The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-21

whole matter resolves itself into case
of conscience. Had Schenck devoted
himself more to study he would have
seen that one man and one woman,
each processing a different belief, each
sincere in that belief and each I'M
yielding, were bound to come to an
| unhappy end-in this case very I'M
happy end!
Now Schenck, what is the Catholic
idea of accommodation? 1t must De
something awful according to your
insinuating and misleading phrase. GU
do not know or else you wished to de-
ceive. / prefer to believe the former,
but your characterization of Father
Kunert condemns you. I will treat OF
that later. For the present let US just
take the Catholic idea Of excommunl-
cation. By accommodation in the
Catholic church we mean: To persons,
violating the canOnS set down by the
church through her authority, are de-
MED the rights to the sacraments and
in case of oeath to Christian, rather,
Catholic burial Where is the tor
ment' as reported by the State Jour-
nal?
You again led people to the wrong
idea Mrs Beers was buried from the
Church of the Assumption and IN
Mount Calvary cemetery Conse-
quently she could not have died under
the ban of accommodation.
Your cowardly attack on Father
Kunert puts a stamp on you, Schenck.
You have endeavored to breed strife
in a community where concord and
peace have reigned between Catholics
and nonCatholics for the past so years.
In Topeka today, on the cc"ner of
Eighth and Jackson street, resides
Father Hayden, who for 20 years has
guided the destinies of the English
speaking Catholics of your fair city. 1
had the pleasure of residing there a
short time as his assistant and I feel
safe in saying that today he is the
most respected man in your communl-
ty with legions of friends.
On Harrison street is Father Henry,
( who has guided the interests of the
Germans of your city and your name
after this day dare not be mentioned
! with his except by way of contrast,
with YOU on the unfavorable Side In
ST. Francis hospital Father O'Begley
does his work quietly and charitably.
, Many of your nonCatholic neighbors
will testify to this and condemn you
for the slight manner in which you
speak of him. Here are the confreres
accuse them of perjury Yet they are
the same priests of the same church
and processing the same belief.
In closing let me say that i
hope the plea of Attorney Schenck
will have its effect, the effect
ency to which the law of the land en-
titles him. Mercy in our day is, to
say the least, not drained to exhaus-
ton. AS Shakespeare says: The
quality Of mercy is not strained: it
droppeth as the gentle rain from
heaven upon the place beneath: it is
twice blest; it blesseth him that gives
and his taht takes. IT'S mightiest in
the mightiest: it becometh the throned
monarch better than his crown; his
sceptre shows the force of temporal
power, the attribute to awe and maj
esty, wherein doth sit the dread and
fear of kings: but mercy is above this
sceptred sway; it is enthroned in the
hearts of kings, it is an attribute to
God Himself; and earthly power doth
then show likest Gods when mercy
seasons Justice"
And I trust it will have another eff
fect-the effect of cementing the
kindly feeling that exists in the city
of Topeka between Catholic and nom
Catholic and that Schencks ranting
will bury itself in the walls of the
Shawnee county courtroom. Respect
fully, JOHN A. MURPHY,
HOLY Cross Church