Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-10
Protestant and Catholic Amitx

Protestant and Catholic Amity.
The character of the receptions given
to Bishop O'Connell of Portland, Me-,
and Bishop Harkins of Providence by
their fellow-CItizens. irrespective of
creed, as they have returned home
from Rome during the past year. has
been such as to prove conclusively that
new era has dawned in New Eng
land. For prudential. If for no higher
reasons, it behooves public men in New
England today to be respectful to the
prelates Of the Roman Catholic church
with its increasing numerical and social
strength; but the tenor of the remarks
by Federal judges and state municipal
officials on these occasions has been
| such as to show that higher motives
have caused the presence on these &C.
| casiOns Of the men of eminence among
| Catholic laymen who have attend
ed. Their congratulations and tributes
have been too full of feeling to be per-
tunctory, or servile in spirit.
The dinner given in Providence last
week to Bishop Harkins. who has such
strong backing among the New Eng
land clergy for the task of taking up
the duties and honors SO long borne by
Archbishop Williams, was notable not
only for the presence of SO many
Protestant public officials, but also for
the presence of Bishop McVickar of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of Rhode
Island, concerning whom the toast
master of the evening, Mayor Higgins
of Pdwtucket, Roman Catholic lay
man, said: IF all the potentates of the
church were Hardness and McVickars,
the question of the unity of Christen-
dom, would long ago have been solved
problem. The day of the bigOt,
thank God, is past, for if there is any
one creature that is unworthy to
breathe the tonic-like atmosphere of
Americanism, it is the narrow minded
individual who thinks that the men
who differ from him in religion must
necessarily be bad Americans. Both
Catholics and Protestants are Chris
tians and Christendom and the United
States need the services and co-opera-
ton of both to fight common enemy
and to fulfil their mission here on
EARTH"
Bishop McVickar, when he came to
speak, testified to the genuineness of
the manhood of Bishop Harkins. to the
conservation to Rhode Islands best
civic interests which he had found in
him when they had conferred together
as to how some of her civic evils might
be attacked and abolished. and how
confident he was that he and Bishop
Harkins would be found side by side in
fighting against the tide of materialism
and secuiarsm which had invaded the
modern world. AS a matter of fact
both bishops have permitted the use of
their names side by side as supporters
of the movement to give Rhode Island
a new constitution in harmony with
up-to-date democracy's ideals and
needs. The truly catholic spirit of this
gathering in Providence must do the
soul of Roger Williams good, does it
know aught of what goes on in the
commonwealth he founded on so toll
Grant basis. Williams did not always
live up to his own lofty ideals. and he
never imagined that those who recog-
nize the Pope as their spiritual head
would ever dwell by the thousand with
in the colony he established: but he
was far ahead of his times in cathO-
licity of spirit.
When Pope Leo XIII died the tributes
to him and to the Roman Catholic
church which fell from the lips of
descendants of the Puritans in New
England showed how far the world
had moved on; and the same fact has
more recently been disclosed by the
tributes raid to Roman Catholic lay
man. the late mayor of Boston. Mayor
Higgins remarks at this banquet In
turn indicate how frankly and unre-
servedly a Roman Catholic layman at
this hour can go on recognizing the
parity of standing as Christians OF
those who do not recognize the primacy
Of the see of Rome or the exclusive
claims of the Roman church: and all
the reports which come from Rome to-
day from Protestant visitors to Plus
y. show as clearly that he also is well
coming Protestant scholars and editors
in confidential talks with spirit of
inclusion which Plus TX. for instance
would never have conceived of holding.
much less showing. Both Professor
Charles A. Briggs of Union Seminary.
New York city, and editor McBee Of
the Churchman, the leading Protestant
Episcopal journal of this country, have
gone on record within six months as
testifying to the cordial welcome they
have had as fellow Christians from the
great democrat and prudent opportun-
list who now rules at the Vatican.
Such facts as these are to be borne
in mind by all who are sincerely con-
cerned with the future of New England
and the United States. The great con-
serving institutions of society, the
state, the church. and the family, are
in peril today from forces that are dis
migrating, secular, and fleshly.
Europe is witnessing some surprising
realignments Of Christians long hostile,
in fighting these common enemies of
faith. authority, chastity and spiritual
ideals. A similar sinking of dogmatic
feuds. rivalries of politics and disputes
over the letter of the law and the his