Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-02-11
pOpE'S ACTION
IS EXPLAINED
IRELAND TELLS WHY
FAIRBANKS WAS REFUSED
AUDIENCE AT ROME.
ONLY DIPLOMACY WAS USED.
Methodist Association Described as Ac-
tive and Pernicious Proselyters to
Pervert from Catholic Faith.
THEIR WORK CONFESSED OPENLY

CHICAGO. ILL.,. Feb. S-Discussing
the refusal of the Vatican to grant an
audience with Charles w. Fairbanks,
Archbishop Ireland today said:
People in America may easily misap-
prehend the circumstances in Rome
which led the Vatican to refuse an au-
dience with the holy father to Charles
w. Fairbanks after he, former wee
president of the United States, would
have made a public address before the
Methodist association of that city. MOST
likely Mr. Fairbanks, himself, did not
fully realize the meaning which Romans
would attribute to his address.
Methodists Too Active.
1T was not question of Mr.. Far
banks being Il Methodist or going to
Methodist church in Rome for Sunday
devotions. 1t was a question Of appear
ing to give the fullest approval to the
work of the Methodist association in
Rome. American Methodists in Rome
are active and may readily say-per-
nicious proselyters. The Methodist asso-
citation is not in Rome to serve ami
meet American Methodists. but to per
vert from the Catholic faith all those
upon whom they can bring influence to
bear.
Il was in Rome last winter and |
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 it.
The purpose of the work of the Meth
odist association in Rome is confessed
openly The means employed are by no
means honorable They take every adj
vantage Of the poverty of the poor of
Rome The books circulated are dis
PLAYED in the windows of their book
stores and are SANDERS against the Cath
Ollie faith. the holy pontiff at Rome and
misrepresentation of the whole Catholic
system. The success Of the movement Isl
far from adequate to the efforts put,
forth and the money expended. They do,
not make permanent MethOdsts of ltal-
ian Catholics. They may possibly de
tach pupils from the Catholic church,
and this means from all Christian things
for Italians.
Now public address by former
vice president of the United States be-
fore the Methodist association can have
no other meaning in the eyes of the
Roman public than the approval OF
America on the propaganda of the Meth
Odst association. Had the Holy Father,
guardian of the spiritual interests OF the
Catholic church of the world, smlllngly
welcomed Mr.. Fairbanks to an audience
sition would he appear to be than giving
his approval to the propaganda OF the
Methodist association before which the
address had been given!
Impossible to Grant Audience.
st is simply impossible for the Holy
Father, in his official position as SOW
ereign pontiff of the Catholic church, to
do aught else than to say politely to Mr..
Fairbanks-'I cannot receive you and ac-
hn IN a of 10Y
circumstances as an American and dis
tinguished representative of a great re-
public
L repeat that l am most willing to
believe Mr.. Fairbanks did not catch up
the full meaning, in the eyes of the
Roman people. of the address he was to
make to the Methodist association.
One arm of combat which those
Methodists employ in Rome, as I know
from personal observation, is to create
the impression that Methodism is the
great faith of the American republic.
and that the Catholic church is merely
an Italian institution.
Other Churches Not Included.
There are in Rome Protestant Amer
lean churches for the benefit of Ameri-
cans that put forth legitimate efforts
mind their own business and make no
war on the Catholic church What I
have said of the Methodists in Rome
does not apply to the other churches
there. have in mind the Protestant
Episcopal chapel on the Via Nazionale
and it's former rector. DR.. Nevins. a man
whom | was pleased to call friend and
whom was always glad to meet
Il shall leave for New York tomor-
row and l shall be pleased to answer the
Methodlsts here or in the east at any
time. cannot make it too plain that
am not attacking the entire Methodist
church but merely the Methodist asso-
citation at Rome. / am not too old to
enjoy fight when the occasion requires