Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-01
VATICAN BOUND BY ideas
OF MIDDLE ACES, He SAYS
Pastor of Rome'S American
Methodist Church Replies to
Catholic Criticism
(By Associated Press. }

ROME, Feb. 28-The American Meth
odist church was crowded yesterday
morning, the congregation including many
American visitors, who were attracted by
the subject of Pastor B. NJ. Triples SER
mon. why Methodism is in Rome"
1t was in the American Methodist
church that former Vice President Charles
w. Fairbanks delivered the address which
shut him off from being received in au-
dience by the pope, an incident which
has created much discussion In Rome as
well as in the United States.
The Rev. Mr.. Teipple said the Method
list church was meeting with great sue
cess throughout Italy. Such an inference
could be drawn from the extraordinary
action of the vatican with regard to the
proposed visit of ex-Vice President Fair
banks to the pope. and also from the Bit
ter resentment of the Catholic clergy.
AS Mr. Fairbanks spoke in the American
Methodist church, the pastor said, it was
fitting that from the same pulpit the
charges preferred against Methodism IN
italy should be considered.
UNDER AMERICAN LAWS.
with reference 70 the assertion that
Methodists have no right to be in Italy,
said the preacher, "the answer is that
we are here under the Italian laws. guar
anteeing religious freedom. Another as
sertion by the catholics Is that Meth
odism is not needed in Italy. But Meth
odsts believe that the need is made gen.
eral, as the Catholic church is always
more efficient for good when compelled
to compete with aggressive protestism,
as conspicuously evidenced in America
1.-THE Catholic church suffers embarrass-
ment when it is required to satisfy the
ideals of great liberty loving republic
contemporaneously without needing the
demands of the vatican, which is still
bound by the ideals of the middle ages.
This is proved by the experience of Arch
bishop Ireland, when he was here a. year
ago studying the Methodist propaganda.
A great Lincoln banquet was arranged by
the American colony. Very properly
Archbishop Ireland was asked to speak.
VERY properly, asa patriotic American
citizen, he accepted the invitation. But
suddenly the good archbishop recalled his
acceptance. The vatican had forbidden
him to speak or attend the banquet, be-
cause a toast to President Roosevelt was
followed by toast to the king OF Italy
NO LONGER CATHOLIC.
Italy needs Methodism because 1t is
no longer Catholic, except in name. The
charge of Methodist PROSECUTING is fool
ish. Their hands are full in deahng with
the unbelievers. This is proved by TIE
last census, which shows that Italy re-
ports the largest number OF men without
religious profession. 1t is true that the
Methodists have ex-priests among the
workers, but none has been actively
sought. The Methodist schools are full
because the childrens parents select
them as the best.
THE issue in Italy today is not Prot
estantsm versus Catholicism, but faith
versus atheism. Archbishop Ireland has
said that every convert TO Methodism
costs $l4OO. If that is true, cannot the
American Methodists better afford to pay
it than every three italian laborers who
carry one priest?'
The pastor urged that Archbishop Ire
land specify the dishonorable Methodists
here, and he added:
ut is playing with fire for the Catholic
church to open the subject of moral
methods in Italy"