The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-29
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Devotion of the Virgin Mar,

fo+lle Editor or The Age-Eerald.
 Although I do not believe in religious controversies in the papers, for there seldom any good will come from it. l want to say a few words concerning the devotion of the Virgin Mary. I was sorry to see such expressions as were used in the articles. There is no reason at all to get excited. and strong offensive language never will do any good. The question is an old one, and I think it never will be settled in a satisfactory manner between Catholics and our non-Catholic friends.
 Weighing carefully every word of the dialogue between the angel and the Virgin it becomes clear to me that the Virgin took a great part in the work of the salvation of mankind. And the angel said to her: Hall, full of grace, blessed art thou among women thou hast found grace with God =. the holy that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God'-Luke I. Honor is he worthy of whom the king hath a mind to honor. The king of kings honored Mary; the Heavenly Father called her full of grace blessed among womens and the Son was subject to them''-to Mary and Josef These words, and He was subject to them" should be sufficient to clear the point. Does not the homage we pay to May rebound to the Son? Certainly Why, then. should God be jealous of the honor paid to Mary? Would a great art ist be jealous of our admiration of his work? And is not God the creator of Mary and did not He Himself call her: Hall, full of grace?
 Nohndx fharafora ra I, anaolr of fdoIof,.xr for we only venerate the mother or Jesus we do not adore her. We neither adore her pictures or statues Does not every body love and venerate the picture of his father or mother in his home2 Or does not a good citizen yenerate and respect the photo of the President hanging in his study?
 Here is what non-Catholics. Protestants and even unbelievers have to say:
 The worship of the Virgin" says Rob- ert Buchanan, is to my mind (the mind of an unbeliever) full of holiness and beauty l myself see in the Virgins the exquisite incarnation of divine mother hood, well worthy of the reverence of any man, whatever his theological belief may be-
 Nathaniel Hawthorne says: q have al- ways envied the Catholic in that sweet, sacred Virgin Mother who stands between them and the Deity
 John Ruskin, we'll known, writes: "Af- ter the most careful examination neither as adversary nor as friend of the influ- ences of Catholicity for good and evil. l am persuaded that the worship of the Madonna has been one of it's nobest and most vital graces, and has never been otherwise than productive of true holi- ness Of life and purity of character
 Mr. Moses Kaufman (from Lexington. Ky.) says: Catholics adore God only Catholics venerate Mary and the saints. Why should they not venerate Mary? Why should not every Christian do SO? Mary was the mother of Jesus; and if 1t be true that Jesus is God. who could have greater influence with a son than his mother, when that mother is appealed to for intercession or mediation by suppli- cants? It is strange that after 1500 years the Protestant churches should adopt the decision of tle council of Nice regarding the Trinity and reject that of Ephesus, both being held by and under the same authority-the Catholic church"
 And finally we come to Luther i.im- self What does he say? "I assert and maintain, with the whole of Christendom. that the dear saints should be veneratcd and inyocated; for who can deny that even in our days through the saints God visibly works wonders with the bodies and at their graves. 'Luthurs Werke, Theil viii. D. 1. Augsb Ed)
 This ought to be sufficient and I hone that herewith the discussion is closed. We all are Christians: we all are preth ren of Jesus Christ; let us observe his commandment of charity and love. We ought to work together against our com mon enemies and especially against an- archsm and socialism.
 Thanking you ever so much dear MT. Editor, I am Yours truly,
 REV. S. A. MUELLER 2104 Avenue II, EnsIey. November