The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-23
STORM OF PROTEST
FROM CATHOLICS
Statements Made at Sunday
School Convention Excite
Comment.

Inc ADDRESS mace Dy Robert SDeer be-
fore the world Sunday school conven-
ton st Convention Hall on Saturday
morning in which he scored the Catho-
lie Church OF South America, declaring
that the denomination IN that country
was mot even a Christian organiza-
ton" has brought down a storm of pro-
test from various sources.
Joseph Barton Kerby, author Of An
American Consul in Amazonia" and
other works on Latin-American coun-
tries described the utterance today as
'unWise and wholly unnecessary" and
declared its effect will be to neutraIize
the era Of good feeling exempliaed at
tho new Pan-American Peace building
less than month ago.
1t has been my privilege TO be inside
the eiegant cathedrals 10 be found in
every large or small city OF this coun-
Try Alr. kerby said, AS well as in the
BAMBOO and thatch chapels OF the mis-
slonafies on TOD OF the Andes. have
also been visitor to NOtre Dame and
olner monuments OF Catholic mission
aries ana l am sure the affairs and the
services were the same exactly as those
neid IN the Grand Cathedral
Credit Given Jesuits.
Speaking as a man reared &. Protes-
tant' / assert, in common fairness. that
whatever IS best in South American
civilization is due 10 the efforts OF the
Jesuit missionaries who for hundreds of
years have lived among the Indians,
FAITHFULLY pursuing their work alone.
and not obtaining support from their
home churches"
The statement that the Catholic
church in South America is moi the
Same as that Of the United States. Mr..
herby declares. is absurd on the face
Of Il
Every child" he said. knows that
the Catholic religion is the same The
world over. But Il viii Surprise the
young Latins who are disposed 10 meet
ali missionaries more than hale Urax- 20
DC tod that the religion Of their fathers
SD3i dilot ,!rs was not even a Christian
neilet- Inc fact that II was expressed
~ a delegate, Mr. Speer, adds an au-
character 10 it
Francls de Sales Ryan. in a com
HllChlcation 10 The Times, takes up the
tail. e0s IN oe-
Demonstration of Affection.
His letter follows:
To the Editor Of The washington Times
II would appear from Saturday even
ING edition of The Times that Nr
bo0ert E Speer, in addressing the sun
e~AAbbA NDAANElA40n. aLreT assuring his
duulence that we come here with noih-
ing but love IN our hearts for Other or
CARNATIONS proceeded 10 give a dernOn-
sLdtion OF his affectiOnate Sentiments nv
LepealllB several serious charges AGAINST
the NatnOlc church in South America
charges which Mr.. Speer more than
anyone else, should know 10 be untrue
IN the February 18th issue OF the Liter
airy Digest there appeared several very
damaging statements from Mr.. Speer
= "a 81 he -.~snH
clergy in South America. the statements
oelng largely supported by references
10 an alleged encyclical Of PoDe leo
addressed 10 the clergy Of ChiIe. The
cuhI yes were 50 serious and received
such VIDE publication that a prominent
member OF the bar in Baltimore ad
dressed communication 10 the Digest
asking that Mr. Spssr furnish definite
references 70 The authorities upon which
he based his charges. Under date al
April Il the Literary Digest. REPLIED
over the signature OF Mr.. William s
Woods, editor
Doubt As to Document
The reply is partly as follows:
We have received a letter from
Robert 2. speer, giving his authority
for his statements about the clergy
OF South America. In his reply, ne
says that the alleged encyclical OF
Pope Leo 70 the clergy of Chile was
-rcAEA III AotAs anu CAAEdCLG from TX
have been printed in reliable books
1 have employed a man 10 look
through the nleS OF the 'Civilta Ca
tclica' for the year the alleged en-
cyclical was supposed 10 have ap-
peared, and for the years before and
after that date. without finding the
document, so that its authenticity
seems 70 be IN considerable doubt"
On April is the Digest was called
upon 70 have Mr.. Speer prove the ex-
{ Q n a oil
70 his reliable books" or
10 frankly admit the error Of his
statements. No response being re-
CeiVed, Mr.. Speer was again ohaI-
lenged on April 80, his legal chal-
lenger demanding that he do the
manly thing and the fair thing by
producing either the alleged aucycli-
cal or the reputable proofs from
which the scurrilious matter was OBJ
tanned.
Branded AS False.
Mr. Speer has not done the manly
thing and the fair thing" but has
remained silent. The leading Catho-
lie newspapers and magazines have
publicly branded Mr.. Speer's refer
ences to the imaginary encyclicaI as
malicious falsehoods, but al attempts
to smoke the gentleman out have
proven useless.
The conclusion is obvious Mr.
Speer has no proofs 10 submit. His
'encyclical of Pope Leo" is purely a
myth, the reliable books" TO which
he refers are the works Of his I'm
agination and have no existence in
reality, and his charges against the
South American clergy. If they had
not already been proven malicious
fables by so high an authority as the
John Barrett, would be
discredited by the unreliable author
lty back of them.
Is 1t honest in Mr.. Speer, a promi-
nent member Of one of the mission
airy boards, to repeat these ISLANDERS
when he must be convinced of their
falsity2 Has he never heard of the
Divine command-'Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neigh
bor?"