The Irish standard., 1910-04-16
Defends the Church From an
Attack by a Preacher in
Old Kentucky.
If Forced to Renounce the
Faith Would Become
a Catholic.
Corrects the Minister or
Charge That Catholics
Adore Mary.

Not long since the Leader Of Lexing-
ton, KY, published sermon delivered
by the Rev. George w. Morris, Pro-
testant minister of high standing in
the Bluegrass capital. In concluding
his discourse the preacher said:
ITO us there are but two classes:
Those who are in Christ and those who
are not. No matter what our personal
feelings of friendliness may be, to
this latter class alike belong pagans,
Jews and Romanists.'
Moses Kaufman, public spirited
citizen of Lexington, and an intelli-
gent Hebrew, replied to Mr.. Morris
through the columns Of the Leader on
Easter Sunday. He handled Mr.. Nor
ris not maliciously, but without gloves,
and many of his points are sound Cath
olic doctrine.
Mr.. Kaufman says at the outset:
"Now I have no serious objections to
be classed with the Catholics, but
do draw the line when it comes to
pagans. Webster defines a pagan as
one who worships false gods; one who
is neither a Christian, a lew or q
Molammedan."
Further along Mr.. Kaufman speaks
of the infancy of the Christian religion,
and shows that the majority of its
professors were Jews. Then he adds
"Gibbon says in speaking of the ulti-
mate severance of this new sect from
the Mosaic church: BY the wise dis
pensation of Providence a mysterious
veil was cast over the infancy of the
church, which tilf the faith of the
Christians was matured, and their
numbers were multiplied, served to
protect them not only from the malice
but even from the knowledge of the
pagan world. The slow and gradual
abolition of the Mosaic ceremonies af-
forded safe and innocent disguise to
the more early proselytes of the gos-
pel.'"
Later on Mr.. Kaufman says: But
while am at it, cannot resist animad-
verting on several other points. Rev.
Mr.. Morris takes the Catholic church
to task for the alteration Of Mary. Cath
olics adore God only. They venerate
Mary the angels and saints. Why
should they not venerate Mary? Why
should not every Christian? Mary was
the mother of Jesus. And if it be true
that Jesus is God, who could have
greater influence with son than his
mother when that mother is appealed
to for intercession, or mediation, by
supplicants? 1t is strange that after
1900 years the Protestant churches
should adopt the decision of the Coun-
Gil of Nice regarding the Trinity and
reject that of Ephesus, both being held
by and under the same authority, the
Catholic church.
/, "And the Catholics pagans! As ]
have said, the Jews are the religious
. ancestors of the Christian religion
| LIE Je"lSIl IclBlOIl is lHc HlOtNeT anu
the various Christian sects are the chill
dren. The latter, the Protestant sects
are the grandchildren. some of them
many generations removed. The first
offspring was the Catholic church. II
had nothing except what the Jews gave
+ it. And if the Catholics had been ex-
terminated by the Roman emperor
, what sort of religion would Mr.. Nor
ris now preach?
For my part, If 1 were forced tc
renounce the faith of my fathers, the
faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, OF
; Moses and Of Jesus and had to embrace
Christianity, as in the days that are
{ no more some of my forebears were
| forced to do, should join the Cath
olic church. When l go to a Protest.
: ant church see lot of benches and
bare walls; and until I hear the hymns
{ and hear the minister deliver a re.
ligious discourse 1 feel as IL I might
be in lecture hall.
/ "When l go to synagogue SEE
, before me the perpetual light as II
Jburned in the temple. / see the me.