The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-11
FROM SECTARIAN ASPERSIONS.
Father Lehman Ably Defends the
Virtue and Integrity
OF THE NOBLE CELTIC RACE.
A Methodist Minister'S Qualifica-
tiOns Are Peculiar.

The following condensed report of
FIR Lenihan's reply to DR.. Van Ness is
taken from the Statesman-Press, of
Marshalltown Iowa, of Nov. 80:
There may be some-not present
who may think that l am discussing
the Irish question too far They, un-
doubtedly, would prefer to be left in
their ignorance, and, like local preach
er, believe that the inhabitants of Ire
land are set of semi-barbarians with
out single redeeming trait of character.
The late TRADE on Ireland by the Metho-
dist preacher, Van Ness, has been COM
mented on by the. state press. Some
conclude that Marshalltown must be a
blgoted place, which is unjust and un-
true. They all express surprise at The
gross Ignorance displayed by preacher
OF city congregation at this late day
and set him down as moss backed
bigot 100 years behind the times They
rightly judge that this culprit is devoid
OF the instincts of a gentleman in re-
fuslng to offer the amend honorable
for the gross insults heaped on a vir-
tuous people, after his vituperations
were proven to be ISLANDERS.
According to the learned co lectur-
er himself, he had not fully settled down
before he commenced to enlighten (0
this benighted community. Well, the
Dest thing for peripatetiI preachers is
to proceed in their peregrinations, or, as
they say in Spanish, to vamose. Mar
shalltown has no room for roaming
Dlgots. We don't want the fair name
Of the Queen City tarnished by the pratt
lings of pious priests.
The late escapade of Van Ness IN
the lecture line reminds me of a story
told by ex-Premier Gladstone. Shortly
after one of the political campaigns,
conducted without any RS he was
waited on by one of his Scotch con-
stltuents. The man from the land of the
thistle said: Mr.. Gladstone, before
you were returned to parliament YOU
promised to- help me any time I needed
favor, and now l have come to ask
you to help my son. 'Ah, very well.'
says the grand old man, and what is
your son good for?' Well says the
father, that's the trouble-he is good
Tor nothing. Tut, tut, man, he must
be good for something; has he no edu-
cations? Well, no. says the disconso-
late parent, he is thorough in no
study. He was always rebellous and
bolstelDus and too fond OF running
after vannessa (buttertlies). He will
prate about the pope and talk temner-
ance by the yard, but on the SLY he can
get away with as much old Guinness
as any OIL the boys. True, he knows
good many scriptural texts, but he
doesn't know how to apply them, much
less to live according to them. He
learned these texts when he was SUPER
1ntendent of Sunday school, at which
time he was aspiring to a position in a.
bank, but the fellow is such an in
veterate prevaricator that no business
man would trust him.
well, has he voice? Yes. he
has fair voice, but it is 'yox at
praeterta nihil.'
Can your son shout?"
Can he shout?' Can he shout p
repeated the distressed parent. o
mutton chops and penny barbersl I
should say he can shout. You orter
hear him when rebellious, with rum
and romin' roar!'
Eureka says the crafty old states
man, have found a position for your
son; he has all the necessary oualif,ca-
tions; we will make him Methodist
preacher, with title of DOCTOR
NOW, you must not conclude that
because these requisites constitute
preachers of the Van Ness class. that
they are applicable to all. 1 know some
ministers of the gospel who are learned.
temperate and sincere. About ten years
ago l had the pleasure of receiving inst
such an honest minister into the Catho-
lie fold and he still continues to practice
his holy Roman Catholic religion.
There are many ignorant, cowardly,
hypocritical preachers that are doing the
work OF satan. Only the other day one
of this class told his hearers that hell
was bugaboo to scare children; that
at most it was only pleasant winter
resort. Another long-faced doctor said
that hades was hot place, but as long
as they would accept Jesus they were
all right They could live licentious
lives, continue in their secret sins, cal
umninate and defraud their neighbor
but shout come to Jesus long and loul
and they would enter the pearly gates
when they would shuttle off their mortal