The San Francisco call., 1897-01-28
Dr. COYLE ON
| LIBER7Y'S DEBT
Lectures at Length on
"What Freedom Owes
to Rome"
A Claim That Prosperity Has
Followed in the Steps of
Professionalism.
Asserts That the Roman Cath olic
Pope Is Foreign and Un.
American to the Core

OAKLAND, CAL, Jan. 27.-The First
Presbyterian Church was packed tonight,
the large crowd being attracted by the an
nouncement that Rev. R. F. Coyle, D. D.,
was to lecture on What Liberty Owes to
Rome" he said in brief:
lam not here tonight to indulge in person
aliues or to call in question the integrity of
individuals. From first to last must be
understood as dealing with the Papacy as
system or an institution, and not with those
W no belong TO the rank and file OF the Romish
Aburch. Ifmy words cut, 1t viii be with the
+ keen edge of truth and not because OF any
PERSONAL malice toward my fellowmen who
= differ from me in religious faith.
The belief is strong in US that Protestantism
has cut something of figure in the world as
the friend and advocate of liberty. Either we
have read or we have heard that ii not the
author OF liberty 1t created the atmosphere In
winch liberty has fourished. Unless we have
been altogether deceived from the very edge
Of the dark ages, in field and forum, in pulpit
and professors chair, i'll church and state,
Protestantlsm has been hberty's unceasing
and undaunted champion. Its children have
poured out their blood like water to keep
liberty's banners in the sky.
Wherever ii has found its way freedom and
prosperity have followed. Look around the
world, 60 over the map OF the globe, pick out
the bright spots, and see if without exception
they are not places lit up by Protestantism.
Protes tan tism is not infallible, and 1t has
never blasphemed God by any such mons trous
claim. 1t has made mistakes. 1t has some
times been intolerant and narrow and bigoted,
and its emancipation has not fully come yet.
1t has burned and killed and prosecuted. IL
has its fanatics and blood-th1rsty advocates,
and he is no friend of Professionalism who fills
its flaws and cracks and ugly places with
putty, and then varnishes them over to make
II look sound and beautiful.
Let in the light all the light possible, no
matter what black and vile things it may re-
veal. Cover up nothing, open your schools,
open your institutions, open your histories to
the sunlight of truth and the inspection of
the world that is the spirit of Professionalism.
Il makes no apologies for its bigotres and
thum bscrews. II is ashamed of them. It hangs
its head as 1t reads the story. But after the
very worst has been said, after every damaging
item has been brought out into light, there is
still left a tremendous balance against the
Papaey.
The speaker at the Macdonough Theater de-
clared the other night that while ''She (that IS
Rome) had supreme power there was no suCn
thing as despot known in Christendom." II
this conduct OF Alexander III was not despot-
ism what was it? The fact that Rome swal
lowed up all despotisms in herself did not rid
the world of the tyrant's heel but only made
it the heavier. l refer TO this because that foot
on the neck of the German Emperor was typt-
cal 1t stood for spirit, II was Papa! doctrine
made flesh. 1t was Popish authority at its
highest and proclaimed the subordination of
Cesar to Peter; of the state to the church; OF
the civil power TO the Papacy.
Now let US follow the course of freedom over
the seas and note how greatly it has been en-
cOuraged by Rome on this Western hemi-
sphere, The defenders of the Papacy say to
US: 'Look at the early Maryland colony il you
want evidence that Rome is the friend of lib
erty. Lord Baltimore obtained a charter in
1882 which provided complete toleraIion !;
that no preference should be given 10 any
sect, but that ali settlers in the colony should
enjoy equality OF religious rights" al of
which is true, but, as in the matter of the
Magma Charta, IT is long way from being the
whole truth.
Whatsoever there was done in the colony of
Maryland in favor Of religious liberation was
done only in obedience to the charter and
against the known and steady policy both OF
the Church of Rome and the Jesuits Nobody
can justify the intolerance of the Episcopalians
OF Virginia or the Puritans OF New England,
and while we may now congratulate ourselves
that counteractiug influences were planted in
Maryland, 1t should not be forgotten that those
who brought them accepted toleration from
compulson and employed all the arts and
cunning of Jesuitism TO get rid of it. 1ntoler-
ance, it Is true, accorded with the spirit OF
that age and some allowance but no apology
islto be made for it on that account. But the
first influences that set in against 1t were
Protestant exclusively, not Roman Catholic
religious liberation obtain foothold.
Although great men and laymen of the church
gave it their support, Rome would not permit
1t, and her fat was the law of the church.
"When Rome has spoken" said Augustine,
that is the end of the matter"
Ladies and gentlemen, the ruling power of
the Roman CaInohc Churcn Is foreign ana un-
American to the core. Foreign, l mean in
temper and sympathy. Its Pope is foreign, its
college of cardinals is foreign, its apostolic
legate is foreign, great multitude of its
priests and teachers are foreign and a very
large proportion of its increase comes from
foreign emigration. 1t is founded not upon
the people, but upon the monarchical princi-
pie, the abs olute supremacy of the Roman
POnbh and therefore cannot in its inmost soul
be friendly to q republic. Against foreign
influence Washington warned his country
men to be on their guard in his farewell ad-
dress, and, fel!owmen, this foreign influence
has come. 1t is here masquerading behind
the stars and stripes, bubbling over with
mock patriotism, showing its loyalty in loud
est Ierms in order the better TO get In its
tutions and its sudden love for "Old Glory
have adecidedly Jesuitieal look