The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-06-18
ANT|.CATHOL|C
AGITATION OF "a
Outrages Perpetrated in Philadel-
phia Over Halfa Century
Ago.
The Irish Were Accused of Trying
To Exclude the Bible from
the Schools.
Rioters Applauded as Churches and
Converts Fell Into the
Flame.

To the student Of history the "Na-
tive American" mobs of sixty-six years
ago. which created such excitement
and perpetrated so many brutal and
murderous outrages at that time
there is a very suggestive likeness be-
tween the methods employed by the
enemies of the Church to-day and
those of her early Prosecutors says
the Catholic Herald in an article on
The Church Burners" of "a.
The period of 1884 to 1874 beheld an
anti Catholic agitation extend through
several dioceses in this country, in
most frghtful manner, and at last re-
suited in Philadelphia in civil war The
leaders began by reviving the stale
calumnies as to intolerance of Cath
olics, and the game opened in most
curious way. The English version of
the New Testament used by Catholics
was made originally at the English
College at Rheims, and f1rst printed in
1882 Although the text had under
gone various recensions, and the notes
of the Rhemish theologians have
long been omitted and replaced by
those of Bishop Challoner, the testa-
ment still bears the name OF the
Rheimish Testament, as the whole
sacred volume does the title of Douay
Bible. The leaders of the anti-Cath-
olic movement thought they had dis
covered great secret. They resolved
to publish the old Rheimish Tcsta-
ment.
This effort was a complete failure.
They had attempted too much, and
now they turned with a greater zest
to the horrors Of the convent. For
months Protestant ministers yelled
from their pulpits these pretended de-
scriptions. Under the sway of the
agitation fomented by these ministers
and foul publications, Protestant as
sociations were formed in all the
cities Of the Union, with the avowcd
object of protecting the liberties of
the country against the plots of the
Pope! That in Philadelphia contained
eighteen minister's; and the first
pledge which the conspirators enter
ed was never to employ Catholic
workmen or servants, and never to
contribute to the support of Catholic
orphans They then secured the
United States and Europe to get
| ESCAPED nuns and reformed priests"
| Even these things did not satisfy the
fanatics, and the arsenal of falsehood
soon furnished them new arms against
] the Catholics. The latter were now
accused of wishing to exclude the
Bible from the public school, the
Native American Party" formed to
defend the Bible attacked by foreign
Papists.' Monster meetings were
called to protect the Holy Book
against the pretended attacks of the
Irish. At the head Of these manifes-
tations in Philadelphia was Jew,
Levine. In order to provoke the Irish,
all the Native meetings were called in
parts more especially inhabited by
Catholics.
On May 3, 1884, an anti Catholic
meeting in Philadelphia was disturbed
by the indignant cries of the 1rish but
the disorder went no further than 1t
does every day in popular assemblies.
On the 9Th armed crowds hastened to
the Irish quarter and. the battle be-
gan. On the morning Of the 7th an
address of Bishop Kenrick was posted
up throughout the city exhorting
Catholics ito follow peace, and have
charity"
These were Immediately torn down
by the Natives, whom the morning
papers called to arms: 1.-The bloody
hand of the Pope is upon u.s. said
these sheets: the modern st. Barthol-
omew has begun: the Irish Papists
have risen to massacre u.s. Many
houses occupied by Irish families were
burned; women and children fled to
the country, without clothing or food;
others are burned alive in their burn
ing homes, or fall dead, pierced by a