New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-01
CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS NEWS NOTES
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE HERE BETWEEN
CATHOLIC And PROTESTANT DIGNITARIES.


conference that may mark a new era in
American religious annals. II was meet
ing. held by previous arrangement, between
Roman Catholic priests and secretaries OF
a Protestant missionary society. The names
OF the priests cannot be given. Neither
can the name of the missionary society. On
one side it was stated that to proclaim to
the world the character of their mission
would be to injure their efforts, and in the
other it was explained that further
conferences are to be held, and that pub
licity might cut them off. Such is held to
be the temper of the Roman and non Roman
feeling.
The conference held in this city this week
was sought by the Roman Catholic priests.
and gladly responded to by the Protestant
secretaries. The priests stated, at the first
meeting. that they represent some OF the
large Roman Catholic causes OF the Middle
West and Northwest: that conditions there
are such as to require the help of everybody
who is waging war sin in the name of
Jesus Christ; that much of the dstrust OBJ
tanning between Catholics and Protestants
is due to lack Of personal acquaintance, aud
that there are so many people outside of all
the churches that it is imperative that those
that are in them, of all names. should get
together and oppose the common enemy.
The secretaries warmly welcomed the
priests, admitted all Of their statements,
and for three days. or at conferences on
various matters held on three successive
days, studied with these Western Catholic
leaders how cooperation might be brought
about. There was in the conference no sac
rifice of position by either side. Doctrines
were not brought up. There was no need.
ore NJ
on which there was perfect agreement.
These were: 1. The divinity >-of Jesus
Christ 1t was agreed on this that both
stood together and that the attacks upon
both are sufficient to warrant both in en-
listing In the cause together and letting
the world know they are together. 2. The
sacredness of the marriage tie. To fight
the evils of divorce was held by both to be
a supreme duty. g. Care for the immigrant
of alien speech. Both admitted that they
are not beginning to meet the problem pre-
sented by these newcomers, and that they
could hardly do so if they worked together
Nevertheless, they could do much more to-
gether than apart.
An agreement was entered into further to
study the problems together and to have
further conferences that may lead to coop
Grafton. The last Of the three meetings
was held on Thursday last.
One of the Catholic priests who attended
the conferences, Just before taking the train
for the West, said:
I'VE came TO New York on our own ac-
count. We represent nobody save our
selves. and yet by ourselves we mean a con-
siderable proportion OF the clergy Of our
Church. especially In the West. We told
the Protestant secretaries whom We found
to be charming Christian gentlemen. that
we do not credit the things we hear about
them. Unkind things are said by Protes
tants about Catholics. but the savers do
not represent the real Protestant spirit. We
are in perfect accord with these Protestants
on the place of Christ and the sanctity of
the home. We want help in the Northwest
in shepherding the thousands, even millions
who come here from Europe. The Catholic
Church is not holding them. That may be
admitted frankly. 1t is better that they
be Protestants than that they be nothing
More than that. in the humming Northwest
with its bumper crops. its schools without
religion. Catholic and Protestant alike fail
to hold the we'll bred and the well fed
young men. This is true of both sons of
Americans and sons Of immigrants. What
is to be done? That Is our quest. Both
Catholic and Protestant fail at the same
point 7 do not say which fails in larger
degree. Together we do not do what we
ought to do, and young men by the thou
sands. even millions. in the Northwest. be
ginning at Chicago. are drifting into in
fidelity. into sensuality, and into the next
step private dishonesty and public graft.
1t Is time those who believe the divine
Christ and His Church to have a mission in
the world Of sin to work together as far as
they can. I am glad to say we found our
Protestant friends of like mind.