The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-15
THE PANAMA CONFERENCE

lowing timely and appropriate
comment, in the current issue OF
"'The st. Paul Churchman, on the
Pan-Protestant Conference sched-
uled to take place next month at
Panama in its, relation to Catho-
lies:
I'VE are both Catholic and
Protestant, and as such desire to
cultivate friendly relations with
Roman Catholics and Protestants.
With such good intentions to-
wards our Protestant brethren, a
resolution was adopted by the
House Of Deputies of our General
Convention of 1913 authorizing
the Board Of Missions to cooperate
with other Boards Of Missions.
With this resolution the House of
Bishops declined to concur. Never
theless our Board Of Missions
have elected a delegation to at
tend conference Of Protestants
to be held in Panama. In so do
ing the creature has rebelled
against its creator. The action,
which would have been bad if the
conference were to be held in New
York is worse because it is to be
held in Panama. What such a con-
| ference Of Protestants held in Pan
anna means cannot be questioned.
It is an insult to Roman Catholics
Our Catholic brethren in the city
set us a good example in the mat
tiers of Christian education, daily
Eucharists we'll attended, and a
multitude of women, who have
chosen the good part of Mary of
Bethany, that they may be holy
both in body and spirit The
relation of our two senior priests
to Archbishop Ireland is one of
long standing friendship. The
clergy Of the Twin Cities have adj
dressed an open letter to the
House Of Bishops asking them to
take action in the matter of the
Board Of Missions delegations"
The holding Of this conference
threatens to prove disastrous to
the Episcopal Church. Already it
has caused dissension in the ranks
and if the Board Of Missions in
sists on sending delegates to
Panama, it must be prepared to
brave the storm of criticism which
| its action will arouse. Already
five members Of the Board have
resigned as protest against tax
ing part in a Congress which has
for its avowed object the divising
of ways and means to proselytize
the Catholic people of Latin
America. The Episcopal Bishops
and clergymen who are opposed
to participating in the Congress
realize, as every intelligent man
must realize, that all attempts to
evangelize the people Of Central
and South America must end in
dismal failure for the reason that
these people have been for many
centuries in possession Of the
truths Of Christianity, as taught
by the Catholic Church. and that
there is no possibility Of trans
forming them into Protestants. A
few of them, for personal or other
reasons, may be enticed to give up
the practice Of the Catholic re-
lligion by the Protestant mission
aries sent amongst them, but they
will never really affiliate them
lselves with any of the sects.
/ 1t is not too late for those who
are behind the movement to hold
la Congress at Panama, to call it
loft, and unless they can be pre-
walled upon to dosso, it will prove
| disastrous to the religious inter
tests which they hope to foster and
promote. 1t is an insult to Cath
Iolcs. The Catholics Of Panama
| have determined, to ostracize it.
lit will develop friction in the
franks of those who are most in
! favor of it, in regard to the means
| best suited to accomplish the pur-
pose for which the Congress is
called.
| It will, likewise, give the people
of Latin America false idea of
the attitude Of the United States
towards their religion, for the
Protestant delegates to the Con-
gress viii, no doubt. arrogate to
themselves the right to speak for
the United States and viii strive
to convey the idea that this is a
distinctively Protestant country
all of which will be detrimental
to the friendly interests and spirit
lof brotherly cooperation which
ought to exist between the United
!; States and the other Pan-Ameri.
can Republics.