The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-02-05

nAoASs IL cooperating Will OtuGI
Protestant denominations, has not
met with the approval Of many
of the clergy under his jurisdic-
ton. In fact, a majority of the
rectors in the Twin Cities have
signed an open letter to the Epis-
copal House Of Bishops protesting
against participation in the Pan
Protestant Congress.
Last week new element was
Injected into the controversy
when DR.. Julius A. Schaad, Rector
of the Church of st. John the
Evangelist, one Of the largest and
wealthiest Episcopal parishes in
st. Paul, rendered his resignation
to the wardens and vestrymen as a
result OF the criticism to which he
has been subjected by members OF
| the congregation on account OF
his opposition to the sending OF
delegates from the Episcopal
lChnrch to the Panama Congress
DR.. Schaad makes no secret Of the
reason for his resignation. 81
have learned, he said, "that my
publicly expressed views upon
certain matters Of. local church
Ipolicy, but especially upon the ac-
ltion OF our general Board Of Mis-
lsions in committing our church to
Eofficial participation in the Pan
lama Congress, has caused dissa-
ltisfaction among certain members
Eof our congregation. y In other
words, his criticism of the policy
of the Board Of Missions did not
meet with the approval Of all the
members Of his congregation and
rather than cause a rupture in the
ranks, he offered his resignation,
which was accepted.
Two things are evident from
this. First, certain prominent
members of the congregation are
in sympathy with the aims and
purposes of the Pan-Protestant
Congress; and, secondly, they
wish to dictate the policy Of the
church in matters which have a
decided bearing ON it's religious
standing. 1t shows that the rank
and file believe the Episcopal
Church to be a Protestant sect,
Notwithstanding the claims made
by the High Church party that
the Episcopal Church is a branch
of the Catholic Church. AS a
Protestant organization, there is
no reason why it should not par
ticipate with other Protestant
sects in this congress if it believes
the object. to be worthy one and
thinks there is room for evange-
lization among the Catholics of
Latin America.
But the fact that episcopal lay
men wish to dictate the policy of
the church and the stand which
their minister must take on re-
ligious questions, is a much more
serious affair. Itishows that the
process of disintegration which is
SO characteristic of. many Of the
Protestant sects is making its in
roads felt in theaepiscopal body.
The people in the pews dictate to
the. man in the pulpit who is, ex-
officio, supposed to be the author
litatiye. exponent of the church s
teaching.
Under such circumstances how
can the Episcopal Church lay any
claim to be the true Church OF
Christ, Whose gospel message is
one and the samezfor all, In every
land and at all times? lie there be
no agreement in the. church itself
on questions Of doctrine what
fright has it to make any effort to
impose It's teaching upon others
70 attempt to do so is to stultify
itself. DR.. Schaad is to be COM
mended for the action he has
taken not only in protesting
against the sending of delegates
to the Panama conference but in
rendering his resignation rather
than submit to the whims Of those
to whom he should be the spokes-
man of the Eternal.
Bishop. Edsall refused to dis
cuss DR.. Schaad s resignation. He
did, however, state that "the
Panama Congress is a meeting in
(which the Christian work Of the
peninsula is to be discussed. 1t
will be attended by several promi-
nent Roman Catholics and the
President of Panama, a Catholic,
will make the opening address. =
We fear that Bishop Edsall is
misinformed in regard to the mat
ter. Does he not know that the
President of Panama has refused
to allow the delegates to meet in
the National Theatre and that the
revocation OF the permission pre-
viously given for this purpose was
due to a fuller and truer under
standing of the purpose for which
the Congress was called? No
prominent Roman Catholic will be
present at the Congress. The
Bishop of Panama has forbidden