West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-18
A CATHOLIC CRITICISM
OF THE RAID on CHRISTIANITY
AT THE RIVER CITY.
The Brightest Gem I'm CoIumbia.s
Diadem is Religious Freedom.

| 40 inc -uttOi "l IHE ARGUS.
1t was said the other day for
Catholic hearing, by several OF the
disciples of A. p. A ism. that every
word uttered by their lcctarer was
true, or why did not some Catholic
contradict it? The reason WIS 90.
Tious. In the first pl1ce, (and we
arc sorry that you mako IL neccs-
sary for us to tell you). We felt that
anything like dignifed notice Of
the coarse insults and yituperations
that have been heaped unon us.
would have gone entirely over your
heads, and in the second place. il
would have been altogether impos-
slbIe for us Catholics-with all a
Catholics sense OF charity and die
NIFTY, to reply at all to such an
abusive tirAdo as has been made
against our church by the A. p.
A. S OF Rowlesburg. and That de
based creature that was brought
here to emphasize thor most nefar.
ious cause. Had leper invaded
your prccinc. s you would have stood
afar of and cried Gus, Unclenn
Uhcleau and yet this moral leper.
this incarnation Of all that was
most unhoiY and unchaste. was not
only permitted to entor your town.
but with the yordcious appetites OF
coarse natures, ministers Of the
gospel. Men women aud children
Hooked to this den Of infamy night
after night to hear not only our
Priests and nuns insulted, our
church, so tender to every Catholic
heart, cruelty misrepresented and
most foully and atrociously SLAM
dered, but to drink in the thous.
and indecencies that flowed from
his polluted lips. Surely both the
ears and consciences of those de-
lighted and appreciatiYo audiences
must have been iron cladl We
Catholics feel that as ncighbors and
friends we deserved something bet
ter at your hands certainly. and
we had hoped that the correct lives
we lead here among you would
nave been our shield against your
malice, ar at least against this last
GROWING insult. An insult not
only 20 the Catholic church, but
to your town and to all common de
cency. Then in the name of all
that is fair and honest why not
turn your zeal to worther cause e?
Life 10 too short and the day O;
reckoning TOO near to waste further
energy in such an unjust and fruit
less effort besllcs, you cannot in
Juro either us o. our church, the
harm must rebound upon your own
heads. The Catholic church has
been confronted with far more for
midabie foes than A. p. A. Ism.
and yet she stands as serene and
unscathed to day, as she stood
centuries ago, and as she will stand
ultiI the end OF time, imporious
to caIumny. An enduring monu
mont Of strength and charity, 50 do
have some higher, nobier aim i'm
life than to destroy Code holy insn
tutlons, for after all, are we all
children Of the same loving Father.
however much we may differ in
creed. Emancipate yourselves from
this religious intolerance. Read IN
lifting literature, not this obscene
trash that you have been devouring
[ and circulating around lately, such
stuff cannot educate but must surely
drag you dowa morally and intel
Iectually-Good literature IS a
moral disinfectant and a powerful
anildoto to big5 ~. So read all
tho good. wholesome books you can
r get, it will broaden your ideas and
let you see how li.Ce you have been.
Endeayor TO be perfect Of head and
, heart, true to God and yourselves,
) and we would ask in the name of
Christian charity thatyou 10 longer
vas against a people aud church
of which you know absolutely moth.
ing, and above an remember that
"ho brightest gem i'm Columbus
diadem Is religious freedom.
A CATHOLIC.
I / s=~Haa-arrs=ae