Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-09
IRELAND IN DEFENSEOF POPE
Archbishop Explains Reasons for Re-
fusal to See Fairbanks.
ATTACKS WORK OF MErHoD1sTs
Association Of That CHURCH
i'm Rome IL Guilty Of ProselytinE
and of Using Unfair
Methods.

CHICAGO, Feb. s-The following state
ment was offered the Associated Press by
Archbishop ireland today;
People In America may easily mlsappre-
bend the circumstances in Rome which
led the vatican to refuse an audience with
the holy father to Mr.. Charles w. Fair
banks. after he, a former vice president Of
the United States would have made a pub
lie address before the Methodist associa-
ton Of that city. Most likely Mr.. Fair
banks, himself, did not fully realize the
meaning which Romans would attribute to
his address.
1T was not a question Of MT. Fairbanks
being a Methodist or going to a Methodist
church in Rome for Sunday devotions. 1t
was a question Of APPEARING to give the
fullest approval to the work OF the Metho-
dist association in Rome. American Meth
odlsts In Rome are active and-I may
readily say-pernicious proselyters. The
Methodist association is not In Rome to
serve and meet American Methodlsts, but
to pervert from the Catholic faith all those
whom hey can influence.
Il was In Rome last winter and I made
q very particular study of this Methodist
propaganda, It has gone so far that Cath
olics nave organized the Society for the
Preservation Of the Faith to fight
against It.
THE purpose of the work Of the Metho-
dist association in Rome is confessed
openly. The means employed are by no
means honorable. They take every advan-
tage Of the poverty of the poor of Rome.
The books circulated and displayed in the
windows of their book stores are
ISLANDERS against the Catholic faith, the
holy pontiff at Rome and a misrepresenta-
ton of the whole Catholic system.
The success of the movement is far
from adequate TO the efforts put forth and
the money expended"
Meaning of the Address.
'They do not make permanent Meth
odists of Italian Catholics. They may pos
sibly detach pupils from the Catholic
church, and this means from all Christian
things for Italians.
Now, a public address by a former vice
president Of the United States before the
Methodist association can nave no other
meaning In the eyes of the Roman public
than the approval of America of the propa-
ganda Of the Methodist association. Had
Nthe holy father, guardian OF the spiritual
interests OF the Catholic church of the
world. smilingly welcomed Mr.. Fairbanks
to an audience on the following day, in
what other position would he appear than
giving his approval to the propaganda OF
the Methodist association, before which
the address had been given7
1T was simply impossible for the holy
father. in his official position as a sover-
eign pontiff OF the Catholic church, to do
aught else than to say politely to Mr.. Fair
banks: I cannot receive you and accord
you the honors due you in all other cir
cumstances as an American and a distin-
guished representative OF a great republic
Thinks Fairbanks Was Duped.
1T repeat I am most willing 10 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 these Meth
odists employ in Rome, as know from
personal observation. is to create the i'm
preston hat Methodism is the great faith
of the American republic and that the
Catholic church is merely an Italian insti-
tuition.
There are in Rome Protestant American
churches for the benefit Of Americans that
put forth legitimate efforts, minding their
own business and make no war on the
Catholic church. What 1 have said of the
Methodists In Rome does not apply to the
other churches there. 1 have in mind the
Protestant Episcopal chapel on the Via
Nazionaie and it's former rector, DR.. New
ins, a mar whom l was pleased to call a
friend and whom 1 was always glad to
meet.
II shall cave for New York tomorrow
and shall be pleased to answer the Meth
odists here or in the east at any time. 1