Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-24
CATHOLICS NOT
ASKED TO JOIN
PROTESTANT CLERGY DRAW
SECTARIAN LINE
Ministers at Union Meeting Table Mo-
ton to Invite Members of Priest
hood to Participate In Civic
Organization

Shall Catholics and Protestants
unite in civic and moral reforms for
the betterment Of the city?
Shall sectarian differences be laid
aside and all the churches work toward
the one object of mutual betterment as
a civic organization?
These questions were discussed yes
terday morning at the union meeting
of the ministers of Los Angeles at the
Central Presbyterian church. Rev. w.
A. Knighten moved that the Catholic
priests of the city be invited to join the
church federation, which called forth
the discussion. The motion was laid
on the table
Rev. Mr.. Knighten said last evening:
THE federation is supposed to be of
Christian churches of Los Angeles.
The Episcopal church was invited to-
day and | don't see why the Catholics
should not receive the same courtesy.
They are a great church and we should
recognize them. We need them and
they need us for the good of the com
munity. Differences in doctrine should
be laid aside. They tried TO get me to
withdraw my motion, but l don't see
why, as q Christian people, we should
not extend the courtesy and if it were
declined we would have performed our
duty"
DR.. De Witt Talmage, pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church, is unuuali-
hedly in favor OF the movement pro-
posed.
Takes Liberal Stand
81 think all who believe in Jesus
Christ and the atonement should be in
the church federation" said the doc
tor. THE Catholics believe that just
as much as we Presbyterians. T expect
i'll few years to see the sectarian
fences taken down. They are not
nearly so high now as formerly. Why,
there is net so much antagonism be-
tween Catholics and Protestants as
formerly between the hard shelled'
Baptist and blue light Presby-
terians."
Rev. William Horace Day, pastor of
the First Congregational church, was
iii favor OF the movement, and said he
hoped to see a church federation that
would include all.
Rev. A. C. Smither, pastor of the
First Christian church, said:
Personally / should favor such d
move. While the Catholics believe and
practice many things which I do not
lndorse, but l think the proposed move
ton and serve to allay prejudices.'
Rev. w. H. Rider, pastor of the
Westlake Methodist church and who
took part in the discussion, said last
evening:
Catholic Clergyman Disapproves
Personally and unqualifiedly
should be glad to welcome the Roman
Catholic priests to the reform move
ments, but it is utterly futile to ex-
tend the invitation, for they would not
accept it. So far as a brotherly feeling
is concerned I feel very kindly toward
them, but why simply exhaust yourself
on courtesy?"
Rev. E. P. Ryland, pastor of the
Trinity Methodist church, South, ex-
pressed his regrets regarding the affair.
He said that he did not think the ma
jority of clergymen held any hard feel
ings toward the Catholics.
I'VE are not prepared for a church
federation with the Catholics" said
Mr.. Ryland. 1--WE harbor no i'll feel
iigs, but 1 don't look upon it as a
possibility"
Rev. Juan Caballeria, pastor of the
Church of Our Lady of Angels, disap-
proves Of church federations. He said:
"Federations of churches is an i'm
possibility and 1 do not believe the
Catholic priests should join.' Goodness
and morality are universal and need
no concerted action. If every minis
ter carries his teachings to the high
est perfection certainly goodness will
be the result"
Under the circumstances of the in
vitation being withheld the majority of
the Catholic clergymen did not care
to give their views concerning the dis
cussion. When seen last evening they
spoke in the highest esteem of the
Protestant ciergymen.