Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-08
ARCHBISHOP TELLS
WHY Pope DID NOT
SEE FAIRBANKS
Attitude of Church Towards
Methodists in Rome Is
Fully Explained.

CHICAGO, Feb. S.-The following
statement was offered the Associated
Press by Archbishop ireland today:
people in America may easily mis-
apprehend the circumstances in Rome
which led the Vatican to refuse an
audience with the Holy Father to Mr.
Charles w. Fairbanks after he, a for
mer Vice-P President of the United
States, would have made a public adj
dress before the. Methodist association
of that city. Most likely Mr., Fair
banks. himself. did not fully realize the
meaning which Romans would attribute
to his address.
at was not a question Of Mr.. Fair
banks being a Methodist or going to a
methodist church in Rome for Sunday
devotions. 1t was a question of APP
pearing to give the fullest approval to
the work of the Methodist Association
IN Rome. American Methodists in
Rome are active, and-I may readily
say-pernicious proselyters. The Meth
odist Association is not in Rome to
serve and meet American Methodists.
but to pervert from the Catholic faith
all those upon whom they can bring IN
fluence to bear.
"I was in Rome last winter and I
made a very particular study of this
Methodist propaganda. 1t has gone so
far that Catholics have organized the
Society for the Preservation of the
Faith to fight against 1t.
Calls Methods DishonorabIe.
''The purpose of the work of the
Methodist association in Rome is con-
fessed openly. The means employed
are by no means honorable. They
take every advantage of the poverty OF
the poor of Rome. The books circu-
lated and displayed in the windows of
their bookstores are ISLANDERS against
the Catholic faith, the Holy Pontin at
Rome and a misrepresentation of the
whole Catholic system. The success
of the movement is far from adequate
to the efforts put forth and the money
expended. They do not make perma-
nent Methodists of Italian .Cathollcs.
They may possibly detach pupils from
the Catholic church and his means
from all Christian things for Italians
Now a public address by a former
Vice-President of the United States pc
fore the Methodist Association can
have no other meaning in the eyes OF
the Roman public than the approval
J of America on the propaganda OF the
Methodist Association. Had the holy
father. guardian of the spiritual inter-
ests of the Catholic church OF the
world. smilingly welcomed Mr.. tah-
banks to an audience on the following
day, in which other position would ne
appear to be than giving his approval
to the propaganda of the Methodist
Association before which the address
had been given?
"It was simply impossible for tho
holy father, in his official position as
sovereign pontiff of the Catholic
church, to do aught else than to sal
politely TO Mr.. Fairbanks, 1
receive you and accord you the honor
due you in all other circumstances al
an American and a distinguished rep
resentative of a great republic
Il repeat that | am most willing tt
believe Mr.. Fairbanks did not catch NJ
the full meaning, in the eyes of the RIO
man people of the address he was Il
make to the Methodist association.
Create False Impression.
zone arm of combat which thost
Methodists employ in Rome. as | know
= from personal observation, is to creat'
; the impression that Mcthodistism is tn
great faith OF the American republi
e and that the Catholic Church is merel,
an Italian institution.
There are in Rome Protestan
c American churches for the benefit o
Americans that put forth legitimat
e efforts, mind their own business an
r make no war o N the Catholic church
What | have said of the Methodists i
Rome does not apply to the othe
: churches there. l have in mind tn
Protestant Episcopal chapel on the Vi
t Macdonald and its former rector, ID
Nevins. a man whom | was pleased I
call a friend and whom | was AWAY
I glad to meet.
81 shall leave for New York tomor
row and ] shall be pleased to ansWe
the Methodists here or in the East a
any time. l cannot make it 90 plai
that | am not attacking the entlr
. Methodist church, but merely the Meth
odist association at Rome. ] am no