The San Francisco call., 1897-10-26
An Immense Audience Lis
tens to His Second
Lecture.
The Guy Fawkes Plot of 1905
Receives the Chancellor'S
Attention.
Said to Have Been Concocted by Sails
bury to Crush the Catholic
Party.

| Father Peter Z. Yorke delivered the
second OF his series of SIX lectures on
"Ghosts" before large audience at Met
ropolitan Hall last evening in aid of the
Catholic Truth Society, the subject being
the "Gunpowder Ghost" The lecture
was preceded by several wellerendered
selections by the Gee Club of Company
A. League of the Cross Cadets.
The subject was based upon the Guy
Fawkes plot and the persecution of the
Catholics In England during the reign of
| Elizabeth and James 1. He said in part:
''In July, 1775, George Washington took
| com mand of the American troops before
Boston and set himself to discipline the
New England farmers, the accomplish
ment Of which meant inde pendence. One
OF his general orders dealing with disci-
pline Is of interest TO Catholics. In New
England the 5th of November was known
as 'Pop,'s day 4 figure representing the
Pope was carried through the streets in
mock procession and burned. When No
VEN ber OF that year arrived the New Eng
land soldiers were preparing for the usual
celebration when Washin gton heard OF it
and issued an order in which he said:
AS the commander in chief has been ap-
prlsed of a design formed for the observance
OF that ridiculous and childish custom of
7
expressing his surprise that there should
be off GERS and soldiers in this army
so devoid of common-sense not to
see the improperly of such step.
1t is so monstrous as not TO be suffered
or excused; indeed, instead of tffering the
most remote Insult it is our duty to address
pubic thanks 10 our Catholic brethren, TO
them we are indebted for every late success
over the common enemy IN Canada.
"By those words was laid forever one of
the most terrible and bloodthirsty ghosts
OF the great Protestant tradition. 1t was
an Eng .lsh ghost, which had been brought
over by the Puritans 10 these shores. 1t
was ghost which had been evoked by
English political needs TO divide the
English people and TO riyet on their neCks
tyranny, the most ablect known in s.
tory. The day known In New England as
Pope's day is known i'll ola England as
Guy Fawkes' day. In the Established
Church of England the day was holiday
and was marked on the calendar of the
Book OF Common Prayer as the .Papists'
Conspiracy For the feast a special form
of PRAYER with thanksgiving was pro-
vided."
The lecturer quoted from Myers His
tory its version OF the gunpowder plot of
l605, which charges that the scheme 10 de-
stroy the Parliament building was en-
tered into by some Catholics, with Guy
Fawkes as the leader, because OF their dis
appointment at the course the King had
=
After brief review of the accession OF
James | to tho throne, Father Y orke mar
rated how STEPS were taken to punish the
perpetrators, and the intense hatred ami
persecution heaped upon Catholics. He
said that at the trial OF the suspects 1t was
very suggestive that ali the Information
con ncerning the plot came from Govern
ment sources, but it is often said that the
police would rather convict a prisoner
than capture the guilty party.
Proceeding with a review of the burdens
heaped upon Catholics by the authorities
in the way OF eXtortlonate fines, imprison-
nent for the most trivial ofsenses and the
rack AL 100 frequently, the speaker drew
most graphic picture OF tho political
history of England during that turbulent
period. Then reverting to the gunpowder
plot he said: Il recall this, not to stir up
hard feelings, but tc ask you if the Cath
| ollcs had no provocatlon. 1t is well 20
! dwell upon this plot, but it is also well 10
! dwell upon the proyocation and what
| Catholics had to endure"
Father YoIke was merciless with the
! Kings chief adviser, Salisbury, and said
! that according to the iatter's son his
father originated the plot to further his
! political ends. This is not difficult TO be-
lieve when state papers that are still in ex-
| istenCe show that for eighteen months
| prior to its exposure the Government
| knew of the plot; when it is known that
/ Fawkes was visitor to Salsbury's house.
! as was also Catesby, the prime mover in
the plot" He SAID there were many
other evidences that the whole affair was
| originated by the Government 10 crush
the Catholic party and further their own
| political ends.
Father Yorke will deliver his third lee
ture on Ghosts" at the same place next
! Monday evening.