The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1917-12-22
GEN. PERSH|NG'S VIEW .
ON VATICAN NDUPLICITY

UN THIlUHVUVTL LlUIlI
Concludes Note to America Ex-
pressing Conviction Of Vatican's
Sympathy With Central Powers
The leading editorial in The Mo-
sonic Chrontcler, issue for December
Sth,. asks the question, Where Does
the Pope Stand" and then proceeds
to answer it in no unmistakable man
ner by citing circumstances that
show how he is casting his influence
with the Central Powers:
The following extracts from The
Chronicler's editorial are we'll worth
the reading for among other things
they show that General Pershing,
himself, is aware of where the vat
lean stands in the world war and
supports our contentious in that
regard
"The Roman Catholic newspapers
Of Canada, backed by the clergy Of
that wonderful religious, political
and business institution, have been
conducting a vigorous campaign for
the repeal of the Canadian conscrip-
ton act, and vicious attacks on Free
masonry are being made in order to
bolster up the courage and unite the
faithful followers of the pope.
"The Masonic institution is held
responsible for the passage of the
conscription act, which is styled "a
menace which causes the Catholic
clergy the worst possible appre-
hension."
"The claim of the Roman Catholic
organ is absurd, as every Mason in
the world knows, but if the Masons
of Canada are responsible for the
conscription law, or any great move
ment in the interest of liberty and
democracy, they are entitled to praise
from all red-blooded Americans"
"Nov. 10 Isaac F. Marcosson, q
well-known writer, arrived at an At
lantic port after trip to England,
France, Italy and Spain. According
to a special dispatch in the Chicago
Tribune, he brought back message
from Gen. Pershing, at whose head
quarters he spent several days. This
message was no doubt read by many
readers of The Masonic Chronicler.
1t sounded note of warning to the
American people, saying: Germany
is stronger today than 18 months
! ago. The end of the war is at least
two years off, and the burden of it
now must be borne by the Anglo.
Saxon nations The warning con-
cluded as follows:
The well-known sympathy of the
vatican toward the Central Powers,
especially Austria, has also contrib
uted to the failure of Gen. Cadorna's
troops. No blame is to be attached
to Cadorna. He is a striking figure
in the war, man very much like
General Haig.'
"This appeared Just after thou
sands Of Italians had laid down their
arms and surrendered to the Austro-
German forces. Gen. Pershing is not
a 'hair-brained bigot,' a name used
by the Catholic press when referring
to a Mason. He is a hard-headed ex-
perienced military man, who is in
close touch with the situation and
who is calling attention to the facts
in order to arouse his countrymen to
the dangers now confronting them.
"It is a well-known fact that the
vatican is strongly antagonistic to
the Italian government and sympa-
thizes with the Austians. 1t cannot
be denied that the pope is the avowed
enemy Of England and France. He
is opposed to democracy, but has al
ways pretended friendship fer the
United States.
"Now that the American govern
ment is one of the principal factors
in the present war for democracy
and liberty, what is the attitude Of
the vatican toward American"
"The warning of Gen. Pershing
and the declarations of Roman Cath
olic officials and press prove this be-
yond doubt. Will the power of the
OhlLeu OIdVeS government cuanBo
the attitude of the pope?
"There is no desire on the part OF
The Masonic ChronioIer to raise the
religious issue. On the contrary, it
is making an effort to eliminate it.
The pope injected the Roman Cath
olic church into the war by propos-
ing peace terms that would make the
kaiser the victor. President Wilson
properly and firmly raped the pope
over the knuckles. Therefore, the
pope is responsible for the church
issue.
at is folly to ignore this phase Of
the war. The time has come to force
all citizens of this country to take
stand. If the pope wants to keep
out of it, let him do so but he must
not assist the kaiser in Europe and
expect to hoodwink the people Of the
United States into the belief he is
their friend. He must come out in
the open and cease his aiding the
enemies of this country or be re-
garded an avowed enemy"
~
The hierarchy is not necessarily
divided simply because two of its