The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-09
VATICAN INCIDENT
Archbishop Ireland in North amer
lean Review Discusses Metho-
dism in Italy.
In the Existing Circumstances the
Vatican Could Take no
Other Stand.

dist Episcopal Church OF America Is
sued statement on May 9th in which
the work of the Methodist Mission in
Italy was upheld and the Vatican
accused of having other motives than
those given by the Cardinal Secretary
of State in adopting the attitude which
it maintains toward that organization.
The further Statement was made that
no specific acts were cited to Justify
: the charges which were made against
the Methodist Missions. Archbishop
Ireland in a lengthy article in the
North American Review for July took
upon himself the task of controverting
in toto the statement of the Bishops.
In setting forth the aim of his article
the Archbishop says: I'm what I
write l discuss neither Methodism nor
Methodists in general; confine my
self to the aims and methods of the
Methodist propaganda in Italy. l seek
no quarrel l desire none with the
members in general of the Methodist
Church in America, many of whom l
personally know and esteem, with all
of whom as fellow Americans l wish
to live in peace and harmony. Indeed
/ dare say this much, that, so far as
am able to Judge the great number
of American Methodists are not aware
of the nature of the propaganda car
ried on across the ocean in their name
and with the help of their money, and
when informed of the facts in the case
will be as ready as l am to censure,
both the aims the propaganda has in
view and the methods it is willing to
employ"
The Archbishop takes for his Meth
odist authorities: -Four and one-half
years in the Italy Mission-A criticism
OF Missionary Methods by Rev. Everett
S. Stackpole, D. D. Europe and
Methodism," by William Burt, bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church;
"Cenni storici," a history in Italian Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Italy and IL Evangelista," the official
newspaper Of Methodism in Italy.
From these authorities he cites ample
specific acts to show why the Vatican
could take no other attitude toward
Methodism than that which it holds.
Witness this from "Cenni Storici":
".rhe Protestant legions must gather
all their energies and assail Popery,
in it's citadel, in Rome. Hence the most
noble appeal of Bishop Walden: Be
fore evangelizing the world we must
evangelize Rome"
Again Bishop Burt writes in "Eu-
rope and Methodism' Of the Greek
Church; '"The study of Gods word has
not only been discouraged, but often
forbidden. Mass is substituted for the
Gospel, penance for repentance and
the Virgin Mary and the saints for
Christ. The conception of God is that
of an austere Judge whose anger must
be appeased by the constant repetition
. by chanting in an unknown tongue. 1t
is pagan in all but name"
Then, after painting the most lurid
picture he could paint in words, he at
tempts to heighten it's effect by adding
multiplied and emphasized in Roman
ISM"
In the work above mentioned Dr
Stackpole gives this estimate of the
Catholic Church. 1.-The Church has be-
come what some civilized heathens
want it to be. They want Church
that has power on earth and in Pur-
gatorio to forgive SINS They want a
Church that can save them without
and corresponding reformation Of con-
duct"
marks: How any one in the cloth ~
DR.. Stackpole could dare assert as the
belief of Catholics that salvation is to
.&be had without thorough repentance
on their part and a corresponding re-
formation of conduct passes ordinary
power of thought. But so he wrote
and so, no doubt. he preached. The
! investment of one penny for copy OF
The Catholic Child's Catechfsm,' in
America or in Italy, would have
brought before his eyes the chapter
on "Contrition" and disabused him OF
his error; but the investment was not
made
Another example of the venom
which fills the columns of ''L'Evan-
! gelista" is quoted: 1.-THE Romish
clergy represent Christ just as much
as Harlequin represents Italy. That is
the Italian Mosk, not Italy, as cleri-
Il calism is the mosk of Christ, not Chris
\ tianity. The clergy is the corruption
i Of Christianity. The priest represents
{ the Pope, and Popery the rust which
ho &h@.