New-York tribune., 1919-01-29
Anderson Charged
With Misquoting
Cardinal Gibbons
Statements of Prelate Are
Twisted to Suit Purposes
of Dry Leader, Father
William B. Farrell Insists

The attack of William H. Anderson.
state superintendent of the Anti Saloon
League, on Cardinal Gibbons's state
ments against prohibition was vigor
ously answered last night by the Rev.
Father William B. Farrell. of the
Church of SIS. Peter and Paul, Brook
lyn. Father Farrell made the counter
charge that the Cardinals words had
been twisted and distorted by Mr. An
derson to suit his own purposes.
Regarding Mr. Anderson's assertion
that Cardinal Gibbons's statements
about the effect of prohibition on the
use OF wine for the sacrament were
without basis in fact, Father Farrell
said: "The Cardinal made a true state
ment. He was speaking Of conditions
in Maryland last fall. At that time the
Methodists were fighting to elect men
to the Legislature pledged to make that
state so bone dry that the use of fer
mented wines for sacramental purposes
would have been prohibited
Cardinals Words Twisted
"Anderson twisted the Cardinals
statements for his own purposes, so as
to make it appear that the words of
his eminencc appned to the whole
United States. Cardinal Gibbons spoke
regarding the Maryland situation.
whore the attempt was being made to
establish conditions similar to those
which existed for q time in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma went bone dry and under
such restrictions that, for about two
months, the use of fermented wine for
the sacrament was impossible. Then
the Supreme Court ruled that it was IL
legai to restrict or prevent the per
lormance OF the religious rites of the
people.
Il do not think prohibition rcprc-
sents the rule of the majority. It is
rule of the minority forced on the
majority. Personally, | have never
cared for wine. SO far as am con
cerned | would like to have it all sunk
at the bottom of the sea- but | do not
believe in destroying the personal lib
erty of any man. 1t is as logical to
say that because some men eat too
much, the food Of all must be re-
stricted."
letter from the Rev. William r.
l.
tartan Church. attacks the proprietv of
Mr.. Anderson's statements. 1t follows:
"To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you allow a CLERGYMAN of
this city to voice in your columns
protest against Mr. Anderson's attack
on Cardinal Gibbons? In the Card
nails statement, as The Tribune gives il
there is nothing whatever incendiarv or
inviting to lawlessness. and therefore
no basis for Mr.. Anderson's conclusion
that TINS prelate is an obstacle to law
ana order and an enemy of the Ameri-
can Republic. This charge against
than absurd-it is wicked and malig
nant.
"lf five hundred ministers heard it.
and not one among them publicly de-
nounced 1T then and there, the shame
OF 1t rests upon them all. and ashamed
every man of them ought to be- The
fact that Cardinal Gibbons is in error
IN thinking that The sacramental use
OF VINE is to be prohibited is no iusti-
ncatlon Tor calumny so outrageous.
"furthermore, in the nasty sueges-
'ion lhat the Cardinal opposes national
prohibition because wealthy distillers
live in his diocese and because most
OF the saloonkeepers who arc church
members are Catholics. Mr.. Anderson
adds lndecency to indecency. Yet with
TINS type of talk and this species of
argument IN the cars of that clerical
hudience some person arose to call for
three cheers for Anuerson. For tbo
sake of the cleanness, rectitudo and
sanity, of the clergymen c: the Chris
tan churches of New York hone that
many Of them are disgusted this morn
ing and that they will have the spirit
to say so.
"WlLLIAM l.. SULLIVAN.
. "All Souls Unitarian Church.
New York. January %"
The Right Rev. Mgr. j. J. Dunn
of the Catholic archdiocese
OF New York, said yesterday: at would