The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-27
REV. MR.. PAPiNEAU AGAIN.
He Objects to the Maine Bible Society Be-
cause 1t Distributes "Prostestant" Bible.

The agents of the Maine Bible Society
are accu stoned to make inquiry among
the people of the different denomina-
lions in the towns they visit, to ascertain
their religious condition, and to submit
report of their findings to the pastors of
the different denominations in the towns.
Recently lady agent of the society visit
ed Oldtown and made the customary cam
vass among the Episcopalians of that
town. When she had made up her report
she called upon the rector of the parish
to present it to him. but met with re-
buff, he refusing to examine the report or
have anything to do with it. She con-
| trived, however, to get it into his hands,
and subsequently received it back with
this endorsed on it:
You must excuse me for saying to YOU
again that do not believe in the society
you represent. / know all about it and
approve neither its object nor some of the
methods OF its agents. 1t is q Protestant
society, distributes Protestant trans
lation of the Bible, and whatever its
claims may be of being undenomination-
al, its influence, 1 know from experience,
u.
me as an agent, not personally, and my
unwillingness to talk with you simply
meant that / wished to have nothing to
do with the society. l am sorry that you
put any different Interpretation upon it.
A b. p.
A. B. P. stands for A. B. Papineau, the
rector of the Episcopal church in Old
town. A year ago the Rev. Mr. Papineau
preached sermon before the Episcopal
General convention in this city which
created a good deal of comment at the
time. The sermon is thoroughly in line
with the endorsement on the back Of
the agents report printed above, as will
be seen by the following extract:
He thought the church should approach
the work of missions in the spirit of the
apostle Paul. He did not wait for an in
vitation to go out to preach to the heath
| en-, he was not wanted perhaps, but he
went. So the heathens of New England
and this diocese do not desire us any
more than those of the Roman empire
! desired the presence of the apostle There
was some degree Of good in the religion of
the empire, but St. Paul did not hesitate
to take an aggressive position and to say
| that there was but one true religion.
The apostles did not say "Our way is
the best" but sit is the only way, and
outside of this church there is no sal
vation'
And this is true of Maine today. Cities
| like Belfast, Ellsworth and other places
| of 5000 inhabitants do not want the
| church, and if every inhabitant was q
| member of some of the Protestant bodies
their condition would not be much better
thanif they were not. AT best they would
| have the sacrament of baptism and carl
cature of Christianity Men attend the
Protestant preaching houses, and because
so-called evangelistical bodies they be-
come Indifferent and do not value true
| Christianity.
The heathens of New England greatly
need the church Take place of 100
inhabitants and $40 will be Roman
| Catholics, and make a house to house
canvass and the balance will be found to
limitations They have no interest in re-
ligious things, and no sacrament EXCEPT
| baptism, and as a matter of fact have no
true religion whatever.
4 The majority of the people of New Eng
| land have no religion. We must go to the
people and tell them that we are the
| Catholic church opposed to Romanism on
the one hand and to Professionalism on the
other. We must tell them that outside of
| this church there is no salvation
| 1t should be stated THAT the Maine Bible
| Society distributes Roman Catholic Bibles
| to those who want them as well as what
| Mr.. Papineau calls Protestant Bibles
| acknowledgement among the members of
| the Protestant Episcopal church the
| agent offered Protestant Bible, not be-
ing aware of Mr.. Papineau's objection to