The Irish standard., 1904-11-26
Wall OF A BIC0T
A Methodist Bishops Nantes
tation Of Belatsd Bigotry.
The Lesson Of tho Modern Libe-
Pal Movement Cast Aside.

VIII Professionalism never learn the
lesson of the modern liberal move
ment? asks the Boston Republic
Will the malaria of bigotry neve,
cease to infect it? Will not the spirit
of tolerance which is steadily broad.
ening among the people, force repre-.
sentative men in the evangelical
churches like the Rt. Rev. William
Burt, Methodist bishop Switzerland
to remain silent or incur the bitter hos.
tility of the more thoughtful and pro.
gressive elements Of Methodism?
These questions are pertinent. They
are on the lips of men of all creeds and
Of no creed who regard acrimonious
religious controversy as they would
a revival Of WITHDRAWING in Salem.
Even among those who have little
sympathy with the social and religious
aspects of Catholicism, DR.. Burt's
laundering fulmenations against the
church have been met with the sheer
and lifted brows of scorn.
Bishop Burt's manifestation of be.
lated bigotry was made before the
Missionary Committee of the Metho.
dist Episcopal church, which has been
holding its sessions in Boston during
the past week. The proceedings of
the committee were interesting. There
was much fervor an aroma of piety
similar to that which assails ones
nostrils in those queer little brick
chapels in side streets-the special
aversion of Thackeray, you will re.
member-and tendency to view
Rome as Scarlet Lady of the Scrip
lures.
Anyone familiar with the history of
the Methodist church need not have
been surprised at this attitude. Gull
ture, urbanity, courtesy have never
been conserved by it's leaders. Ger
tainly no one who values the precious
things of human life can afford to de-
preciate any organization that assumes
to guide spiritual aspiration. Any
yearning for a larger life, however
dim, inspired by creed, however un-
satisfactory, should be respected. The
creed Of Wesley has nourished the
spiritual strivings of vast numbers of
men at times with splendid efficacy.
1t redeemed the religious life of Eng
land from the lethargy into which the
Journalism of the English Established
church had plunged it. 1t brought
hope to the artisan of the English mill
towns. 1t taught him that religion
was not confined entirely to drink
ing Anglican curates and pompous
Anglican rectors. Dramatically, it
brought the gospel to the creedless
millions Of London. These We're note.
worthy achievements, and no man,
sensitive to spiritual claims, can view
them lightly. Assuredly, The Republic
does not.
1t sincerely wishes that DR.. Burt
could have been suppressed Or reduced
to the slender symmetry of a marginal
note. AS it was, he was spread thickly
over the whole page. And he made it
as blacllly bleak as a page out of Poe
His remarks should be read and re.
read. They will furnish amazement-
and amusement. Note how they carol
lark-lile, over the page:
|
Hungary there are millions to whom
we have never penetrated. We (Meth,
odist missionaries) ought to be in
France today, for in that country the
power of Jesuitism has been broken
and the so.called religious orders are
fleeing from an outraged and indig.
nant people. This is the most oppor.
tune moment in the history of France
for our church to go there and evange.
lie its people. What a splendid op.
portunity we also have in Austria.
Hungary, where in the last five years
10000 people have broken with Popery
and are now like sheep without shep.
herd. Instead of talking about re
trenchment-of abandoning Bulgaria
or any other nation-let us, in the
name of our God, march forward and
conquer them all fcl Jesus Christ
We could do it if we truly believed in
Him. Cries of 'Amen.9
"Our greatest difficulty is the Ro
man Catholic church. 1t must be con.
ceded that in those countries it has
had an opportunity todo something with
the people, and it has had that oppor.
tunity over in Italy. Romanism is
just as bad in any country as the con.
ditions in that country will permit II
to be. In Italy it is bad in thought
in teaching, in practice and in char.
acter.
Rome is still center Of political
intrigue. have proof Of it when !
say that the Vatican still has the in.
QUESTION.
"(Why, if they could do it, they
would light the streets of Rome with
human torches and fill the under.
ground prisons with innocent victims.)
"The Roman Catholic priest is pol.
luted-his hands may be foul with
murder, blood and lust. But thank
God, we have a chance there in Italy
to help the people,