The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-18
MINNESOTA AND THE PAN
PROTESTANT CON-
FERENCE.

Some weeks ago we referred to
the proposed Congress for Chris
tan Work" to be held at Panama
next February, and noted the
resignation from the Board of
Missions Of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church Of three Bishops and
two ministers as a protest against
it's decision to send delegates to
the Congress. These designations
were prompted by the knowledge
that this Congress-, far from being
the harmless meeting which it
was heralded to be, was in reality
called for the purpose Of devils
ing ways and means Of carrying
on a Protestant propaganda
among the people of the Central
and South American Republics
who are overwhelmingly Cath
Ole. That this C ngresseis to be
distinctively Protestant in it's aim
and purpose is shown by the fact
that the Catholic Bishop OF
Panama issued letter some time
ago in which he prohibited, under
penalty Of grievous sin, all Cath
olics under his jurisdiction from
attending it's sessions.
The opposition to this Congress
raised in many quarters by a
knowledge of its real purpose, was
brought home to us this week by
the action of the Episcopal Minis
ters Of st. Paul and Minneapolis
who, opposing the stand taken by
Bishop Edsall, the head Of the
Episcopal Church in Minnesota,
prepared an open letter to be sub
mitted to the House Of Bishops
at it's session in Philadelphia on
January II, in which they pro
tested against the action of the
Board Of Missions on the ground
that, among other things, it "has
comprised this church in relation
to both our Protestant and Roman
Catholic brethren created
division in our own household OF
faith and has destroyed the spirit
of unity and hence practical
efficiency in regard to the mis-.
sionary work of the church. -
This letter was signed by five.
sixths of the rectOrs of the
Episcopal churches in the Twin
Cities; and was called forth by
the publication of a statement by
Bishop Edsall in which he defend
ed the action of the Board Of
Missions in as much as it woulC
tend to promote harmonious re
llations between the different
sects. What the final outcome
will be, it is impossible to predict
| The whole controversy is symp
tomato of the peculiar status O
the Episcopal Church. Approve
or disapproval of the action of the
Board of Missions is determined
| by the view one takes of the re
ligious affiliation of that Church
| Is it.. Protestant or Catholic
Some say it is Protestant; Others
deny this. asserting that it is ;
branch of the Catholic Churcl
and therefore, Catholic. Thi
difference of opinion has. existed
from the beginning if we are t,
1 judge by the views expressed b.
two leading ministers of tn
Episcopal Church in letters pub
lished in 1.-THE Churchman AM
dealing with the Panama Confer
J ence. DIR. McKim maintains tina
the Protestant Episcopal Churcl
is Protestant, for he says:
"The great divines of the Eliza
! bethan period avowed themselve
Protestants, so did the CAROLYN
bishops > Such was tn
J position also of the fathers of on
! American branch of the church
Not until the period of the 0xfor,
tracts was it even whispered tina
! this church is not Pro estant. Tn
! Esprit and genius of our prayer
J book, and of our Representative
bishops and theOlOgianS. has bee