The Washington herald., 1915-11-01

or South America is at a much lower
level OF moral and spiritual development
than in the United States Father Sher.
man. the priest of the Roman Church
said after visit to Porto Rico. following
the Spanish-American war, that that is.
land was "A Catholic country without re.
liGion.' The conditions that he depIored
exist largely in South America.
But II is not Necessary to attempt to
proselyte Roman Catholics, because there
tens Of thousands all over the country,
who are not shepherded by that church.
I l make. therefore. the following afirma-
tons:
"First-The Panama Congress is
not organized for regulation on &C.
clesiastical questions. or even on that
OF missionary policy. but for the
honest investigation of the problems
of missionary work in Latin America
and for full brotherIy conference as
TO how the needs OF Latin America
can be most effectively met by the
gospel of Christ
''Second-It is not true that the
predominant note in the congress with
be anti-Roman.
Roman Catholic Church is excluded
from the congress.
"Fourth-It IS not true that the
purpose of the congress is to prose-
lyte members of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Wise to Send Delegates.
with this understanding of the
spirit and the purpose and the scope
of the Panama Congress. 1 think you
will agree with me that il was wise
and right and Christian for the Boa I'd
of Missions to vote to send delegates
to attend that conference. We are al
ready committed to missionary work
in South America through our sue
cessful mission in Brazil under Bishop
Lucien Kinsolving. We are. therefore,
deeply concerned in the proceedings
OF this approaching congress. and in
participating in IL We are not enter
ing upon any new enterprise, but only
: eking light for the better prosecu-
.on OF an enterprise already under
taken.
Il rejoice. therefore. and I believe
you will rejoice with me, that at the
meeting of the board on. Tuesday last
the proposition to rescind the action
taken in May, when IL was decided to
send delegates to the said congress,
was overwhelmingly defeated by a
vote of two to one. 1t Is, however.
a painful fact that upon such a prop
osition-so wise, so reasonable. so
Christian-there- might not have been
a unanimous sentiment in our board.
Opposed to Protestantism.
las to the grounds upon which this
important action was so vehemently OPP
posed there was no unanimity. Some
evidently voted to rescind the action
upon grounds Of expediency-because of
the bitter opposition of a portion of the
church. Others evidently voted upon a
misinterpretstion of the spirit
and purpose o fthe said congress. al
though IL almost passes comprehension
that any one could have been in doubt
what the real spirit and the real purpose
OF the congress is.
"a few-and they the leading spirits in !
the opposition, the men who displayed
bitterness on the question |
were dominated, I regret to say. by
heir antagonism to Professionalism in any |
form. II is impossible to doubt that the |
objection of this group was
10 any recognition on OF. part OF fell |
owship with other Protestant COM
nunions and to any acknowledg ment /
hat this church is based upon Prot
.stant principles. The two conspicuous
eaders in the debate on that side took
strong ground against our participating
n anything that might be called pam
outcropping of Antagonist.
From this point Of view the matter
axes on a very serious aspect. indeed.
L is an outcropping Of that deep funda-
mental antagonism which has grown UP II
n the Episcopal church in recent years
between those who stand by the history
md the record of this church from the
ime of the Reformation to the middle of
he last century and those who in recent
ears have brought In new principles OF
revolutionary character. principles
which can only result IN destroying the
Protestant character Of this church
I'VE are here. / regret to say. face to
ace with an irreconcilable antagonism.
can see no possible real unity between
hose who are loyal to the principles
10 Affirmed IN the Rsfornstion IN the