Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-08
Archbishop Ireland Comments
Over Fairbanks Affair.
CAUSTIC IN CRITICISM
Declares American Methodists In
Rome Are "Pernicious Proselyters."
STANDS READY FOR A FIGHT
Is Coming East Prepared, he Says,
to Answer Methodists at
Any Time.

CHICAGO, February s-The following
statement was offered the Associated
Press by Archbishop Ireland today:
People in America may easily mis-
apprehend the circumstances in Roms
which led the Vatican to refuse an au-
dience with the holy father to Mr..
Charles ". Fairbanks, after he, a former
Vice President of the United States,
would have made a public address be-
fore the Methodist Association of that
self did not fully realize the meaning
which Romans would attribute to his ad-
DRESS
1T was not a question of Mr.. Fair
banks being a Methodist OF going to d
Methodist Church in Rome for Sunday
deyotions. 1t was a question of appear
ing to give the fullest approval to the
work OF the Methodist Association in
Rome. American Methodists in Rome are
active and-I may readily say-pernicious
proselyters. The Methodist Associatio
is not in Rome to serve and meet Amer
lean Methodists, but to pervert from the
Catholic faith all those upon whom they
can bring influence to bear.
II was in Rome last winter and l
made very particular study of this
Methodist propaganda. 1t has gone SO
far that Catholics have organized the
Society for the Preservation of the Faith
to fight against 1t.
''Means Not Honorable
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 ad-
vantage Of the poverty of the poor OF
Rome. The books circulated and dis
played in the windows of their book
sores are ISLANDERS against the Catholic
faith. the holy pontifr at R.me and a mis-
representation, of the whole Cath. lie sys-
tenn. The success of the movement is far
from adequate to the effcrts put forth
and the money expended. They do not
make permanent Methodists of Italian
Catholics. They may p -ssible detach pu
pills from the Catholic Chu- ch, ard this
means from all Christian things for
Italians.
Now, a public address by former
Vice President of the United States be-
fore the Methodist Association can have
no other meaning in the eyes of the Ro-
man public than the approval of Amer
lea on the propaganda of the Methodist
Association. Had the holy father, guard
ian Of the spiritual interests of the Cath
olic Church of the world smilingly well
coined Mr.. Fairbanks to an audience on
the following day, in what other position
would he appear to be than giving his
approval to the propaganda of the Meth
odist Association before which the ad-
dress had been given?
1T was simply impossible for the holy
father in his official position as a sover-
eign pontiff of the Cathoic Church to do
aught else than to say politely to Mr..
Fairbanks, I cannot receive you and ac-
cord you the honors due you in all other
circumstances as an American and dis
tinguished representative of great re-
public
81 repeat that am most willing to be-
lieve Mr.. Fairbanks did not ca ch u the
full meaning in the eyes of the Roman
people of the address he was to make to
the Methodist ASSOCIATION.
Applies to Methodists Only.
"One arm of combat which those
Methodists employ in Rome as 1 know
from personal observation is to create
the impre zsion that Methodistism is the
great faith of the American republic. and
that the Catholic Church is merely an
Italian institution.
There are in Rome Protestant Amer
lean churches for the benefit of Ameri-
cans that put forth legitimate efforts,
mind their own business and make no war
on the Catholic Church. What l have
said of the Methodists in Rome does not
apply to the other churches there.
have in mind the Protestant Epi :copal
Chapel on the Via Nazionale, and it's
former rector. DR.. Nevins. man whom
was pleased to call friend, and whom
l was always glad to meet.
II shall leave for New York tomorrow
and l shall be pleased to answer the
Methodists there or in the east at any
time. / cannot make 1t too plain that
am not attacking the entire Methodist
Church, but merely the Methodist associa-
ton at Rome. am not too old to enjoy a
fight when the occasion requires it."
Ministers Indorse Fairbanks.
INDIANAPOLIS, February Sat a
meeting of the Indianapolis Methodist
ministers the following was unanimously
adopted: I'VE. the Methodist Minister'S
Association of the city of Indianapolis.
desire to put on record our appreciation
of the fine catholic spirit toward all
churches and the fidelity to his own
church as displayed in the conduct of the
Hon. Charles w. Fairbanks while in the
city of Rome. as reported in the morning
papers. The spirit manifested by Mr..
Fairbanks is worthy of the great church
to which he belongs