The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-02-19
The Pope's Temporal Power
Overthrow Forty Years Ago by Garabald Celebrated
by Methodists in Rome Offends Naturalization
Shown During Fairbanks Late Visit.

"A Sfcdo ucdf VI uiSCuooiou anu
also of bigoted dissention has of
late arisen over the Fairbanks in
cident in the city of Rome, and
much foolish talk is being indulg-
ed in by Catholics and their clergy
and Professionals and their preach
ers. The intelligent civilized world
recognizes the fact that both sides
to this controversy labor under
the disadvantage of considerable
error, and as two wrongs never yet
have constituted a right, there
seems to be little chance of an
early harmonizing of the factions to
this dispute.
It is nevertheless true that in
the clashing interests the world is
benefited and needed reforms are
brought about. This is true in the
political and religious world alike.
These warning religious folks tell
us that they propose to convert all
men to the true and living God,
and that they are going to take the
world for Christ. If they are
earnest and honest in this claim,
why then should they war one
against the other? We verify be-
lieve the controversy to be for the
good of the world, and that harmo-
ny will yet come of it, when preju-
dice and bigotry have been broken
down, and common sense and true
religion can be brought into play.
But the priests and preachers are
slow to give up their prejudices
and ecclesiasticism. The great
movement abroad in the world at
this day among the laymen of the
Protestant and Catholic churches
gives hope that there is to be a
solution of this problem, and We
believe that a common understand
ing and spirit of brotherhood is to
be reached among Christians the
world over.
In order that readers of the Col
fax Chronicle may understand the
gist of the controversy, we repro
duce letter to the New Orleans
Picayune of Feb. 18th, written from
a Catholic standpoint, which gives
an interesting and very fair history
of the circumstances, but between
the lines the writer's bias can be
plainly read, as follows:
To the Editor of the Picayune:
Dear Sir:--The Fairbanks incl
dent In Rome is attracting much
attention in the press of our. coun-
try at present, and, lest an alto.
gether false opinion be formed by
the public of the attitude of the
vatican, l deem it only fair that 9
few words be said explanatory OF
the action of the holy see in this
case. The vatican authorities have
always received graciously mem.
bers of all religious denominations
who have been properly recon.
mended-making no distinction
between laymen and minister
Bishops of the Protestant churches
have received the attention and
courtesy which their position call
ed for: Certainly this does moi
smack of intolerance. But why
should those authorities make al
exception in this case? Why re
| fuse an audience to SO distinguish
ed citizen of the United States
as Vice President Fairbanks be
cause he has consented to make al
address in the Methodist church
in Rome?
i Must there not be some specia
treason for the exceptional stant
taken by the vatican in this par
ticular case? There is; aud it il
this: The organizers and support
ers of that Methodist movemen,
J IN the city of Rome have beer
u IL f-~.~~ H. ,o~~, I,~-ss..