought to
know better. How uniustifiable that suspicion
IS will appear from an examination of the
causes advanced by DR.. Bovard.
l. For man who arraigns Catholicism in
the name OF the American Government l am
surprised to find DR.. BoYard so ignorant of the
constitution OF that Government. ait is" he
says, "a fundamental principle of the Ameri-
can Government TO encourage the Christian
religion under whatever peculiar type of or
gsnization 1t may appear. This country does
not profess atheism nor paganism, but all it's
rulers, from the President down TO the Justice
OF the Peace. stand on the Christian platform
of morals and faith. a simon-pure
heather with his toggery could not become an
American citizen in the true sense OF the
term"
I cannot conceive of anything which is more
misleading than this statement. In the first
place the American Government has nothing
whatsoever to do with religion. 1t neither en-
courages II nor persecutes it, 1t leaves Fe-
Ug1on severely alone. So far from being
founded on the Christian faith Hebrew is
Just as eligible to the Presidents chair as the
most devout Methodist There is nothing in
the wide world TO prevant Colonel Bob Inger-
soil from succeeding Mr.. Cleveland save and
except the lack OF votes. The Federal consti-
tuition is frankly founded on the principle that
the Government declines to have anything to
do with religion, and nearly all the State con-
stitutions have similar provisions There are
thousands of heathens who enjoy all the privi-
leges of American citizenship, and there are
tens OF thousands OF Jews who consider them
selves just as good Americans as Mr.. Boyard.
This country is committed 10 the doctrine of
complete separation of church and state. Re-
ligious opinions should in no wise interfere
with mans citizenship. AS long as the laws
are obeyed ii is nothing to this Government
no Z les lay or
pagan. The attempt to make the Government
Christian Is Just as un-Amer1can as the at
tempt to make 1t Protestant or Catholic. If we
want TO have a Christian country must set
about converting the individuals. When all
the people are Christian the Government will
be Christian withOut-the aid of laws. If the
people are not Christian all the laws in the
world will not make the Government Christian.
2. Mr.. Bovard says that Protestants do not
hold. that any particular denomination is
" the church, but that all denominations, in
Guiding Catholics, are some sort of branches of
the true universal kingdom of truth, OF
which Christ is the only head" Now, frankly,
think DR.. Bovard is not accurate in making
this "branch theory" Protestant doctrine. !
sure that the Protestant Episcopalians have
not the slightest idea OF acknowledging the
Baptists as a branch of the true church OF
Christ The Presbyterians are bound by the
standards of their church to abolish all "super-
stition, heresy, schism, profaneness," and am
greatly afraid that ii there were any Metho-
dists in the days OF the Covenanters they
would be considered as branches only in the
sense that they were foreordained to the
burning
Indeed, it IS the rankest absurdity to look
upon the $40 different seets OF Protestan tism
as members OF one kingdom Of truth" Truth
IS one. 1t is the same in all times and in all
places and for all men. Two and two are four
mere and in China and in the moon. That
man would be considered raving lunatic who
would hold that two and TWO made four south
of Market street, but that two and two made
twenty-six in the Western Addition. Hence
ii there any religious truth at all it must be
the same in every country and for all sorts
and conditions OF men. 1T IS quite possible
that all the different sects may be wrong, but
it is utterly inconceiYable that they can all be
right. For example. one sect declares baptism
is necessary for salvation; another sect de
clares baptism is not necessary Tor salvation