New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-17
M. {. MISSION IN ROME
American Board of Bishops Give
Out Statement.
NO ATTACK ON CATHOLICISM
Recent Roosevelt Incident
Caused by Some EFFICIENCY
of Diplomacy"

Philadelphia, May 16.-The Board of Bish-
ops Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
through its secretary, Bishop L. B. VIII
son, issued tonight an official statement
which had been prepared by the board at
it's meeting in Chicago on May 9, relative
to the Italian mission. The statement Is
the outcome Of the recent controversy In
Rome caused by the visit of Colonel Roose-
Welt.
The statement follows:
"Deploring and at all times seeking TO
avoid INSTRUMENTATION controversy, we
are, nevertheless, compelled to recognize
occasions when personal preference must
yield to a proper sense Of official duty.
I'VE cannot allow to pass unnoticed the
recent unprovoked and unwarranted at
tempt to discredit one OF our most useful
missions by widely published accusations,
which, if based upon truth, would bring
dishonor upon the Church which supports
that mission.
I'VE regret that after repeated chaI-
lenges for details OF the specific acts sup
posed to justify these charges they still
remain in such general terms that their
validity cannot be tested before the judg-
ment of the world. We can only observe:
"F1rst-That ordinarily tho use of op-
rather than of reason
'Second-That the methods of our mis-
sion in Italy, now for the first time thus
publicly condemned, are the same that
have been pursued from the beginning, al
most forty years ago.
''Third-That the same methods, namely,
preaching the Gospel IN it's simplicity and
conducting schools there they are needed,
schools which recognize the plain teachings
of the New Testament as a supreme au-
thority in religion and ethics, have long
been followed by our missions in South
America and Mexico, as well as in Rome,
and no such indictment has been brought
against those missions even to this day, so
far as we are informed
'Fourth-From these facts the inference
appears TO be irresistible that other consid-
erat.ons than the methods Of our mission N
Rome must have been the real cause of this
sudden outcry.
Possibly some exigency Of diplomacy,
local in its origin but farreaching in its
portent, required this attack. with all It's
hazard, as a diversion from the real issue
involved.
"The facts that support this inference arc
known to all who have followed the course
of recent events in the city Of Rome.
Had there been any other way TO avoid
certain issues of etiquette and precedence
created by coincident circumstances Of a
public nature, the Methodist Mission might
have escaped calumny, and thus lost the
valuable recognition of its success
Under such circumstances we enter upon
no defence Of our work in Italy, and make
no plea for abatement in the judgment Of
the world.
I've decline ar the present time TO enter
upon any counter attack upon the Roman
Catholic Church
I'VE ask only that all fair men interested
IN the situation study for themselves its
methods of propagandisn and the tradi-
tionaI attitude of that Church toward other
Christian faiths.
I'VE believe that there are standards OF
equity and moral rectitude by which. in the
estimate of all progressive peoples, all re-
ligions and all methods must be rated by
what they contribute 10 intelligence and
moral character.
eve now content ourselves with affirming
our entire confidence in the moral integrity
of our missionaries and methods in Italy,
and against the denunciations OF their &C
cusers we place the wide open record of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, both as to
teaching and method, in America and
throughout the world"