Evening star., 1920-03-15
CRITICISM OF. POPE.
D|sTuRBse0a{R|E
miss Z dds Il !! tout 4 adt,e'''s { s !.
Address Resented Bitterly d
by Peruvian Ambassador. i

The regular Sunday evening concert
at wardman Park Hotel last night
came to sudden close when, between
numbers. Miss NJ. Louise Montague Of
Richmond. Va. made an, address
which was construed to be an attack
upon the Pope, which, was resented
bitterly by Ambassador Alfredo fezet
Of Peru. -.
The denunciation Of the Pope was
the signal for general confuston:
Fashionably gowned women hissed
Miss Montague and shouts filled the
ballroom, it was said. Mr.. Pezet. 1t IS
alleged. was threatened with expul-'
sion from the hotel by Capt R. M.
words passed between the two men,
According to the story related to q
Star reporter today by Miss Montague.
who. is head Of the International HUI
manity League, which aims to pro-
mote church unity. she had been in
vited to address meeting IN the
ballroom of the hotel yesterday morn
ing. at which Assistant Secretary Rooee-
velt Of the Navy Department was to be
the principal speaker. Owing to the
lateness. Of the hour Miss Montague
postponed her talkountil the evening.
Alleged Cause Of O1ense.
Between musical numbers Mrs. F. B.
Moran Of this city introduced Miss
Montague, who proceeded to outline
the plans Of the organization which
she represented: II told how>the Pope
refused to line up the Catholic
Church with the church unity move"
said Miss Montague. IT said that the
reason the Pope refused to do this was,
because he was unwilling to repudiate
the political policy of the church on
church and state unity.
Ambassador Pezet then arose and
shouted. I'm a Catholic, and I do not
intend to stand for any such speech
Capt r. M. Collins Of the Willard
and advised me to continue. with
drew from the platform with the
statement that I,wou1d give a lecture
in wardman Park Hotel some day
this week.
Women Hiss Miss Montague.
"rhen confusion reigned. Fashion
ably gowned women Kissed at me. and
some came to where /. Vas standing
and made such remarks as You
ignorant thing and You don't know
history I was challenged on all
sides by Catholics and defended by
the Protestants in the assemblage
The entire assemblage turned into
an open FORUM. everybody seemed to
be ClamOr1Nk 10 DC HedFU. Al one
time I thought there would be blows
struck. Yes, 1t was what 1 should
term q near-riot."
Miss Montague said she made no
attack on the doctrines of the Catho-
lie Church, and tl:ct she, herself, is a
Catholic. She said the lobby and BALL
room were filled with members of the
diplomatic corps and their wives and
other notables.
Ambassador Alleges @Insult."
Mr.. Pezet, when asked by a Star re-
porter to give his version of the af--
had been "insulted" when Miss Mon
taSne "delivered her attack on the
Catholic Church, of which / am a
member. and of which my family has
heen a member for centuries.
Il naturally resented this attack"
confirmed Mr.. Pezet, "and when l re-
mnnstrated with the speaker a man
whom found out later to be Cant.
Coi1ins threatened to throw me out.
dared him to do SO. There was
Great confusion. / did not propose to
Sa insulted in the hotel in which I
was a guest, so I resented the attack
ON my church"
Groups Discuss Incident.
For an hour or more following the
.aare-up" guests Of the hotel stood
rrouns IN the lobby discu ssiYln the
inc;SSent AS Miss Montague. put it
::the guests resolved themselves into
two armed camps."
Tha association OF which MiSs Non
t.cue is, head has the Endorsement Of
tWenfv-fiye deuominAtions, and In
ciuded in its membership are repre-