Evening star., 1913-11-18
FORMAL PROTESTS
MADE BY CLERGY
Object to Pan-American Mass
Being Given an "Officiap'
CoIoring.
DENY THE PRESIDENT
REGARDS 1T AS SUCH
Roman Hierarchy Accused of Using
Act of Courtesy to Strengthen
Church's Position.

Clergy of various Protestant denom-
nations of the city have noted the re-
ported acceptance of President Wilson
to attend the Pan American mass in
ST. Patrick's Church Thanksgiving morn
ing, and yesterday afternoon and today
those of four denominations went on
record protesting against the service
being given an official" character.
The clergy of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, meeting at the Raleigh at
noon today. in resolutions passed de-
clared every effort Is made by the
Roman hierarchy to give this Roman
mass the color Of an official function
as IL it were generally recognized as a
national service and as IL the President
and his cabinet by their presence wish
ed it to be SO recognized (Which We are
sure is not the easel
Passed by Other Bodies.
These resolutions, which are fathered
by Rev. DIR. Randolph III. McKim, rector
of the Church of the Epiphany, who has
just retired from the presidency of the
Episcopal house of deputies, were also
passed at the weekly meeting yesterday
afternoon of the clergy of the Lutherans,
Baptists and Disciples of Christ. The
clergy of the Presbyterian churches of
Washington awaited their receipt at their
meeting in the New York Avenue Pres
byterian Church, and when they did not
arrive they adjourned until next Monday
morning to consider them.
Il am very sorry that exception is
taken by any one. especially by ministers
of the gospel, to a celebration which has
men," said the Rt. Rev. Mgr. William I.
Russell, rector of st. Patrick's Church,
this afternoon when apprised of the &C
tions of the various Protestant bodies in
regard to the proposed service.
Not Official Celebration.
THE purpose of the Pan-American cele-
bration is to bring together prominent
men of the American republics for the
among them. 1t is not diplomatic cele-
bration, neither is it official.
Il am not responsible for the views ex-
pressed by newspapers In regard to the
celebration. There is no Roman claim
that this celebrat alton is now the official
celebration of Thanksgiving in our Ma
tional Capital. There is no such thing
as national Thanksgiving celebration.
The celebration is, on the contrary, an
occasion when the reserve of diplomatic
and official life may be cast of. when
men may meet as friends.
would result from such a celebration,
and always encouraged me by his pres
ence.
AT the first celebration the Secretary
of State. Mr.. Knox, asked me at the
dinner to make the celebration annual
Latin American diplomatic corps. Mr.. de
la Barra, reiterated the request.
Has Liberty of Worship.
II cannot understand why exception
should be taken to the Presidents at
tending services in Catholic church,
any more than to his attending services
in any denomination to which he does
not belong. He has attended services,
as he has perfect right to do. if he
wishes, in other churches than his own,
and I am not aware that anyone pre-
sumed to find fault with his action.
Because he is President of the United
States, Mr.. Wilson does not forfeit the
right guaranteed him by the Constitution
to worship God as he sees fit ] cannot
understand how men who profess to
preach peace should go so far to stir up
strife as to dictate even to the President
of the United States his mode Of wor-
ship. and try to prevent him from en-
joying the right of the poorest American
citizen
Preamble to Resolutions.
The preamble to the resolutions adopt
ed by the Protestant celrgy recites:
For the last three or four years there
has been celebrated in ST. Patrick's
Church. In this city, Thanksgiving
day solemn high mass. at which the
President of the United States and some
members of his cabinet, the Chief Justice
and several other justices Of the Supreme
Court. with number of senators and
members of Congress, have attended as
the guests of honor.
This service is now called in the
public press the official celebration of
Thanksgiving day, and is described IN
the bulletin of the Pan American Re-
publics as having an official character.
and every effort is made by the Roman
hierarchy to give this Roman mass the
color of an official function--as If 1t
were generally recognized as national
service. and il the President and his
cabinet by their presence wished it to
be so recognized (Which We are sure is
not the case).
One Of the organs of the Roman
Catholic press (he Catholic Citizen Of
Milwaukee, states that the Pan-Ameri-
| can Thanksgiving day high mass is now
| a permanent institution at the National
Capital; and says further, One day In
the year i'm which the Bountiful Giyer Of
nation, as a nation-this expression of
gratitude is made In Catholic church.
| around Catholic altar, by means OF the
/ one Catholic worship that is worthy of
| God the sacrifice of the mass
The attendance of our chief magis-
| ltrate and members of his cabinet not
once. but year after year, for three
| or four years. has been made use of to
| give color to the Roman claim that
this service is now the official celebra :
tiop of Thanksgiving day in our Ma
,tional Capital.
| This fact has been understood both
lin the United States and in foreign
countries. to give the Roman Catholic
i church "A prestige and a prominence
lover all other churches, and has even
been believed by people in Brazil and
lin Italy to show that America is not
a Protestant but Roman Catholic
Icountry.
| Protest Against Assumption.
/ At the close 1t is resolved:
/ THAT we protest against the pre-
sumption of the Roman Catholic press
lin putting forward the claims that the
Roman mass is the official celebra atior
tA