The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-08
lETHOD|sTS AND
CATHOLIC MARRIAGE
THE MOST REVEREND ARcHRisH-
oP IRELAND REPLIES TO THEIR
ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT
AND DEFENDS THE MARRIAGE
LAWS OF THE CHURCH..

In order to place before our read
ers the complete series of articles
written by the Most Reverend Arch
bishop in reply to the attacks made
on the Catholic Church by the leaders
of the Methodist Conference in ses-
sion in Minneapolis during the past
month it is deemed advisable to pub
lish the following which was the first
in order of time. The others have
already appeared in The Catholic
Bulletin. These articles are valuable
for reference and should be preserved
by all who wish to have at hand
weapons for the defence of Catholic
doctrine whenever it is assailed on
the points attacked by the Method
lists:
It is in the life-blood of Methodism
to fight. 1t is not itself-so it believes
and SO it wishes the world to believe
unless, spur on heel, and scimitar
in hand, it rides fast and furious to-
wards willing or unwilling foeman
And so, scarcely were the delegates
to the General Conference now con-
gether, when the shout of war went
out from the ranks. No challenge
had been sent to the conference from
far or near. This was unfortunate;
for, then, Methodism should have
been on the defensive and popular
sympathy should have journeyed
quick and warm in the wake of it's
hearty charge. A foeman, however,
there must be-else it we're the 81
lence of insufferable peace-and
lashed into forced combat men and
bodies of men these must be, who
otherwise were quite disposed to bid
Methodism while in Minneapolis be
in quietude, under the sole condition
that it mind it's own business and
leave to others the task of minding
theirs.
President Taft censured.
The President of the United States
and members of his Cabinet, it was
thought, would well serve the purpose
of making known to the whole coun-
try, if not to the world, that Method
ism has for the time being it's head
quarters in Minneapolis: scythian
shaft was at once winged towards
Washington. Those in authority
have forfeited all claims on the future
franchise of the Christian and sober
manhood of the nation" because,
| forsooth,a they have disregarded the
expressed wish and prayer of the
Christian manhood and womanhood
of the nation" in allowing the Secre-
! tary of Agriculture to make an ad-
dress before the International Con-
gress of hop-growers and brewers.
The protesting christian manhood
of the nation were the Methodists.
Other citizens of the United States,
| far more numerous il counted, desired
the presence of Mr.. Wilson at the
Congress. But what have others to
say, however numerous they be, when
Methodists declaim? The President
and the members of his Cabinet
represent the whole people: divided
the people are in occupation, in ma
terial interests, in politics., in religion.
The duty of "the authorities" it should
seem, is to recognize equally all class
es and divisions of the people, so
long as nothing is done or called for
that is incompatible with the Consti-
tuition and the laws of the land. But
no; the Methodists alone must rule
and be recognized. A pity it is that
the Conference while eliminating Mr..
Taft did not give the name of the
presidential possibility, willing to
promise that member of his future
cabinet should never make an address
before an international congress of
hop-growers and brewers. A candi-
date with any chance of being elected
to suit 'the Christian manhood and
womanhood of the nation," as defined
by Methodism, is rare bird; while
the hunt is for him the Presidential
chair might have to be left vacant a
good long while. Even Mr. Fairbanks
of Indiana, otherwise devout Method
list, would be out of the race. Did
not Mr.. Fairbanks once put the wine
cup into the hand of a former Presi-
dent, thereby drawing upon his vener-
able head hot fire from several
Methodist entrenchments?
A poor recompense it was, that
given to Mr.. Taft, for his courteous
telegram to the Conference, on the
morning of its opening session.
telegram altogether too courteous, |
think, SO far as it gave praise to the
work of militant Methodism in the
Philippines.
Catholic Marriage Laws Denounced.
Mr.. Taft and his Cabinet disposed
of, the Catholic Church Ii summoned
Continued ON page4.)