New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-30
Many Bear English Post
marks and Contain
Yelled Threat
Ignored by Church
Catholics Believe Vatican
Statement Reiterates Strict
Neutrality of Pope

No comment on the statement OF
Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary OF
State. on the position of the Vatican on
peace proposals and chain letters urg-
ing prayers for peace was forthcoming
Yesterday from Cardinal Farley or
other Catholic Church authorities in
New York.
In non-offical Catholic circles the
statement of Cardinal Gasparri was in
terpreted as q reiteration OF the EatI-
cans position of strict neutrality and
a warning TO the world not to be de-
ceived by efforts to make it appear
that the Pope favors or will favor a
peace favorable to Germany.
The reference to chain letters and
chain prayers is the first indication
that this method of propaganda had
become so prevalent as to invite the
serious attention of Church authorities
Inquiry developed the fact that thous-
ands of these letters have been circu-
lated in New York alone, the recipients
being Catholics in all walks of life, not
excepting members of the clergy. All
of these, according to a prominent
Catholic ,>who would not permit the use
of his name, are instruments of propa-
ganda. and many, by direct threats OF
evil to follow, seek to compel the re-
cipients to further the scheme by send
ing out from three to ten letters OF a
similar nature.
Prayers Cloak Measurements.
"The so-called prayers are not pray
ers in the proper sense" said this man.
"As matter of fact, in some cases the
: form of prayer is used to cloak untrue
/ statements as to the war and those en-
gagged in it. In other cases misstate-
ments of fact are not so conspicuous
All, however, seek to get the idea OF
peace in the public mind, to give the
idea that peace must come at once. 1t
is an attempt to secure a state of pub
lie mind by suggestion that could not
! SO easily be obtained by direct means.
"This chain prayer idea was nuisance
few years back. II was attacked BY
Church and civil authorities and seemed
on the point of disappearance when 1t
I was revived for this work.
There is probably not clergyman
in New York who has not been ap-
pealed TO by members of his parish
for advice as to what to do on receipt
OF these letters. Invariably the seeker
after advice has been told TO destroy
the letter and forget the thing. The
yelled or direct threat has had the ef-
feet Of soaring many.
See Hand of Enemy
"Then, too, there has been in some
instances grounds for belief that en-
emies Of the Church were seeking by
the use of such letters to make IL ap-
pear that Rome is trying to help Ger
many. The London Morning Post al
ways an anti-Catholic organ, helped
this idea along when some time ago IT
formulated the demand that the Vati-
can be forced to explain its position as
/ regards peace.
cardinal Gasparri stated the exact
nosition OF the church when he de-
clared that it was only Just Chris
tan and lasting peace With that
position 10 man can honestly quarrel"
An interesting feature of the chain
prayer situation is that many OF the
| envelopes containing them bear Eng
| lish postmarks and the anarks OF IN,
Censor