Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-05-27
OF Intolerance Made It's APP
pearance at Southern Pres
byterian Assembly.
Declares Catholic Church a
Menance to All
Liberty.
President, Congressman and
Legislators Come Under
His Bann.
CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE ATTACKED

CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE ATTACKED
The good people of Louisville and
Kentucky who believe in religious
tolerance received quite a jolt this
week when they read in the daily
papers that the Catholic church had
been recklessly IL not maliciously
attacked at the General Assembly of
the Southern Presbyterian church.
The meeting OF Presbyterian divines
was held at the Second Presbyterian
church, Second and Broadway, on
Monday. There was a time when the
Puritans of New England, who we're
the original American Presbyterians,
believed in ducking scolds and burn
ing witches, but for the past two
centuries the majority of American
Presbyterians have practiced an
eleventh ommandment-that of
minding their own business.
There are thousands of Louisville
Presbyterians who are good neigh
bors, good citizens and duly tolerant.
They are not to be blamed for the
uncalled for attack made by a few
preachers last Monday. The same
coterie might have attacked the Bap-
lists, the Methodists or the Jews
had the idea occurred. The Rev.
j. G. Painter, of Yancy Mills, Va,
introducing a resolution at the meet
ing Monday night, denounced the
Catholic church on account of its
growth and declared 1t to be
menace to civil and religious liberty.
But here is the resolution in full:
Resolved, That the General AS
sembly views with serious concern
the growth and pernicious activity of
that powerful politico-religious or
ganization known as the Roman
Catholic Church, which is and al
ways has been a menace or blight
to the civil and religious liberty of
every land where 1t has obtained
foothold; that it views with serious
concern the apathy of all public men
Hnu1ung this menace, the evident
n on the part of the Gen
ernment to grant special
b this organization and the
silence of the public press
ing any adverse criticism OF
dy and at the same time the
ess to freely advertise all that
interest to this so-called church.
this assembly shall appoint an
hterim committee of five mem
who shall inquire into this
le matter and report to the next
nj
kising our whole people concern
the dangers involved in the
bove facts and, II in their judg-
lent wise, to invite the influence
md cooperation of other Protestant
bodies in this work"
This resolution was introduced at
the close of the exercises celebrating
the tercentenary of the King James
Bible. Mr.. Painter spoke at length
In favor of his resolution. He de-
clared that the Roman Catholic
church was working with the indus
try of the beaver and the secrecy OF
the mole to gain political control in
the United States. 'One can not
read history" he said, without
knowing that that body has been not
only a menace but blight on the
civil and religious liberty OF every
country in which 1t has gained as
cendancy. But in spite of the teach
ing of history on this subject, there
is on the part of public men an abb
solute apathy in this matter. Either
they do not regard 1t as a menace, or
else they are actuated by selfish
interest, as they regard II. No Con
gressman, no United States Senator,
dares to oppose a measure advocated
by that body. You can not get any
newspaper in this land to publish
anything adverse to this organiza-
ton. The press of the land is silent
while this organization is threaten
ing our civil liberty. II has put its
hand on our public school system in
a dangerous manner by excluding
the Bible from IL.
Mr.. Painter also criticized Presi-
dent Taft for appointing a Catholic
as Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court. "He is a graduate
OF Jesuit College as well as a Cath
olic," he continued. "All history
teaches that these two facts disqual-
ify him for the position. Cardinal
Gibbons kept the trail hot between
Baltimore and Washington pending
r-ie appointment which came as a
surprise to the public"
Rev. e.. M. Stuart, OF Lafayette,
La, spoke in favor OF the resolution
also and declared that this was a
country won by Protestant blood"
A motion to table the resolution was
defeated, and a motion referring lf
TO a special committee OF three was
adopted.
II was certainly a great advertise
ment for the Roman Catholic church
in America. It's growing strength.
its power over Presidents, Senators,
Congressman. Legislatures, Judiciary
. and the press the Catholics them
selves were not aware OF. The
clique OF Presbyterians who upheld
Rev. Painter may be learned In the
doctrines OF their creed but they
lack Christianity. They came 10
Louisville presumably In a spirit Of