The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-06-01

ity,' when We remember the recent
declarations of a Methodist minister,
Rev. Ernest Thompson, during a suit
questioning the teachings Of the Wes-
leyan university Of Canada, to the
following effect; that for Methodists
the meaning of the virgin birth of
Christ Is a purely literary question;
that the physical resurrection of
Christ on Easter day is far from be-
ing clear; that the Bible does not
prove Christ to be God, ETC., etc. Will
the conference before its adjournment
do us the favor to enlighten us in q
unanimous profession of faith as to
what today Methodism calls the fund
amental doctrines Of Christianity?
"Dr. Rice again: I have seen as
gross idolatry in Roman Catholic
countries as l have. seen in India and
China A clear case this is Of incur
able color blindness. Will not the doc
tor give some details. so that we may
the more easily explain away his psy-
Geological illusions?
And again: In the south (the
more southern countries Of South
America) the priesthood have every
thing in their clutches. and SO vice,
poverty and superstition are found
there May we have, doctor. some
details. some proofs? Verify, it is
too much to be asked to believe all
you say on matters, when already in
SO many of your statements you are
shown to have put before us outrag-
eous misrepresentation of facts. And
then, when you give details, will you
not kindly make some effort to con-
meet with their true causes your cases
of vice. poverty and superstition? p
Or, II you still hold them to be log
ical effects of Catholicism, give reasons
for your judgment - reasons all the
more necessary that we, your oppon-
ents, hold those cases Of vice. pow
erty and superstition. SO far as such
may be proven to exist, to exist not
at all as a logical result of Catho-
licism. but altogether despite the
teachings and mandates of Catho-
liclsm.
Deals With Ono Specific Charge.
Equally vague and general. equally
unproven, are the statements of
Bishop Bristol. He affirms: I deny.
Until his charges are somewhat sub
stantiated, my denial is sufficient re-
buttal. One Of his charges is rather
specific: 1 give a specific reply. He
says: 'Methodism's regard for the
sanctity of the marriage relation is a
revelation to the people (the people OF
South America). among whom the
very sanctity of the marriage tie has
for centuries been a matter of barter
by the prevailing ecclesiasticisnn. =
The exorbitant pecuniary demands of
the priesthood have made marriage
rs not the bishop here a little sar-
castle towards Methodism, talking of
'Methodism's regard for the sanctity
Of the marriage relation while we
recollect, as no doubt he does, that
this very 'quadrennial conference now
In session in Minneapolis refused to
prohibit It's ministers from being pres
ent at the marriages OF divorcees.'
Decree as to Marriage Fees.
"As to what the bishop tells anent
Illicit marital relations in South Am
erica, caused. he says, by ecclesiast-
ical greed: I have on my table the
volume Of the ecclesiastical law that
governs the Catholic Church in South
America. and in this volume 1 read
this authoritative decree regarding
marriage fees: AS the gifts of Christ
are gratuitous dispensations Of his
bounty. and as no blacker vice there
could be, especially in what concerns
the holy ministry, than that of ava
rice. no Offering other than what IL
authorized by episcopal ordinance
shall ever. directly or indirectly, be
sought for on the occasion Of the adj
ministration of the sacraments of
baptism and matrimony-and not even
that much is to be taken In the case
Of the poor, of such as cannot either
at all or only under serious inconven-
fence make any Offering
Bishop Bristol may have discov-
cred in slums and back alleys of cit
les parties whose marital union had
not been blessed by the Church, as
he can discover as many such as he
may call American Methodism; but
when he says that the evil, 80 far as
it exists in South America is there
due to the Catholic Church, he quail
f1es himself beyond all exception for