The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-08
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Father ooyle on Question of Belief

Father COyle on QuestiOn or be1e1
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald; 4,
 I spend very pleasantly about an hour on Sunday afternoons reading the Sun- day Age-Herald. This Sunday paper. in my opinion, compares very favorably with Sunday papers published in the larger northern cities
 I enjoy especially the articles of Dr. Eaves, of Dr. Hiden, and of my dear friend, Dr. Evans, with whom in the days of Halley's comet. I broke a friend ly lance. When settling down to read these articles know full well that while I shall derive pleasure from correct and polished style. I shall also derive profit,
 nasmuch as I shall acquire some infor-
 nation, some knowledge not hitherto mine, and so I look forward to pleasur
 able and profitable hour when the prin- cipal work of my working day over, re-
 taxation is in order and Is earned.
 I would like, MT. Editor, to suggest
 in the gentest way possible that con- troversial topics-I mean, of course, re- ligious controversial topics-be elimi- mated. No good can come from such
 from such no good has ever come. But it may be objected, wherefore this sug- gestion. Where in the world has any
 religious topic been treated in way to cause offense to anyone? Now, while | l kHOW lull well tildt ilOt tht SiiSheSoe offense was meant In the religious article of Dr. Hiden last Sundays issue, the ar ticle offended nevertheless.
 Every schoolboy knows that the Lord s supper may be viewed from Catholic
 standpoint and from a non-Catholic standpoint, and that the belief of Catho- lies as to the significance and action Of the last supper differs from the belief of non-Catholics toto coelo Non-Catholics TNr no ad as he has, of course, a perfect right to assert This is my body that is in symbol" but Catholics will assert that by these words the miracle of transub- stantiation was effected for the first time by the High Priest Christ and that this act Is renewed daily on Catholic altars by Catholic priests. As profession of
 faith in that point of view we saw lately papal legate march with the Sacred
 Host in procession 100000 strong, com posed of laymen and women of every
 walk of life, of sisterhoods and brother hoods, of priests, bishops, archbishops and cardinals. through a throng Of 6W0oO that crowded the streets and squares of Montreal We-Catholics-hold that be- lief in the real presence is. not, as some | devotions non-essential, lace work or l poetry. but the very center of our faith | and of our worship. Any reflection, then. | however light, however mildly put, must | be resented must be protested against. | Now, MT. Editor, having stated the | Catholic viewpoint as Dr. Hiden has stat i ed the non-Catholic viewpoint. my duty | as I see 1t is done. Dr. Hiden, gentle, charitable divine, did not know, mean to cast any reflection on the faith of the | largest of all Christian bodies, or on the
 sound scholarship of the great theolog- | ical writers who take our Lords words | literally. just as I do not. by this let ter mean to cast any reflection on his | church or on the learning and sincerity | of writers who cannot see eye to eye
 with Catholic theologians I do feel it
 my duty, however, to make this state | ment for our Lords real presence in
 the sacred host is as essential part | of my faith as the incarnation. the mir acles of Christ. the atonement are of Dr. Hiden's faith. He, take 1t, if any reference were made to Christianity that
 eliminated any of these essentials, would
 be up in arms; would, at least. feel 1t
 his duty to give expression to the faith
 that is in him. A pari. can do no less. In conclusion. Mir Editor. hope that | in future delicate topics of controverted religious beliefs will be altogether elim- mated by the excellent essayists who
 contribute so much to our pleasure and | profit on Sunday afternoons. Sim
 cerely yours. JAMES E. COYLE.
 Birmingham, October z, 1910