Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-04-14
A Few Words on Prof. De-
Longs Lecture.

MI EulIOI-lH lee'dlu u W Ile leCIuie {
20 be delivered in the Auditorium Sat
urday evening and Sunday afternoon,
with your kind indulgence, would
ike to say few words.
! Prof. DeLong, who will deliver these
| lectures, takes as his subject "Nine-
cen Years in the Clutches of Roman
sm." This brilliant youth, who judg-
'ng from his appearance, has not seen
more than twenty-one or two sum
mers, will, like a great many other
mpostors, endeavor to depict in WV
manner, the horrors of Catholicism
md show to our nGn-Catholic breth-
rem of Marietta what horrible thing
It is to be Catholic. He makes the
absurd statement that for nineteen
years he has been held in subjection to
The Catholic church by cruelty and
fraud. What 4 peer, weak minded
nan he must be.
The idea of any church holding its
members "in subjection by cruelty and
fraud for nineteen long years" Will
the young man inform us as to the
place CT his detention and as to the
cruel and fraudulent methods resorted
TO by his captors to compel him to re-
main within the fold of the Catholic
church for all these years contrary to
his wishes?
1t is indeed amusing to the Catholic
laity to read or listen to such tales as
Jhe Professor relates; for, We Catho-
lies know. that the church never has
nor never will compel her children to
'emain within her folds contrary to
heir wishes. The church does not want
such people, she being far better off
without them. We Catholics are free
agents, the same as our separated
brethren. We can be Catholics or not,
Just as we see fit So long as we abide
by the laws CT the church, we are
Catholics; but so soon as we cease to
do so, just so soon do we cease to be
Catholics Therefore as to the state
ment that for nineteen years he was
held in subjectfon to the Catholic
church by cruelty and fraud, | brand
rs base, unqualified falsehood.
AS 10 the statements he attributes
20 the Father of Our Country, George
Washington, which is, IF the United
States ever lose their liberty it will be
through the Romish Priesthood" as
well as that attributed to one of our
nartyred presidents, Abraham Lincoln
that, II see dark cloud on the hori-
zon. 1t is filled with blood and tears.
1t comes from behind the thick walls
If converts and the confessional boxes
of Rome, Il beg the young man to
kindly refer me 10 the addresses in
which these men have given utterance
TO the above expressions, as | have
never as yet been able to find them
1t may be they expressed them
selves thus in some private conversa-
tion which they have held with this
youth recently.
As to those attributed to Archbish-
op Ireland, Bishop O'Connor, Dan's
Theology, Pope Leo XIII, Father
Phelan and the Catholic Review they
are false beyond al question of doubt.
The church exhorts her children be
true to their God AMI their country, no
matter what country it may be their
fortune to be a citizen Of Coming TO
the question of patriotism and love OF
country of Catholics. | wish to call the
Professors attention to the valorous
deeds performed by the Sisters, and es-
pecially the Sisters of Charity and the |
Priests, in ministering to the temporal |
and spiritual wants of our soldiers |
during the Civil and Spanish wars OF |
the heroic deeds of the Catholics Cen
erals, Sheridan, Sherman. Rosecrans
and Buell., and OF the thousands of
who left behind all that was
near and dear TO them at home to
-rample over bloody battle fields to
light for our grand country. And
light here | might ask this young pat
'iot to give an account of his conduct
iuring our late war with Spain. Did
he volunteer his services to his coun-