The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-23
DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.
Mathew Carey Of Philadelphia, the
First Catholic EditOr.

First Catholic Editor.
The first defender of the faith and
upholder of the church in this country
who was an editor was Mathew Carey,
editor of the American Museum OF
Philadelphia, in 1892. Associated with
him in condemnation of "vituperation
and abuse" was Father Francis A.
Fleming, pastor of St. Mary's, writes
Martin I. ]. Griffin in the Milwaukee
Catholic Citizen.
i At the session of the Pennsylvania
Assembly in January, 1892, Mievs Fish
er, Quaker, in debate relative to
granting a lottery privilege, declared
lotteries were like the Pope's indul-
gences, forgiving and permitting sins
to raise money" Mathew Carey at
once wrote the Daily Advertiser that
"Mr. Fishers aspersion must be the Off
spring of ignorance and illiberality. A
member of body who profess peace
and harmony as the rule of their con-
duct should abstain from such an un-
warrantable attack on those who had
offered him no offence. The SANDER and
persecution his own sect has labored
under should have taught him not to
lend too ready ear to the voice OF cal
jimmy. But there are too many who be-
lieve that to be perfectly liberal, it is
not necessary to keep any term or abb
stain from any abuse of the devoted
Roman Catholics"
Mr.. Fisher at once expressed his ere
greet that he should wound the feelings
of an individual, much more of a whole
society, for whose general character in
this country he had very high re-
spect."
He asked for books treating of the
subject, so as to remove from his mind
a prejudice which may have arisen from
his being more conversant in the writ
ing of their opponents than their own"
Sensible Mievs Fisherl Well it would
be that others, speaking lily, in ignor-
ance, of our faith and our church, would
act as honorably. But we need the
Mathew Careys to call them to judg
ment Though Carey had proved a
vindicator, the controversy was not
abandoned on the part of the enemies
of the church. A new assailant ap-
peared in the Federal Gazette. He
gave "the price current OF indulgences"
which has-or its like-done service
many time and often since. This as
sailant was the Presbyterian minister
Amman, though his letter appeared with
out signature.
Carey retaliated under the signature
"Zwinglius," by giving "the price cur
rent published by Protestant synod in
Germany in 1850" 1t was just as au-
thentic as the minister's. Then out
came "Verus" in the National Gazette
and gave another alleged Papal price
list of indulgenccs, to which Carey re-
piled. "Verus," however, declared that
he desired "a temperate investigation
Of the doctrines OF Popery."
- OF course, Carey wasn't the one to
discuss temporarily. He could we'll
fight and battle in fiery conflict, but the
gentle, calm discussion was not OF his
method OF argument. So at this stage
Father Fleming, on Jan. "a, Feb. 7 and
2a. and March 9, IS, 22 and 28 gave an
exposition of indulgences. That was
tic first public and printed explanation
of the doctrine given to the American
people. Still, Mathew Carey couldn't
keep out OF the fight. So he had, in
February, two shots at "Verus." The
letters were collected and printed by
Father Fleming under the title of "The
Calumnies of Verus; or, Catholics Vim
dicated from Certain Old SANDERS
Lately Revived, In series of Letters
Published in Different Gazettes of Phil
adelphia. Collected and Revised by
Verax, with the Addition of Preface
and Few Notes.
This pamphlet of fifty-eight pages is
now extremely rare. In many years
searching 1 have only obtained one
copy-the only one 1 ever knew OF cx-
cept Mathew Carey's own annotated
copy in the Ridgeway branch of the
Philadelphia library. Our Catholic
Historical society now has the copy
possessed.
But century after this battle for the
faith by Mathew Carey, his great grand
son, Mr.. Lea, is found assailing the
church his grandsire defended, and all
of Carey's descendants are Protestants,
though I am told that one-a lady
has returned to the faith OF her FORE
fathers. BY Mr.. LEAFS permission, l
have examined, perhaps, 10000 letters
in Mathew Carey's correspondence. 1t
ranged from Washington to book ped
dlers and beggars. Carey never pu,
double It" in his name Mathew. 1t
made him hopping mad when any print
er did that. To avoid it he, in late
years, signed IN. Carey" But, bless
your heart! when I go to St. Mary's
graveyard and stand by his tomb, it
somewhat amuses to find Matthew
the two is followed him actually to the