Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-02-18
IRELAND ATTACKS
ROME MISSIONS OF
METHODIST FAITH
Pontiff, He Declares, Gould Do
Nothing Else but Refuse
to Greet Him.

Chicago, Feb. I0.--The following
statement was offered the Associated
Press by Archbishop Ireland today:
People in America may easily mis-
apprehend the circumstances in Rome,
which led the Vatican to refuse an
audience with the Holy Father to Mr..
Charles w. Fairbanks after he, a for
mer vice president of the United States,
would have made a public address be-
fore the Methodist. association Of that
city. Most likely Mr.. Fairbanks him
self did not fully realize the meaning
which Romans would attribute to his
address.
1T was not a question of Mr.. Fair
banks being a Methodist. or going to
a Methodist church in Rome for Sum
day devotions. It was a question OF
appearing to give the fullest approval
to the work of the Methodist associa-
ton in Rome. American Methodists in
Rome are active and. / may really say,
pernicious proselyters. The Methodist
association Is not in Rome to serve and
meet American Methodists, but to per-
vert from the Catholic faith all those
whom they can influence.
Il was In Rome last winter and /
made a very particular study of this
Methodist propaganda. 1t q gone so
far that Catholics have organized the
Society for the Preservation OF the
Faith to fight against it.
Says Means Are Dishonorabie.
'The purpose OF the work OF the
Methodist association in Rome is con-
fessed openly. The means employed
are by no means honorable. They take
every advantage OF the poverty of the
poor of Rome. The books circulated
and displayed in the windows OF their
bookstores are SANDERS against the
Catholic faith and the Holy Pontiff at
Rome, and a Misrepresentation of the
whole Catholic system.
THE success OF the movement Is far
from adequate TO the efforts put forth
and the money expended. They do not
make permanent Methodists OF Italian
Catholics. They may possibly 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 be-
fore the Methodist association can have
nc other meaning In the eyes Of the
Roman public than the approval OF
America OF the propaganda of h
Methodist association. Had the holy
father, guardian of the spiritual inter-
ests of the Catholic church Of the
world, smilingly welcomed Mr.. Fair
banks to an audience on the following
day. I'm h other position would he
appear to be than giving his approval
TO the propaganda of the Methodist as
ISOLATION before which the address had
been given?
Impossible to Receive Him.
1T was simply impossible for the
holy father, in his official position as a
sovereign pontir or the Catholic church,
to do aught else than TO say politely TO
Mr.. Fairbanks: I cannot receive o
and accord you the honors due you in
all other circumstances as ar American
and a distinguished representative OF
a great republic
II repeat / am most willing to believe
Mr.. Fairbanks did not catch the full
meaning, In the eyes of the Roman peo-
pies, of the address he was to make
TO the Methodist association.
"One arm of combat which these
Methodists employ In Rome, as l know
from personal observation, Is to create
the impression that Methodism Is the
greatest faith OF the American repub-
lie, and that the Catholic church Is
merely an Italian institution.
There are In Rome Protestant
American churches for the benefit of
Americans that put forth legitimate eff
forts, minding their own business, n
making no war OF the Catholic church.
What I lave said of the Methodists In
Rome does not apply to the other
churches there. I have In mind the
Protestant Episcopal chapel on the Via
Nazionale and its former rector. DR..
Nevins, a man whom I am pleased to
call a friend, and whom / was always
glad to meet.
Il shall leave for New York tomor-
row and I shall be pleased to answer
the Methodists here or In the east at
any time. I cannot make 1t too plain
that / am not attacking the entire
Methodist church, but merely the
Methodist association IN Rome. I am
not too old to enjoy a fight when the
occasion requires IT,"