The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-31
THE FOE OF LIBERTY.
Ministers Discuss the Spirit Of
the Catholic Church.
THE PRESENT AND THE PAST.
One Thinks the Church Has Not
Changed Since the Dark Ages-Chap-
ei Exercises In the University.

PREACHERS Association was held a, the
L NJ & a rooms yesterday forenoon
President Major was in the chair. Rev
A A Doyle was elected secretary. 10 nm
the vacancy caused BY the resignation OF
Rev n A Covington.
The paper for discussion was. ..Is the
spirit OF the Roman cS;hoiic Church Of
Today the Same as ~ Was In the DARK
Ages II was presented DIV DR.. H d.
Brown. pastor of the Battery street ". E.
cnurcn- he claimed that the church in
question wae the foe of liberty and en-
iiEhfenment, and In support Of his posi-
ton quoted from alleged Roman Catholic
authorities. He read extensively from a
book that he said was the cates-hfsu, ~
the Catholic church to prove that the doc
t-ine OF that church today Is what II WIS
In the Dark Ages. and that the spirit Of a
church is determined. by Its doctrine. He
also gave comparison between Roman
Catholic and Protestant Countries in
which he sought 10 demonstrate that
where Rome had the ascendancy the Hit
eTacy, crime and degradation were greatly
In excess of that of nations under nominal
Protestant rule. During the reading Mr..
Brown warmed up considerably and en-
phasized his conclusions vigorously. He
unhesitatingfy asserted that the spirit of
the Roman Catholic church OF today is the
same that IL was in the Dark Ages
After Mr.. Brown sat down and the an
plause had subsidized GALL was made for
some one to lead out on the other side of
the question. There was no particular
haste to be first. and II took a little prod-
ding on the part of President Major TO get
the preachers 70 forget their usual Mon
day meditations long enough to take part
In the discussion. Finally some of the
brethren called on Mr. Covinston TO saw
a few worde. Mr. covinston enjoys the
unique distinction of nearly always being
on the opposite side of a proposition. and
several thought he was just the man 10
defend his holiness the pope. Mr.. Covlng-
ton smiled pleasantly and urged Clark
Davis TO discuss the paper. Mr. Davis
possibly thought of the time he advised the
A. p. As of Seattle 70 educate their chill
dren the same as did the Roman Catholics,
shook his head decisiyely, and passed the
question along TO Rev. George II. Lee, who
seemed 10 be deeply interested IN a yellow
looking book. presumably d history of the
French revolution in one volume Mr. Lee
looked solemn and said he had nothing TO
say About this time Mr. Covinston got
up He evidently had an idea in his head
which was struggling for the open air.
Il have not given this subject as much
attention as would like to have given f."
he said, but from the study which have
made OF II believe that a great deal can
be said in extenuatson Of the charges made
against the Roman Catholic church. At
the same time l agree in the main with
what DIR. Brown claims, but | really be-
lieve the spirit Of the Roman church Is
changing In my opinion, Pope Leo is a
statesman in the best sense OF the word
/ do not think he is crafty In a bad sense
as DR.. Brown seems TO think. l think he
fs honestly ana conscientiously trying to
administer the affairs of The church and
TO please God. In the matter of doctrine
h.aA ha, -ttx
Ages. The doctrine of papal infallibility
and the immaculate conception We're not
held then. great deal of the persecution
and the fortunes of the inquistion were
not the result OF the Inherent teachings OF
the church so much as of the environment
of the church and contact with heather
nations. Professionals are not altogether
free in this respect. The Pilgrim fathers
came to this country to enjoy religious
freedom and the right TO worship accord
ing to the dictates of conscience. which
seemed to mean to compel all others 10
worship as they did. They burned witches
and prosecuted the Baptists. really be-
lieve the spirit of the Roman Catholic
church is changing. and that II is not the
same today that IL was 800 years ago"
Another silence followed Mr.. Covingtoa's
little speech in defense of the pope
Clark Davis wanted to hear from Mr..
Lee. Mr. Lee looked UP and said, some
what tersely:
This is seSe;is matter and I don't
like TO hear II treated joke. You are
foolng with snakes. and II you are not
careful your children will feel IT.
I've didn't come here to be lectured."
replied Mr.. Davis. pleasantly. We came
10 hear this paper discussed"
Il am sure my paper was no joke" re-
marked Mr.. Brown
Il don't think I was Joking either"
scde1 Covington.
Mr.. Lee got started TO talking while sit
ting down. but finally became so warm
that he got up. He was in earnest and
seemed to have the spirit of a Parkhurst
facing a Tammany ring.
when pr. Parkhurst addressed the
Chicago preachers on the question Of mn
niipal corruption" he continued "they
met him with smiles and treated the mas
ter lightly. This fred him and he said:
Gentlemen. ! did not come here 10 enter
tain you. and.if thar is all you want have
nothing 30 say / say the same thing
about Rom anism. / cannot treat this sub.
ject lightly. 7 wish YOU would all read
the history Of France and therein stuiy
the great struggle lecN cen the Ronen
church ana religious liberty This is
valuable. although n displeasing a dis
tressng subject. and perhaps that ac-
counts for the absence of some OF the
fIethre1. We are the heirs q generation
~ distress. The history Of Europe Is the
History OF i struggle between Ronanlsn
ard the spirit OF religious liberty. From
now on this struggle will continue"
Mr.. Lee SAT- down. evidently relieved
Another silence followed. which WAS
neatly broken by President Major. who
relieved the embarrassment If the oeca-
sion by introducing Airs Dunlap a lady
Interested IN securing ~ Introduction OF
me form Of chapel exercises in the state
university. Mrs. Dunlap stated that abe
had consulted with President HARRINGTON
and that ne was Willing that responsive
readings and a hymn book similar 10 those
used In Yaie should Z used IN the Uni
versity Of Washinstoa. The state how
ever. would not ssivanes the requisite So
and Mrs Dunlap wanted ne preachers TO
take hold Of the matter and get the
chur>hes 10 contribute the Nancy. The
natrer was referred 10 the executive CON-
gnittee together with samples % the books
A similar appeal mas been made 10 tfS
preachers OF Tacoma and viii be made
later 10 those u spokane.
The resolution o. the Methodist E'yis-
coral preachers against The hroar5sword
contest advertised 10 take place on Sunlay
was inderssd and abe secretary directed
20 send COPY OF sths resolution to lhe
mayor. Several % The prs schers said thev
would probably attend = the contest took
PLACE oa a weekday. bug did rot care abaus
making ;he promise q their patronage
- sis f0r changing the sxhfSi;ton 90 4 we~.k
dsV. The opposition 10 the confess = sole
Is on R-,ouni II the SELECTION % sunday
At The meeting % The association % te
held next Mondsy morning Rev. J. y
Saith viii present paper on The Eutha-
sIASrn u the Minister 20 HIs Work"
MORAN BROS. WIN.
4 Partial Victory In Their Tide Land
Contest