The New York herald., 1922-01-18
Methodists Continue Activi-
ties in Rome, Buying
One of Seven Hills.
CATHOLICS SEEK MILLION
Motion Picture of John Yves.
ley's Life Is Latest Move
to Spread His Faith.

Tho decision of the Knights OF
Columbus to raise $1,000,000 with
which to combat the spread of Prot
estantism in Italy by undertaking well
fare work was made at the request oi
Pope Benedict, 1t is a sequel to the
knights pilgrimage to Rome in 1920
when the Pope expressed concern over
what he termed attempts to proselyte
the Italian youth and asked the pill
grims to help him in. conserving the
ancient faith of Rome.
The activities to which the Vatican
objects are especially those Of the
Y. NJ. c. A. and the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. In decree issued by
the Holy Office on December 23, 1919
the Y. M. C. A. was singled out by
name as particularly to be guarded
against.
The "Y," entering Italy to work for
the soldiers in wartime. stayef there
after the war, and by means OF branches
with recreation centers where games arc
played has continued to extend its work
OF a nature similar to that carried on
In TIE United States.
The Methodists, in furtheranoe of their
worldwide evangelizing campaign, be-
gun two years ago with war chest of
SlOS,O00,0e0, raised as a Wesleyan CEN
tenary fund have extended their cf-
forts in Rome Their purchase Of Monte
Mario, ono OF the seven hills Of Rome,
facing st Peters, and the removal
thither Of tho Methodist College and
planning to erect new buildings on the
hlL have recertly aroused the Vatican
TO further endeavor to prevent what it
regards as trespass on its own ira
dttional field.
Work Started mt Pope's Request.
For the Knights of Columbus James
A. Flaherty. Supreme Knight, said yes
terday:
THE decision of the knights If Co.
lumbus to undertake welfare work in
Italy was made at the request of his
Holiness Pope Benedict XIV, ard cam
not be construed into an act OF war
by any reasonable man, no matter what
his religious affilation. Pope Benedict
Is the head of the Catholic Church, the
spiritual authority recognized by the
Italian as well as by all other Catholics
He knows well what is needed to lid the
work of the church in Italy and lie has
requested the. knights of Columous to
aid him In the work.
zone of the reasons for the success
OF the knights of Columbus Is tha, they
do not attempt to go anywhere or oper-
ate anywhere where they are not in.
vited. The si,000.000 fund to be raised
and devoted to American welfare work
In Italy under X. of c. auspices is not
a fund to wage war on anybody. IT,
will simply be the means of assisting in
the conservation of the faith OF the
youth of Italy, done In recognition OF
The debt which the knights of Columbus
ms good Americans recognize to TIE land
OF Columbus"
The Methodist Board of Foreign Mis-
sions apparently i-tends to take no
official notice OF the action of the
Knights 1t was said yesterday by one
in touch with the board that it did not
care to get into any controversy and
that it was not fighting the Catholics
or the Knights of Columbus and that
'the Methodsts in Rome were not prose-
lyting any more than the Roman Catho-
lies in New York." 1t was added that
the action of the K. of C. in starting
to raise s1,00o.o0o for work in Italy
was "a fine indication that the work
OF the Methodists in Italy was a sue
cess"
The Methodist preachers of New York
and vicinity have appointed a commit
tee to investigate the situation.
No Statement From ". M. c. A.
No statement was to be obtained from
the Y. M. C. A. On former occasion
when the same Question was raised, c.
w. Hibbard, asscciats general secretary.
said: 'Wa arc sorry. nf course, that
sone peoule 10 rot like us, but there
doesn't seem TO be anything to do about
IL. It has bccn abundartly substantiated
that tho Y. NJ. c. A. Is not proselyting
organization q
The decree of the Vatican. heretofore
mentioned. referred to certain non
Catholic associations" and said:
'"rhey provide in abundance facilities
of every kind which apparently aim
only at physical culture and intellectual
corrupt the integrity OF the Catholic
faith and snatch away children from
the church, their mother" M
Meanwhile Methodists are planning to
propagate their faith all over the world
by means of q motion picture telling
the story OF John Wesley. According to
n booklet sent out yesterday this picture
will be "the greatest propaganda for a
revival of Methodism that the world has
Fortuna Films, Inc, and directed by Jo-
seph a. Physioc. The cost of production.
advertising and distribution IL placed at
81 100000. Love interest Is to be sup
piled by the intrigue which separated
Wesley from the beautiful Grace Muir
rry.
One OF the characters in the play IL
to be Lord George Gordon, whose cry
OF No Popery' echoed around the
world" the prospectus saws.
The John Wesley Fund. 522 Fifth
avenue, whose treas asurer is Henry f.
Wilson. Is asking Methodists to assist
in the production of the picture by
buying stock at sTa share. Mr.. VIII
son said last night he would try to get
between $4,000 and 100000. the cost
OF production alone. in this way. The
Methodist Church is not backing the
enterprise. but sixteen prominent
Nrcthodists are listed rs an advisory
board. with the Rev. Dr. John @. Ben-
son. pastor of Union Church. New York,
as chairman.
At DIR. Bensons church last night Il
was said that his name was used with
his permission and that the project
was all right Among the other spon-
sors listed Is DR.. Charles w Flint pres
ident of Cornell College In Iowa. who is
soon 70 become chancellor of Syracuse
f-sversity.