New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-09
TRELANDIN DEFENSE
FAIRBANKS INCIDENT
eePerniciious Proselytiaers IN
Rome-4 Methodist 4nS1rer.

Romeo Methodist 4ns1cer.
Chicago. Feb. s.-The following statement
was issued by Archbishop ireland here To-
day:
People in America may easily misaPpre
bend the circumstances in Rome whlch ied
the Vatican to refuse an audience Win i''0
holy father to Charles ". FAIRBANKS atts'
he would have made a public ADDRESS oe
fore tho Methodist association OF tnat Guy
Most likely Nh Fairbanks himself did not
fully realize the meaning which Romans
would attribute to his address.
u. was not a question OF Ny. Fairoah h"
being a Methodist or going 10 Method'St
Church in Rome for Sunday de""u'hF' 1t
was question of appearing to give the
fullest approval to the work OF the Memo
dist Association in Rome American Metho-
dfete in Rome are active and, may readily
say. nernfrious proselyti7ers. The Metho-
dist Association is not in Rome 10 serve
and meet American Methodists, but TO per-
vert from, the Catholic faith all those upon
whom they can bring influence 20 bear.
II was in Rome la st winter and made a.
very particular study of this Methodist
propa ganda. It has gone so far that |atho-
lies have organized the Society for the
Preservation of the Faith TO fight against
Il.
THE purpose Of tho work of the Nethe-
dist Association in Rome i< confessed open
" The means employed are by no means
honora BILE. They take every advantage OF
the poverty IF the poor OF Rome. The BOOKS
circulated and displaved in the windows Of
their book stores are ISLANDERS against me
Catholic faith, the holy rontif at Rome
ard misrepresentation If the whole
Catholic system. The success Of the move
r11ent is far from adequate to the efforts put
forth and the n1onev expended They do
not make permanent Methodists Of
from the Catholic Church, and tits means
from ali Christian things for italians.
"A public address by former Vice Fres-
ident of tfae United States before the Meth
odist Association can have no other mean
ing in the ewes of the Roman public than
The srprnvaI of America 70 the propaganda
Of the Methodist Association. Had the Holy
Father guardian of the spiritual interests
Of the Catholic Church Of the world. sn7il-
insly welcomed Mr.. Fairbanks TO an audi
euce on the following day, in what other
position would he appear to be than giving
HIS approval TO the propa Uganda of the
Methodist Association before which the sd-
dress had been given?
1T was stmnlv Impossible for the Holy
Father in his official position as q sovereign
pontiff of the Catholic Church to do aught
else than 10 say politely to Mr.. Fairbanks:
I cannot receive you and accord you the
honors due You in all other circumstances
as an American and distinguished repre-
sentative of great Republic
y repeat that I am most willing 80 he
lieve Mr.. Fairbanks did not appreciate the
e Ill oF,t, ~, OF
people. of the address he Hss TO make to
the Methodist Association.
"One arm of combat which those Meth
edists employ in Rome. as I know from
personal observation. is to create tho i'm
preston that Methodsm 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 tho benefit Of Americans 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. I have in mind the Prot
estant Episcopal Chapel on the Via Nazio-
male and its former rector, DR. NevinS.
man whom ! pleased TO call A friend
and whom ! was always glad 10 meet
Il shall leave for New York tomorrow.
and I shall be pleased ~ answer the Meth
odists here or in the East at anv time 7
cannot make II too plain that am not at
lacking the entire Methodist Church. but
merely the Methodist Association at Rome
/ am not too old to enter a fight when the
occasion requires it."
The Rev. Dr. a. r. Leonard correspond-
ing secretary OF the Methodist Board of
Foreign Missions, in answering the critf
cism of Archbishop Ireland Yesterday. said
that no other Protestant religion has come
in for more anmus from the Church of
Rome than the Methodist Church This Is
true, DR.. Leonard said, because the Meth
odists have been more persistent in Cath
Ollie countries than other Protestant de-
nominations.
The treatment of Mr. Fairbanks by the
Pope said DR.. Leonard, can be looked
on only as a snub.' Continuing he said:
1T is gratifying TO know that Methodism
is strong enough in Italy 10 attract the at
tention of the Pope and the Roman hier-
archy.
The Methodist Church was established
in Italy in 1873 and now has four thousand
communicates Rome is the headquarters
for the Church but there numerous
branches throughout the country. The
whole is organized into what is called an
annual conference,
In Rome the church property has an
estimated value of $50 600 This includes
an American and Italian Methodist
church. boys college. attendant rest
dences and a printing establishment. The
work Is under the Methodist Board OF
Foreign Missions.
"Methodists do not disguise the fact that
thew are in italy TO make converts from
the Roman Church II -pernicious' prose