■icbe IRoraan datbolic dburcb
■i at the fountain IHcaO
In the Light of the Fairbanks-
Roosevelt-Vatican
Incidents
Adna Wright Leonard
W>. C!^ t.>:i..*^':..^
The Roman Catholic Church
at the Fountain Head
3(n l\\t 1CtgI|t nf \^t 3FatrhattkH-KnoHrnplt-
Batiran ilnrtbrnta.
5p
ADNA WRIGHT LEONARD, D. D.,
Pastor American Methodist Episcopal Church,
Rome, Italy. (1901-1903.)
Cincinnati :
PRESS OF JENNINGS AND GRAHAM.
Copyright, 1910,
By Adna Wright Leonard.
VRL
0^1 6 3 4 / 74 i'
To THB Memory of
Jig ^xA\tT
Who Like Monica of Old,
Directed My Youthful Steps,
AND Whose Protestantism without Bigotry
Inspires My Present Life in the Ministry of Truth.
FOKEWORD.
This address was first delivered in the Wal-
nut Hills Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincin-
nati, O., of which the author has the honor
of being the pastor. At the conclusion of the
address the large congregation by a rising vote
requested that it be published. The address was
later delivered before an unusually representa-
tive gathering of the Cincinnati Methodist
Preachers' Meeting, and that body made a sim-
ilar request. In view of these requests the ad-
dress has been put in this permanent form. Be-
fore the manuscript was placed in the hands
of the publishers, it was submitted to Dr. Fred-
erick H. Wright, Superintendent of the Italian
Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in this country, who gives it his hearty en-
dorsement, confirming the facts herein con-
5
rOKEWOED
tained. It is with the sincere hope that this
may assist in promoting the cause of Chris-
tianity and of personal freedom that it is given
to a larger public.
The Authok.
The Roman Catholic Church at the
Fountain Head.
It is safe to say that never before have two
private citizens of any country in visiting Rome
stood so completely in the limelight of political
and religious interest as have Mr. Theodore
Roosevelt and Mr. Charles 'N. Fairbanks in
their recent visits to the Eternal City. Mr.
Fairbanks, shortly after the expiration of his
term as Vice-President of the United States
of America, began a tour around the world.
In all the countries he visited, notably in Japan,
Korea, and China, he created great interest in
the Christian religion by his courageous and
direct testimony to his faith in it, and of what
it has meant to him personally. Wherever he
has gone he has been known as a Christian
and an American of the highest type.
7
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
In the early part of February Mr. Fairbanks
arrived in Rome, and as former Vice-President
of this IN'ation, he desired to pay his respects
to the king, the Pope, and the American Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Arrangements were
made for him to visit King Victor Emmanuel
on Saturday and the Pope on Monday. Ar-
rangements were also made for him to speak
in the American Methodist church on Sunday
afternoon. When it became known to the Vat-
ican authorities that Mr. Fairbanks was to de-
liver an address in the Methodist church, it
was suddenly announced that it would be im-
possible for the Pope to give audience to the
former Vice-President, if he carried out his
announced intention of speaking in that church,
because the Methodists had been active in prose-
lyting among the Catholics.
Mr. Fairbanks replied that while he would
be very glad to pay his respects to the head
of the Roman Catholic Church, whose followers
in America had rendered such splendid service
to the country, he could not withdraw from his
8
AT THE FOUNTAIX HEAD
engagement to speak in the American Methodist
church.
At a dinner given in his honor by the rector
of the American Roman Catholic College, Mr.
Fairbanks gave a toast to the Christian Church.
In the course of his remarks he made no refer-
ence to denominations, but complimented the
Catholic Church upon the great things she had
accomplished for God and humanity.
In the course of his address before the Amer-
ican Methodists, he said: "It is impossible
to emphasize too strongly the good work the
Christian Church is doing in all lands and
amongst all nationalities. The agitation going
on in the political, social, and economic worlds
is due to Christianity breaking dovni the castes
and prejudices, and lifting mankind to a higher
plane. All Christian Churches are worthy of
support. They above all should be inspired by
a generous, tolerant spirit towards each other.
!N^othing is more unseemly than the narrow
jealousies which they occasionally manifest
toward each other. Let the Catholics and the
9
THE KOMAE" CATHOLIC CHURCH
Protestants of all denominations vie in carry-
ing forward the work of the Master."
Mr. Roosevelt, former President of this !N^a-
tion, arrived in Rome in the early part of
April, on his return trip to America from his
great hunting expedition in Africa. The eyes
of the world were upon him and his every
movement was observed with keenest interest.
His visit to the Eternal City and the events
which transpired while he was there are now
known the world over. The most concise and
authoritative statement we have seen of the
Roosevelt-Vatican incident appeared in The
Outlook, April 9, 1910. I quote verbatim from
that magazine:
"Naples, April 3, 1910.
"Deae De. Abbott: Through The OutlooJc
I wish to make a statement to my fellow- Amer-
icans regarding what has occurred in connection
with the Vatican. I am sure that the great
majority of my fellow-citizens, Catholics quite
as much as Protestants, will feel that I acted
in the only way possible for an American to
act, and because of this very fact I most ear-
10
AT THE FOUXTAIX HEAD
nestly hope that the incident will be treated
in a matter-of-course way, as merely personal,
and, above all, as not warranting the slightest
exhibition of rancor or bitterness. Among my
best and closest friends are many Catholics.
The respect and regard of those of my fellow-
Americans who are Catholics are as dear to me
as the respect and regard of those who are Prot-
estants. On my journey through Africa I vis-
ited many Catholic, as well as many Protestant
missions, and I look forward to telling the
people at home all that has been done by Prot-
estants and Catholics alike, as I saw it, in the
field of missionary endeavor. It would cause
me a real pang to have anything said or done
that would hurt or give pain to my friends,
whatever their religious belief, but any merely
personal considerations are of no consequence
in this matter. The important consideration
is the avoidance of harsh and bitter comment
such as may excite mistrust and anger between
and among good men. The more an American
sees of other countries the more profound must
be his feelings of gratitude that in his own
land there is not merely complete toleration,
but the heartiest good-will and sympathy be-
ll
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
tween sincere and honest men of different faitli
— ^good-will and sympathy so complete that in
the inevitable daily relations of our American
life Catholics and Protestants meet together
and work together without the thought of dif-
ference of creed being even present in their
minds. This is a condition so vital to our
national well-being that nothing should be per-
mitted to jeopard it. Bitter comment and criti-
cism, acrimonious attack and defense, are not
only profitless, but harmful, and to seize upon
such an incident as this as an occasion for con-
troversy would be wholly indefensible and
should be frowned upon by Catholics and Prot-
estants alike. I very earaestly hope that what
I say will appeal to all good Americans.
"Faithfully yours,
"Theodoke Roosevelt.
"Lyman Abbott,
"Editor of The Outlooh."
THE FACTS OF THE VATICAN INCI-
DENT.
Cable advices from Lawrence F. Abbott,
president of The Outlook Company, received
on Sunday from Naples, bring the authoritative
12
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
story of the incident to which Mr. Roosevelt
refers in the above message to the American
people. While still in Africa, Mr. Roosevelt
wrote to Ambassador Leishman, at Rome, ask-
ing for an audience with the king of Italy,
and saying that he would be happy also to
be presented to the Pope. As the result, the fol-
lowing exchange of telegrams occurred:
Ambassador Leishman to Mr. Roosevelt,
March 23d: "The rector of the American
Catholic College, Monsignor Kennedy, in reply
to inquiry which I caused to be made, requests
that the following communication be trans-
mitted to you : The Holy Father will be de-
lighted to grant audience to Mr. Roosevelt on
April 5th, and hopes nothing will arise to
prevent it, such as the much-regretted incident
which made the reception of Mr. Fairbanks
impossible.' "
Ambassador Leishman's accompanying com-
ment: "I merely transmit this communication
without having committed you in any way to
accept the conditions imposed, as the form ap-
13
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHUKCH
pears objectionable, clearly indicating that an
audience would be canceled in case you should
take any action while here that might be con-
strued as countenancing the Methodist Mission
work here, as in the case of Mr. Fairbanks.
Although fully aware of your intentions to con-
fine your visit to the king and Pope, the covert
threat in the Vatican's communication to you
is none the less objectionable, and one side or
the other is sure to make capital out of the
action you might take. The press is already
preparing for the struggle."
Mr. Roosevelt to Ambassador Leishman,
March 25th: "Please present the following
through Monsignor Kennedy: "^It would be a
real pleasure to me to be presented to the Holy
Father, for whom I entertain a high respect,
both personally and as the head of a great
Church. I fully recognize his entire right to
receive or not to receive whomsoever he chooses
for any reason that seems good to him, and if
he does not receive me I shall not for a moment
question the propriety of his action. On the
14
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
other hand, I in my turn must decline to make
any stipulation, or submit to any conditions
which in any way limit my freedom of con-
duct. I trust on April 5th he will find it con-
venient to receive me.' "
Ambassador Leishman to Mr. Roosevelt,
March 28th, transmitting following message
from Monsignor Kennedy: "His Holiness will
be much pleased to grant an audience to Mr.
Roosevelt, for whom he entertains great esteem,
both personally and as President of the United
States. His Holiness quite recognizes Mr.
Roosevelt's entire right to freedom of conduct.
On the other hand, in view of the circumstances,
for which neither His Holiness nor Mr. Roose-
velt is responsible, an audience could not occur
except on the understanding expressed in the
former message."
Mr. Roosevelt to Ambassador Leishman,
March 29th: "Proposed presentation is of
course now impossible."
The liberal Catholics in Rome, on their own
initiative, independently of Mr. Roosevelt, en-
15
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
deavored to persuade the Vatican to recede
from its position. If any doubt could be en-
tertained as to the significance of tbe condi-
tion attached by the Vatican to the reception
of Mr. Roosevelt, the meaning of that condition
was made entirely clear by Cardinal Merry del
Val, Pontifical Secretary of State, in his con-
versation with Mr. O'Laughlin, the correspond-
ent of the 'New York Times, in connection with
this endeavor of the liberal Catholics :
Cardinal Merry del Val to Mr. O'Laughlin:
"Can you guarantee that Mr. Roosevelt will
not visit the Methodists here ?"
Mr. O'Laughlin: "I can not. Indeed, I
believe that Mr. Roosevelt is just the man to
go there. He will do as he pleases."
The Outlook believes that this statement of
the correspondence gives the readers of The Out-
looJc all the essential facts in the case. It is
impossible for The Outlooh, as it certainly was
for Mr. Roosevelt, even to consider the ques-
tion whether there has been anything in the
course of the Methodist Church in Rome to
16
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
justify the feeling of hostility in the Vatican
to that Church.
In commenting upon this, Dr. Abbott very
truly says: "Mr. Roosevelt has rendered a
service to the country by his maintenance of
American principles in his correspondence with
the ^'^atican and by his Message of Peace to
the American people. He could not honorably
have done other than he did. An Ex-President
of the United States could not visit Rome and
fail to ask for an audience with the Pope with-
out a palpable slight to the Holy Father. He
could not accept the conditions imposed by the
Vatican without a violation of the essential
spirit of American brotherhood: that religious
differences must not affect social relations.
Catholics as well as Protestants in America will
agree with the judgment of Mr. John Callan
O'Laughlin, himself an American Catholic, who
was in Rome, in conference both with Mr. Roose-
velt and with the Vatican, and who cables to the
New York Times the judgment which he shares
with liberal Catholics in Italy: ^Familiar as
2 17
THE koma:^ catholic church
I am with all the facts, and looking at his ac-
tion from the viewpoint of an American Cath-
olic, I personally feel that any other action
Colonel Roosevelt might have taken would have
resulted in the humiliation, not only of himself,
but of the American people, Catholic as well
as Protestant, and would have established an
unwise precedent of serious consequences in the
future.' "
In connection with these Vatican incidents
the Methodist Episcopal Church has been se-
verely criticised. Archbishop Ireland, in en-
deavoring to defend the Vatican, said of the
Eairbanks-Vatican incident: ''It was not a
question of Mr. Fairbanks being a Methodist
or going to a Methodist church in Rome for
Sunday devotions. It was a question of ap-
pearing to give the fullest approval to the work
of the Methodist Association in Rome. Amer-
ican Methodists in Rome are active, and, I
may readily say, pernicious proselyters." He
also declared that "The means employed are
18
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
by no means honorable. They take every ad-
vantage of the poverty of the poor of Rome."
Again, in the same interview, as reported by
the press, he stated that "The books circulated
and displayed in the windows of their book-
stores are slanders against the Catholic faith,
the Holy Pontiff at Rome, and a misrepresenta-
tion of the whole Catholic system."
In connection with the Roosevelt- Vatican in-
cident, Archbishop Ireland again gave a state-
ment to the press regarding the work of the
Methodist Church in Rome, which, in its tone
and spirit, was even more bitter and abusive
than was his statement in connection with the
Fairbanks incident.
Other prelates and dignitaries of the Roman
Catholic Church, both in Rome and in this
country, have made similar accusations against
the Methodists of Rome and the methods em-
ployed by them in their work in Italy. Such
statements are untrue, as will be shown later.
But, inasmuch as the methods employed by
the Methodists in Rome are being inquired into,
19
THE eoma:n' catholic church
as the result of utterances like those of Arch-
bishop Ireland, may we not with propriety in-
quire into the methods the Roman Catholic
Church has adopted throughout all her history ?
An Irish bishop once said to the Rev. Alex-
ander Robertson, D. D., the pastor of the
Scotch Presbyterian Church in the city of
Venice, Italy: "I for one never desired the
fi
loverthrow of the Pope's temporal povv^er ; for as
jlong as that lasted, the world possessed in Italy
m object lesson of the degradation to which a
lominant Roman Catholic Church reduces a
[country and a people." "What Italy and other
Catholic countries have passed through at the
hands of the Roman Catholic Church would
be the experience of every other country that
would surrender to that Church the reins of
temporal government or that would allow itself
to be dominated by it.
Before the fall of the Pope's temporal power,
Italy was divided into a number of small States.
The ITorthern States were seven — Piedmont,
20
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
Lombardj, Venetia, Genoa, Parma, Modena,
and Tuscany. In the central part "were the
Papal States, composed of six Legations and
thirteen Delegations. In the south were Naples
and Sicily.
Of the northern division. Piedmont was a
kingdom, the rulers of which were members of
the ancient house of Savoy, and bore the title
of "Kings of Sardinia," after the acquisition of
that island in 1702. The other States of the
northern division were grand duchies and
duchies, ruled by princes and dukes. They
were independent of each other and were in a
constant state of jealousy. The rulers were ty-
rants, who kept their positions with the aid
of foreign soldiers whom they hired, and also
by the assistance of the powerful ecclesiastical
rulers of the Papal States.
The Papal States consisted of six Legations
and thirteen Delegations, ruled over by ecclesi-
astics of the Church of Rome. The Legations
were ruled by cardinals — the Delegations by
prelates. Within the Papal States the power
21
THE EOMAK CATHOLIC CHURCH
of the Church of Eome was absolute, and with
the exception of Piedmont, the influence that
the Church exerted over the other States of
Italy was almost an equivalent of absolute
authority.
The southern division was composed of
JSTaples and Sicily, and was known as the King-
dom of the Two Sicilies. This kingdom was
ruled over by the members of the notorious
Bourbon family.
Under the Papal Government conditions were
at times unbearable. The poverty of the people
within the Papal States was frequently so ex-
treme that the Government was compelled to
dole out food from the doors of the monasteries
to prevent popular uprisings. The older
Italians, even to this day, speak of the three
P's of the Papal Government, by which is meant
the method employed by the Church for the
suppression of the uprisings of the people. The
three F's stands for "farina, festa, forche" —
food, amusements, and the hangman, or, to be
more literal, flour, festivals, and the gallows.
22
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
When food, such as it was — to say nothing of
the manner in which it was given — failed to
pacify the starving populace, amusements were
inaugurated so as to draw attention from the
serious side of life. People were then compelled
to attend the theaters, which were subsidized by
the Papal Government, in a manner similar to
that by which they were compelled to attend
mass. When, however, the doling out of food
and amusements failed to prevent uprisings
among the people, the soldiers and the gallows
did their deadly work.
The Pope's soldiers then, as now, were for-
eigners, and were gTanted the utmost freedom
in putting down the uprisings of the people.
Perugia is to this day a testimony to the cruelty
of the Pope's soldiers and to the Vatican's sanc-
tion of the same. In that city, in the year 1859,
there was an uprising of the people against the
Government. The Pope let loose his foreign
soldiers upon the inhabitants. They were privi-
leged to do as they pleased with their victims.
Houses were looted, and men, women, and chil-
23
THE EOMAIST CATHOLIC CHURCH
dren were horribly massacred. Young girls
were first insulted by the soldiers and then
killed. The Pope was so well pleased with the
dastardly work of the soldiers that he sent for
the cruel leader, Captain Schmidt, and thanked
him personally, and then ordered a medal to
be struck to commemorate the event. The same
thing was done after the massacre of St. Bar-
tholomew. I have a facsimile of the very medal
which the Vatican had struck to commemorate
the St. Bartholomew massacre, and which is
sold by the Roman Catholic Church in Rome
to-day. Further reference will be made to the
Perugia disgrace when I speak of Leo XIII.
/^Oo h^i Be fore Gavazz i, the Barnabite friar, broke
*-*^ <n^/;«*<^^tirely with the papacy and became the pastor
itu 4M.^JuA, of a Protestant church, he would frequently use
'v^ "^^fSTword "Italy" in his sermons. This fact was
J .,\ „ made known to the Vatican authorities, and he
4, v^ lluW^^^^ forbidden ever to use that word again under
. 77-7 y the threat of severe punishment. Patriotic
songs were forbidden to be sung, and Italian
history was not permitted to be taught in the
24
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
schools. English newspapers were tabooed, lest
the people should become infected with the
spirit of freedom. Previous to 1846 there was
not one daily paper published in Rome. Tour-
ists from England or America were carefully
watched in order that they might not infect
the people with liberal ideas. At the time of
Bishop John H. Vincent's first visit to Rome,
a few years before the fall of the Pope's tem-
poral power, his baggage and clothing were
searched by regularly appointed officers of the
Pope's Government. They foimd a copy of the
New Testament which he was carrying in one
of his coat pockets. He was immediately told
that he could not have that. "Why," said the
Bishop, "I read that every morning and every
evening, and frequently during the day. I can
not get along without it. It is God's Word.
Why may I not have it ?" But the only answer
was that it was forbidden. A few years after
that Rome was opened to the world, and as
the soldiers passed through the entrance made
in the city wall a few feet from the gate of
25
THE koma:n' catholic chukch
Porta Pia, there went with them a representa-
tive of the British Bible Society wheeling a
barrel of Bibles in a wheelbarrow. From that
day to this the residents of Rome have had the
privilege of reading God's Word as they chose.
The privileges of the police, "locusts of the
State," as the people called them, were almost
boundless. They could enter homes or places
of business at any time, day or night. A man
could be arrested without a warrant and im-
prisoned without a trial. If wills did not con-
tain a liberal legacy for the Church, they were
often invalidated. The prisons were called by
the people "gulfs of hell." Into these prisons
the victims of injustice and cruelty were thrown
or placed without regard to age or sex. The
world will never know how many people died
indescribable deaths in Papal prisons. Corrupt,
yicious, and scheming ecclesiastics were the
judges. Mr. W. J. Stillma n, author of "The
U nion of Italy, " states that "drugs which pro-
duced delirium in the patient" were used, and
that the "ravings were recorded as testimony
26
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
against him." There was scarcely any educa-
tion, either among the common priests or the
common people. Yet, education was in the
hands of the priests. There was no school for
girls. Trollope, in his " Liie of P ius Ninth,"
is authority for the statement that it was feared
if a girl should learn to write she might be
found guilty some day of writing love letters.
There was no sanitation. Commerce and in-
dustry were not encouraged. In the Papal
States the measures, weights, and coins were
different. Heavy taxes were levied upon all
business, manufactories, and industries. The
drink-shops and lottery offices were the only ones
not compelled to close on certain saints' days
and festivals. There were few roads, and the
railways were forbidden. Agriculture was prac-
tically dead, and societies for the promotion of
agriculture were positively forbidden. The pic-
ture of the Papal States and of Italy during
the time of the Pope's temporal power is a dark
one indeed. Mr. Gladstone s aid of the system
of government that prevailed previous to the
27
1
THE EOMAK CATHOLIC CHUECH
downfall of the Papacy's temporal power, it is
"an outrage upon religion, u]3on civilization,
upon humanity, and upon decency." Count
Cavour, one of Italy's most gallant sons, once
said of that Government, "Misrule crushed out
I every generous instinct as sacrilege or high
I treason."
The Castle of St. Angelo, situated on the
Tiber, and not far from St. Peter's and the
Vatican, was built originally by Hadrian in
136 A. D., as a tomb for himself and his suc-
cessors. Later it became an instrument of the
Inquisition and a treasure-house of the Vatican.
From it a secret passageway leads to St. Peter's.
It is now used as a fortress by the Italian Gov-
ernment. Gavazzi, one of the first to enter the
castle, in 1870, tells of that dimgeon of the
Inquisition and of what he saw. "Irons, hooks,
(chafing-pans, ropes, quicklime, trap-doors over
caverns and shafts, whilst the remains of the
human victims themselves, of all ages and of
both sexes, consisting of hair, bones, skulls, and
skeletons, were in dungeon, cellar, and shaft."
28
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
It was mj privilege, upon one occasion, to ac-
company the Rev. H. Grattan Guinness, the
eminent Baptist clergyman of England, upon
a visit to this historic building. He was so
impressed with what he saw that he returned
to his hotel and wrote the following poem:
THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.
Within thy massive walla, O darksome tower
Are all the elements of gi'eed and power,
Of fear and crime, of cruelty and pride,
Closely compacted, standing side by side.
The dungeons black beneath, the pits profound,
For prisoners murdered, walls which stifled sound,
Chambers of horror where the rack, the fire.
Tortured the wretched, longing to expire;
Coffers for papal gold, enormous, deep.
Sheeted with iron, bound with bars to keep
Their priceless treasures from the pilfering hand ;
Chambers of luxury ; bastions which defy
Invasion ; while deep hid from every eye
A secret passage to St. Peter's leads
And the proud Vatican ! could the deeds
Be known which these strong walls have shut from
day,
An outraged world from Rome would turn away,
And call her Temple which the fool deceives
A house of merchandise, and den of thieves.
The Roman Catholic Church can ill afford
to have the world reminded afresh of the
29
THE EOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
methods it has employed to gain for itself
wealth, position, and temporal power. Never-
theless, this is one of the inevitable results of
the recent Fairbanks-Roosevelt- Vatican inci-
dents.
What of the priests of the Roman Catholic
Church in Italy? It was once considered a
great honor for a family to give a son to the
priesthood, but it is no longer regarded the
honor that it once was. The best families do
not give their sons to the Church as in former
years. The result is the Church is dependent
for her recruits for the priesthood upon the il-
literate classes of society, who are among the
least influential in the kingdom of Italy. The
majority of the Italian priests have not chosen
the priesthood as a profession. It has been
chosen for them. Placed in the Church schools
at the age of ten or twelve years, their young
minds are pressed into the molds prepared by
the Church in the Middle Ages. A person who
remains in Rome for any length of time can
30
AT THE FOUI^TAIi^ HEAD
not fail to be impressed with the characterless
faces of the priests, who parade the streets in
such great numbers. One observes not only
sensuality and softness, but also the inevitable
results of that system which requires priests to
permit others to do their thinking for them.
Their faces do not show signs of intellectual
struggle. They seem to be content to lay aside
the problems of life and to be guided in their
thinking absolutely by those higher in authority.
They virtually cease to think along certain lines
or to grapple with some of the most profound
problems of life when they enter the priesthood.
As an example of the manner in which the
priests accept without any question the decision
of the Church, I cite the following incident :
According to one tradition of the Roman
Catholic Church, St. Paul's "own hired dwell-
ing" was located on the site that is now occupied
by the Church of St. Mary, corner of Via Lata
and Via del Corso. According to another tra-
dition, the site of the church known as "San
Paola alia Regola" is said to be the place where
31
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Paul's hired dwelling stood. In connection
with this church there is a small chapel, which
is shown as the actual room where the apostle
to the Gentiles "called the chief of the Jews
together." When I asked the priest in charge
of the latter church to explain how there could
be two different sites for Paul's hired dwelling,
with a significant shrug of his shoulders, he
I replied, "The Church says it." Had it been a
question of more vital importance, the answer
would have been the same.
Gladstone once sa id, "The Roman Curia aims
at nothing so sedulously, prizes nothing so
highly, as the total removal of the clergy from
the general, open atmosphere of human life and
thought." A Government school inspector, who
examined some papal seminary boys, said that
)"not one of them was fit to pass an ordinary
examination in any national school." Father
Curci, one of Rome's most learned Jesuit teach-
ers, said a few years ago, "Young priests leave
I the seminaries, not only without the love and
' habit of study, but even without the very idea
32
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
of it." A young man, who had been a priest,
but had left the priesthood and later became
a student in the Methodist theological school
of Rome, said to me: "You can have no idea
of what the Church requires of her priests.
Until I became a Protestant I did not know
what it was to think independently of the.
Church and for myself." Such a system im-
mans the man. The Missionary Review of the
World some time ago quoted from the "Church
Eclectic" regarding the number of Roman
clergy supported by the Church in Italy:
"Bishops, 272 ; clergy having some ecclesi-i
astical charge, 20,465. The cathedral at Naples I
has on its roll 112 priests ; the church of St. u
Nicholas, _at_Bari^ 100 priests ; St. Peter's, *'^
Rome, 120 priests.
"This will give an idea of how many clergy
are only titularly employed in connection with
the sacred ministry, and yet, notwithstanding
this great nominal connection, there are over
(100,000 priests in Italy who have no cures or/ '
any fixed employment. ;•
3 33
THE KOMAN" CATHOLIC CHUKCH
"It is not to be wondered, therefore, that the
traffic in masses continues to flourish so vigor-
ously, as it affords to many men the only means
of earning a trifle. Masses for the repose of
the dead and for 'intentions' are eagerly bought
at second hand from the sacristans, who, while
retaining the greater portion of the fee, are yet
able thus to furnish their poorer brethren with
some subsistence."
Now, if this army of priests were in any real
sense producers; if in things moral and spir-
itual they were a real asset to society, the moral
conditions of the people would be vastly dif-
ferent from what they now are. The truth of
the matter is, immoralities existing among the
priests of Italy are unspeakable. Monks and
priests who have left the Catholic Church have
told me of some of the immoral practices com-
mon to the Italian priests which dare not be
mentioned publicly or put into print. By this
statement I do not mean to say that every Italian
priest is morally unclean. There are undoubt-
edly some who are clean and godly men. How-
34
AT THE FOUKTAi:^' HEAD
ever, after a residence for some time in Italy,
where I have been able to observe the lives of
the priests at close range, and after conversing
with men regarding this matter who were once .
priests and monks, I am convinced that the in-
fluence exerted by the average priest in Italy
is anything but ennobling or uplifting. Lest
I may seem to be prejudiced and unfair in
this statement, I quote the following from the
"Autobiography" of Guiseppe Maria Campa-
nella, the ex-monk and patriot chaplain to the
Neapolitan forces: "The enforced negation of
myself and the immense corruption of my as-
sociates did not conquer me." I also quote the"
following from Dr. Robertson's history of "The,-
R oman C atholic Church in Italy" as a further
proof that my charge against the priests of Italy
is not unfair :
"One day when I was walking near Arrone,
in Mubria, with an Italian evangelist, a priest
passed us on a black horse, when a boy, sitting
on a low wall, cried, 'Un prete del diavolo!'
(A priest of the devil.) I asked what the boy
35
J
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
meant. The priest, I was told, was such a
source of corruption in a certain village that
the men rose up against him. The Church
then had to take action, and it is only on such
occasions that it does. No matter how notori-
ously wicked the priest is, unless the people com-
plain, he is let alone. Its action in this case
was simply to transfer him to another parish,
thus really giving him a fresh field for the con-
tinuance of his evil ways."
The methods employed by the Roman Cath-
olic Church in Italy in securing recruits for the
priesthood, the training and education of the
priests, and the low standard of morals repre-
sented by them, are in marked contrast with
those of Protestantism, whose ministers choose
the ministry for themselves, whose education is
obtained in the free and open atmosphere of
human life and thought, and who as a class are
the very "salt of the earth."
Macaulay said: "The polity of the Church
of Rome is the very masterpiece of human wis-
36
AT THE FOUXTAIX HEAD
dom. The experience of twelve hundred event-
ful years; the ingenuity and patient care of
forty generations of statesmen have improved
that polity to such perfection that, among the
contrivances which have been devised for de-
ceiving and controlling mankind, it occupies /
the highest place." Romanism is so vast in
its proportions and intricate in its organization
that any portrayal of it encounters two diffi-
culties. First, it requires a statement so ex-
tended that the public has neither the time
nor the patience to follow them to the end. Sec-
ond, it involves saying much that is harsh, if
indeed it be not harrowing to refined and cul-
tivated people. The references which I make,
therefore, to the history of the Church, includ-
ing the priests and the popes, are necessarily
brief and for the express purpose of reminding
you of the methods which the Roman Catholic
Church has adopted throughout her entire his-
tory.
After the death of Leo^III, one of the most
distinguished journalists of Italy exclaimed:
37
THE KOMAl^ CATHOLIC CHUKCH
i"What a remarkably theatrical death! Just
[what the Italians desired, and the Vatican has
'made much capital out of it." The service Leo
XIII rendered to the world has been greatly
overestimated. He was a shrewd and highly
educated man. Had he been living, no such
diplomatic blunders would have occurred as
have taken place in connection with the recent
visits of Mr. Eoosevelt and Mr. Fairbanks in
Rome. Pius X is not the man Leo XIII was,
either intellectually or diplomatically. His
reign will go down in history as a reign of
blunders. Leo XIII might have disturbed the
peace of nations more than he did, and can not,
therefore, be accused of the atrocious things
that some of his predecessors were accused of.
But Gioachimo Pecci (Leo XIII) maintained
popery from first to last, and as recent events
have proven, his successor is determined to do
the same. Instead of reforming the Church, of
which for more than twenty-five years he was
the head, he strengthened her in her practices
of the Middle Ages. He was incapable of break-
38
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
ing with the prejudices and errors of the past.
Dr. William (now Bishop) Burt, head of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Europe, is
authority for the following description of the
Perugia disgrace:
''When Gioachimo Pecci was Archbishop of
Perugia, the people of the city, at the cry of
'Viva ritalia!' declared the whole province free
and Italian, and without any disorder whatever
elected a provisional government. When the
Swiss soldiers, under the command of Colonel
Schmidt, were marching upon Perugia with the
purpose of reducing it in subjection to the Pope,
the Provisional Government begged Cardinal
Pecci to prevent bloodshed. To Adamo Kossi,
a priest who besought him to stop the Swiss sol-
diers, the Cardinal replied : "Would you wish
me to prevent the Holy Father from reconquer-
ing his legitimate sovereignty? I am a prince
of the holy Catholic Church." He allowed the
hirelings to come on and carry out their brutal
orders. What followed is now a part of the
documented history of the struggle of Italy for
39
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
independence and liberty. ... In refer-
ence to these facts the distinguished historian,
Francesco Bertolini, says: 'Unhappy Perugia
was destined to be struck first. Like the other
papal cities, the capital of Umbria had pro-
claimed her liberty, invoking the dictatorship
of Victor Emmanuel II. The Pope sent to
Perugia Colonel Schmidt and his helpers with
decorations and promotions, and Cardinal Pecci,
later Leo XIII, ordered solemn funeral services
for his soldiers who had fallen in their efforts
to purify Perugia. On the catafalque card
Pecci placed the inscription, "Beati mortui qui
in Domino moriuntur," which, intended for
such -dead, under such circumstances, was an
insult to God.' Hon. Pasquale Vallari says in
his history : 'Thirty houses were devastated, in
which, Schmidt himself confessed, the women as
well as the men were massacred, and young girls
outraged. Then follows the honors and decora-
tions to Schmidt and his men, and the pompous
funeral services by Cardinal Pecci and the
Satanically provoked inscription, "Beati," etc'
40
AT THE FOUNTAI]:^ HEAD
How is it that one guilty of such crimes should
now be regarded as a saint ? If his soldiers have
not devastated our homes and murdered our
children, it is because through God's good provi-
dence they could not. We must never forget,
in estimating the man and his work, that at the
age of eight years he was taken in hand by the
Jesuits, educated in their schools and trained by
their leaders, and was ever after their willing
and powerful servant."
To the day of his death he was the sworn
enemy of the Government of Italy and gave his
approval to any act or movement that tended to
weaken or destroy the prestige of the Govern-
ment. He did more than any other Pope to
strengthen the Church in her adoration of the
Virgin Mary and in the use of the rosary. He
published poem-prayers addressed to the most
blessed Virgin. In a letter to the Bishops of
Italy, September 20, 1887, he said:
"It is well known to you how much confi-
dence, in these calamitous times, we place in
the glorious Virgin of the rosary for the salva-
41
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHUECH
tion and prosperity of Christians and for the
peace of the Church. At other times we have
reminded you of the magnificent triumphs won
over the Albigenses and other powerful enemies
of the Catholic Church, glories and triumphs
which resulted, not only in profit to the Church,
but also in temporal prosperity to peoples and
nations. Why could not these marvels be re-
newed in our days through the power and good-
ness of the mighty Virgin ? In order, therefore,
to render more propitious this most powerful
queen of heaven, we intend to honor her more
through the invocation of the rosary. Hence, to
increase the worship of the holy Virgin we de-
cree, beginning with this year, that the solem-
nity of the rosary be elevated to the second class,
and we beseech all that, while making sweet
violence to the heart ti this mighty Virgin, they
pray for the exaltation of the Church and of
the Apostolic See and for the liberty of the vicar
of Christ on earth."
October 15, 1890, he addressed an encyclical
to the clergy and people of Italy complaining
42
AT THE FOUXTAIX HEAD
of the atheistic spirit manifested in the pro-
posed law in favor of civil marriage, and in the
monimient unveiled to Giordano Bruno, the
Pope recommended all "to have as mediator
before God the most glorious Yirgin Mary, the
never-vanquished queen of the rosary, who has
infinite power over the infernal hosts, and who
has often expressed her special affection for
Italy."
Leo XIII and Pius X have given the greatest
possible encouragement to saint and relic wor-
ship. Pome contains "relics" of our Lord, ac-
cording to Romish tradition. In the Santa
Maria Maggiore is to be seen the cradle of our
Lord. His teeth and hair in Santa Groce, in
Gerusalemme. The table of the Last Supper
and the towel with which our Savior wiped the
feet of the disciples, in the San Giovanni, in
Lateranno. The iron bar of Hades is in a room
over the Santa Scala. In other Roman Catholic
churches are His swaddling clothes, specimens
of the bread and fish miraculously multiplied,
and the impression of His feet in stone. Ac-
43
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
cording to the Church of Rome, St. Peter has
three bodies — one in Rome, one in Constanti-
nople, and one in Cluny. St. Andrew has five
entire l)odies and one extra head. The sixth
head is in Rome. St. James has a still better
record. He has seven entire bodies and several
extra heads. The entire v^orld knows of the
black Madonna of the Church of St. Augustine,
and the Bambino in the Santa Maria in Ara-
coeli. To the enlightened Protestant world such
things are utterly abhorrent.
Many people do not understand what is meant
by the statement that the Pope is a prisoner in
the Vatican. At the time of the downfall of
the Pope's temporal power the Government of
Italy passed a law granting to the Roman Cath-
olic Church certain privileges. These privileges
are known as the "Papal Guarantees," and are
as follows:
U
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
PAPAL GUARANTEES.
Art. I. The person of tlie High Pontiff is
sacred and inviolable.
Art. II. Attempts against the person of the
High Pontiff, and any instigation
to such attempts, are punishable as
they would be if directed against
the person of the king.
Art. III. The Italian Government renders to
the High Pontiff, in the territory
of the kingdom, sovereign honors,
and accords him the power to main-
tain a certain number of guards for
his person and palaces.
Art. IV. There is set aside in favor of the
Holy See the endowment of an an-
nual income of 3,225,000 Italian
lire ($645,000), which is the sum
found inscribed in the Roman Bal-
ance Sheet, under the title : Sacred
Apostolic Palaces, Sacred College,
Ecclesiastical Congregations, Sec-
retary of State, and Foreign Diplo-
matic Office.
Art. V. The High Pontiff, besides the
above-mentioned endowment, will
45
THE KOMAK CATHOLIC CHUKCH
continue to enjoy tlie use of the
Apostolic Palaces and the Vatican
and the Lateran, with all the build-
ings, gardens, and grounds an-
nexed, besides the Villa Castel
Gandolfo and its grounds, free
from taxes.
Art. VI. During the vacancy of the pontif-
ical seat, no authority shall be al-
lowed to interfere with the free
action of the Cardinals.
Art. VII. "No public official or agent of police,
in the exercise of his duties, can
enter the residence of the High
Pontiff.
Art. VIII. It is forbidden to confiscate papers
in the offices and pontifical congre-
gations invested solely with spir-
itual attributes.
Art. IX. The High Pontiff is free to fulfill
all the functions of his spiritual
ministry.
Art. X. Ecclesiastics who, by reason of
their office, take part in publishing
in Rome the acts of the spiritual
46
AT THE FOUi!^TAIX HEAD
minister of the Holy See, are not
on that account to be interfered
with by the public authorities.
Art. XI. The ambassadors or agents accred-
ited by foreign Governments to His
Holiness, enjoy in the kingdom
the prerogatives and immunities
accorded to diplomatic agents, ac-
cording to international right.
Art. XII. The High Pontiff can correspond
freely with the whole Catholic
world, and for this end he can es-
tablish post and telegraph oflSces, to
be worked by his own clerks; and
letters and telegrams to and from
the Pontiff shall be free from every
tax.
Art. XIII. In the city of Rome, and in the
six suburban sees, the seminaries,
academies, colleges, and other
Catholic institutions founded for
the education of ecclesiastics, shall
continue to depend only on the
Holy See, without being interfered
with by the scholastic authorities of
the kingdom.
47
THE roma:n^ catholic church
While rejecting all of these guarantees, the
Pope accepts what he pleases. He is the tem-
poral ruler as well as the spiritual ruler of the
Vatican. Were he to venture beyond the limits
of the Vatican he would be subject to the laws
of the Government of Italy and under the rule
of King Victor Emmanuel III. This he posi-
tively declines to do. Leo XIII said: "We
I shall use our influence to maintain the authority
I and dignity of the Roman See and to reclaim
; the territory and civil power which by right be-
ilong to us, for the temporal dominion of the
j Roman Pontiff means the salvation of the hu-
/ man family. By these letters of ours we renew
h and confirm the declarations and protests which
jour predecessor, Pius IX, made against the occu-
Ipation of the Roman States and against the vio-
lation of the rights of the Church of Rome." In
another letter he says: "Let it be known that
)the affairs of Italy shall never prosper, nor shall
I there be peace, until provision shall have been
I made for the dignity of the Roman See and for
^ the liberty of the Pontifex Maximus."
48
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
Prisoner indeed, but the world knows that the
Pope himself has closed the door and turned the
key from within. The present Pope, following
in the footsteps of his predecessor, has gone and
done likewise. But what of the prison? The
Vatican palace is one of the most magnificent
buildings in Kome. It is said to contain the
largest number of rooms of any one building in
the world. Many of the rooms are furnished
most elaborately. The gardens are both ex-
tensive and artistic. For his own protection
the Pope has six hundred gay ly iiress ed Swiss
guards and also what is known as the "Noble
Guard s." He has his own post and telegraph
equipments, and ambassadors are accredited to
him from Catholic powers. This "prison" story
is used to good advantage by the ecclesiastics
of the Church of Rome all over the world among
the believing poor and ignorant classes. Serv-J
ant girls have been known to cut off their hair/
and sell it, that the money might relieve some!
of the wants of the prisoner, and priests have/
49
THE KOMAK CATHOLIC CHUKCH
jfeold straw which, thej declared, the Pope slept
lupon on the floor of his dungeon.
I was present when Pope Leo made his ap-
pearance in St. Peter's at the beginning of his
silver jubilee. As early as seven o'clock in the
morning people turned their steps in the direc-
tion of the cathedral, and the number kept in-
creasing steadily until ten o'clock, when the
great bronze doors swung to, at which time it
is estimated that more than 40,000 people were
within the world-renowned structure.
It was a patient multitude that stood for
hours awaiting the appearance of him whose
twenty-fifth year as Pontifex Maximus the
Church of Rome was beginning to celebrate.
The air soon became foul, due to the immense
crowd of people, the many lighted candles, and
smoking censers. Long before the Pope and the
dignitaries of the Church made their appearance
many persons fainted, and were taken to the
numerous side chapels, that had been turned
into temporary hospitals.
At precisely eleven o'clock the silver trumpets
50
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
sounded the note of triumph, which was the
same as that which announced the coming of
Rome's emperors when Rome was the mistress
of the world. At the sounding of the trumpets
the curiosity of the crowd reached its highest
point, and the subdued voices of the more than
40,000 people sounded like the roar of many
waters.
The "Guarda_Nobile," or Noble Guard, com-
posed of five hundred well-drilled soldiers, and
supported entirely by the Pope's personal in-
come, was drawn up in double file on either
side of the wide passage that had been pre-
served through the central part of the nave.
Then followed the papal procession, headed by
the prelates of the Church, chief among whom
was the papal Secretary of State, Signor Ram-
polla, the most influential man in the Vatican
next to the Pope himself. Following these were
the heads of the various religious orders, the
cardinals, and the bishops. Gioachimo Pecci, or
Pope Leo XIII, came next, seated upon the
portable chair, which was carried upon the
51
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHUKCH
shoulders of four members of the Swiss Guards.
The costumes worn by the guards were the same
as those worn upon such occasions previous to
the fall of the popes.
On each side of the chair, a short distance
behind the Pope, a member of the Noble Guard
carried a large fan made of ostrich feathers.
The appearance of the Pope was almost start-
ling, for he seemed to be more dead than alive,
and when sitting motionless he resembled a
statue of alabaster. His first effort to rise and
give the "apostolic blessing" was a pitiable fail-
ure, and he sank back into the chair exhausted.
The procession moved slowly, and after a few
minutes he again tried to gain his feet, and
this time was successful. He stood holding to
the chair with his left hand, while his right
was outstretched in blessing. For several ino-
ments he remained standing, and again fell into
the chair exhausted. After this three other un-
successful attempts to stand were made, but not
until within a few feet of the papal altar could
he muster enough strength to rise from the chair.
52
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
The celebration of the mass lasted for more
than an hour, at the close of which the Pontiff
commenced his slow and tedious journey back
to the Vatican, the order of the procession be-
ing the same as when he entered.
At the great altar under the dome the pro-
cession paused, while the Pope pronounced the
"apostolic benediction." This time, as before,
the soldiers prostrated themselves, with their
faces to the ground, as the Sovereign Pontiff
passed. The cry of "Viva il Papa!" "Viva
Leone XIII!" "Viva il Papa-Ke!" ("May the
Pope live!" "May Leo XIII live!" "May
the Pope-king live!") rent the air. It was no-
ticeable, however, that the noise was made
chiefly by the many hundred priests that were
present, the members of the clerical societies,
and by the comparatively few devout people.
The majority of that great crowd were mere
lookers-on, from whom no word of praise came,
and who took no part in the worship of the
occasion.
The Pope passed into the Vatican at 1.20
53
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
P. M., at which, time the huge bronze doors of
the cathedral again swung open, and in a little
while St. Peter's was once more empty and still.
While witnessing the elaborate pageantry of
the Pope and the Vatican upon this occasion, the
soldiers falling before his 'holiness" with their
faces to the pavement, the cry of "Viva il
Papa-Re!" ("Long live the Pope-king!") by
the clericals and others who had part in it, the
truth of Pasquino's "Contrast," which he fas-
tened to a column of the Orsini Palace in the
sixteenth century, was borne in upon my soul
with tremendous power:
PASQUINO'S CONTRAST.
Christ said : "My Kingdom is not of this world,"
The Pope conquers cities by force.
Christ had a crown of thorns.
The Pope wears a triple diadem.
Christ washed the feet of His disciples.
The Pope has his kissed by kings.
Christ paid tribute.
The Pope takes it.
Christ fed the sheep.
The Pope shears them for his own profit.
54
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
Christ was poor.
The Pope wishes to be master of the world.
Christ carried on His shoulders the Cross.
The Pope is carried on the Bhoulders of his servants
in liveries of gold.
Christ despised riches.
The Pope has no other passion than for gold.
Christ drove out the merchants from the temple.
The Pope welcomes them.
Christ preached peace.
The Pope is the torch of war.
Christ was meekness.
The Pope is pride personified.
Christ promulgated the laws that the Pope tramples
under foot.
This contrast is only partly true to-day.
Thank God ! the Pope is not the power or per-
sonage he was in the sixteenth century. His
power and influence are still great, but not suf-
ficient to check the mighty progress of the na-
tions of the earth at the dawn of the twentieth
century.
The Methodist (Quarterly) Review for April,
edited by Dr. Grose Alexander, contains a very
strong article on ^'^The~ Crisis of Roman
Catholicism." The writer, who calls himself
55
THE roma:n^ catholic church
"A Modernist," speaks the truth when he says :
"It is not very long, as history measures time,
since the Pope was the arbiter of Europe ; since
he mounted his horse while a royal hand held
the stirrup ; since he laid kingdoms under inter-
dict and led armies to mighty wars; since he
absolved nations from allegiance to their sover-
eigns and moved princes about at will ; since, in
a word, Europe was his; its kings little more
than, and often literally, his vassals; its popu-
lation his subjects; its gold flowing into his
treasury in a stream that never ceased. To-day
the most progressive nations of the earth ac-
knowledge him no longer, and feel in their blood
an instinctive distrust of him. He is one of
the great powers no more. He has been stripped
of his own principalities and is a 'prisoner' in
the Vatican."
The power and prestige of the Pope are wan-
ing, but popery is by no means dead. The
Roman Catholic Church is the same at heart
that she was in the Middle Ages. One infallible
Pope can not change the decree of another in-
56
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
fallible Pope. Therefore, the Church must re-
main "semper eadem." Until recently many
people believed that the Roman Catholic Church
was becoming more tolerant. But the refusal
of the Pope to give audience to Mr. Fairbanks
and Mr. Eoosevelt unless they should comply
with the conditions laid down by the Vatican,
which conditions, if complied with, would have
limited their freedom of action while in Rome,
is fresh evidence of the fact that Rome is no
more tolerant in spirit than she was in the time
of Martin Luther.
During my residence in Rome, an Irish Cath- VViAj iirtoftw
olic priest from America applied at our mission
building for assistance. He wanted the help of
some one who could speak both English and
Italian. According to his own statement, he had
had some trouble with his bishop in America.
He could not settle the matter and decided to go
to Rome, where he could see the "Holy Father."
He journeyed to Rome, and applied for the
privilege of an interview with the Pope. He
was told by the ecclesiastic to Avhom he made ap-
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
plication that it would be necessary for him to
apply at the office of the Propaganda. There
he was told to appoint a time when he could
appear before his bishop. He replied: "How
can I appear before my bishop ? He is in the
western part of the United States." He did,
however, set a time two or three weeks from
that particular day, never dreaming that he
would be present. But to his utter amazement,
on the day appointed, his bishop who had fol-
lowed him, appeared. As soon as the bishop
saw him, he said, "What are you here for?"
The priest replied, "!N^ot for the grace of God,
or I would n't have come here for it." His
bishop told him he would have to do a number
of weeks' penance in a certain monastery
for his misconduct. The priest, by way of ges-
ture, doubled his fist, and said, "I won't do
anything of the kind." Upon this statement
guards were summoned, who overpowered him
and later carried him to the place where he
was to do penance. A friend who had come to
Rome with him and who knew of the trouble
58
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
secured his release through the civil authorities.
He desired the services of a trustworthy inter-
preter to help him contest the matter in the civil
courts. That we were not warranted in doing.
His last words to us were, ^'I love the Church
and the Holy Father, but they have bottled him
up and I can't get at him." Other instances
could be cited showing clearly that the papacy
has not yet surrendered its foolish axiom,
"Rome never changes."
The Church of Rome has not only not en-
couraged, but has systematically discouraged
and even prohibited the general distribution of
the Scriptures among the people. Leo XIII dis-
couraged for as long a time as he could the
publication of the Bible in such form that the
common people could have access to it. It was
Protestantism in Italy that compelled him to
consent to the publication of the Scriptures so
that the people could afford to buy them. In
1902 "The Gospels and the Acts" were pub-
lished by the Society of St. Jerome, under the
69
THE EOMAN CATHOLIC CHUKCH
sanction of the Pope. The translation of the
text was fairly good. Copious notes accompany
the text which, of course, are in keeping with
the teaching and traditions of the Church. The
volume could he purchased for a lire, or twenty
cents, and was welcomed by Protestants in Italy
as well as by Catholics. The Protestants went
so far as to urge the people to buy this edition
of "The Acts and the Gospels." We furnished
our colporteurs with copies in as large numbers
as possible. But when it became known that
the Protestants were using them generally in
their work, they suddenly became very scarce,
and within a short time it was almost impossible
to secure one. It was evident that the Vatican
feared the general distribution of the Scriptures.
During the present year a priest said to a col-
I porteur : "Go on with your selling. Go on with
jr your Bible selling, and — we will go on with our
1 Bible burning." IsTow, these are the methods
employed by the Roman Catholic Church in
these days. The fact is, that since Pope ITicho-
las I pronounced against the general distribution
60
AT THE FOUNTAII^ HEAD
of the Scriptures, the papal records show more
than a thousand years of unbroken hostility to
the Bible and to Bible readers.
Those who have lived in Rome know full well
that the Catholic Church does its utmost to win
converts to Catholicism from among the Prot-
estants who visit Italy. While a resident of
Rome, as the pastor of the American Methodist
Church, I frequently crossed the path of some
English, Irish, or American priest who was do-
ing his utmost to make the visit of some promi-
nent Protestant in Rome "a pleasant one." It
is in reality a part of a deep-laid and well-
wrought plan whereby the Catholic Church wins
converts. It is one of their methods of prose-
lyting. There is a class of specially trained
priests whose duty it is to come into contact
with travelers. These priests are to be found
in all the important towns frequented by tour-
ists, but in Rome they abound in large numbers.
The hotel registers with their lists of daily ar-
rivals are open to the inspection of any respect-
61
THE KOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
able person. It is, therefore, not difficult to
learn wlio the tourists are, especially when the
information is sought by men trained for that
purpose. !N'ot a few ''pensions" in Rome are
hotbeds of papal propaganda. Dr. Robertson,
in an article to the Qontinental Preesbyterian,
says : "To all visitors whom^lhe Church thinks
it worth while conciliating, attention is shown.
Tickets are sent them for Church festivals and
ceremonies. Good places at these "spectacula,"
as the Italian calls them, are assigned them.
They are invited to special audiences of the
Pope, and English priests (and too many of the
young priests in Rome are English or Irish)
are toled off to show them the sights of Rome.
Italian priests offer their services as teachers of
the Italian language. Every year amongst my
own circle of friends there are those who are
thus made the objects of the Church's care."
From my experience in Rome, I can testify
to the truthfulness of the above statement. In
another part of the article already referred to,
the author says: "There came to Venice some
62
AT THE FOUITTAIN HEAD
members of a wealthy and well-known philan-
thropic Paisley family. The mother told me
how she and her two daughters were shown per-
sistent kindness by an English priest. Very
often these priests do not mention the subject
of religion, but this priest did, and even after
they left Rome they received letters from him
on the subject as bulky as pamphlets. Two
young ladies, sisters, from Inverness, told me
that a priest had given them Italian lessons all
winter. He insisted on their accepting his serv-
ices, and, as they were desirous of learning the
language, they allowed him to teach them. The
daughter of one of our Scottish lairds, a member
of Parliament, meeting the Duke of ]!^orfolk,
told him that she was going to Italy, adding
jocularly, that she would like to see the Pope.
The Duke at once said that he could easily ar-
range that for her. Xothing more was said.
By and by the young lady went to Rome, and
what was her surprise to be called upon, almost
before she had got settled in her hotel, by a mon-
signore from the Vatican, who had come to con-
63
THE EOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
duct her to a private audience of the Pope.
Leo XIII seemed to know all about her, and
received her with special attention, not even ob-
jecting to her Protestantism, which she courage-
ously avowed in his presence in answer to a ques-
tion put to her.*
Now, the Church, whose history and methods
have been such as I have very briefly described,
has recently condemned the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Italy, calling the American Meth-
odists in Rome "pernicious proselyters." It has
also been stated that "the means employed are
by no means honorable. They take every ad-
vantage of the poverty of the poor of Rome,"
and that "the books circulated and displayed in
the windows of their bookstores are slanders
against the Catholic faith, the Holy Pontiff in
Rome, and a misrepresentation of the whole
Catholic system."
The Methodists have a great work in Italy.
• See " The Jesuit " by Mrs. FeUcia Battz Olark, published
by Eaton & Mains, New York. A graphic and truthful por-
trayal of these methods.
64
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
To Bishop William Burt more than to any other
one man is the honor due for the development
of that work upon the present broad and com-
prehensive lines. The great central mission
building, located on the corner of Via Venti
Settembre and Via Firenze, is an honor, not
only to Methodism, but also to Protestantism.
In this building the World's Simday-school Con-
vention was held three years ago, v^ith delegates
from thirty-seven countries. The building is
estimated to be worth from $225,000 to $300,-
000. Eepeated efforts have been made by the
authorities of the Roman Catholic Church to
purchase this building. Sometimes these efforts
have been made openly, and sometimes under
cover. It contains a large auditorium for
Italian services, that will accommodate from
seven to nine himdred people. It also contains
for the use of the Italian work a Sunday-school
room, Epworth League parlors, offices, a book-
store, a printing plant, and recitation rooms and
dormitories for a theological school and boys'
school.
6 65
THE roma:n" catholic church
Dr. N. Walling Clark, Superintendent of the
Mediterranean District of the Italy Conference,
which district includes Rome, Florence, Genoa,
and twenty-four smaller places, is also the presi-
dent of the theological school. Prof. E. B. T.
Spencer, formerly in charge of the Department
of Latin Language and Literature in Denver
University, is the president of the Methodist
college for boys. Dr. B. M. Tipple has been
since the fall of 1909 the pastor of the American
church. The building also includes an Amer-
ican church with a seating capacity of about
one hundred and fifty, and apartments for the
district superintendent, the pastor of the Italian
church, the pastor of the American church, the
editor of the ,Ev angelista, and the president of
the Methodist college.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
own and successfully operate the International
Institute or "Crandon Hall," and the Girls'
Home School. Miss Edith Burt, daughter of
Bishop William Burt, is at the head of the
"International Institute," which last year gave
66
AT THE FOUXTAI^nT HEAD
instruction to two hundred and seventy girls.
The original property, which cost $55,000, has
been outgTo-\vn, and was last year sold for
$130,000. A new property has been purchased,
and during the present year three new buildings
will be erected, which will double the capacity
of the school. It has a twelve-year course, from
the kindergarten to the collegiate grade, and dur-
ing its brief history more than fourteen hundred
young Italian women have come under its in-
fluence. This school is patronized by some of
the most influential families in Rome and is
recognized by those high in authority as one of
the best schools for young women in Italy.
The Girls' Home School, in which there were
sixty-seven girls last year, is in charge of Miss
Italia Garibaldi, granddaughter of the great
Italian patriot. This school is rendering splen-
did service and is worthy of the hearty sup-
port of the Church.
The "Isabel Clark Creche," founded by Mrs.
Felicia Buttz Clark, in memory of her little
daughter, who died a few years ago, is under
67
THE EOMAN CATHOLIC CHUKCH
the direction of the Woman's Foreign Mission-
ary Society. More than one hundred babies are
left each day in this home by mothers who go
out to work.
In Florence there is a Methodist training-
school for teachers and evangelists. In Venice
is a boys' industrial school, where about fifty
boys are given instruction in the crafts. Two
years ago deaconess work was begun in Rome,
and since that time three trained deaconesses
have been engaged in visiting and nursing the
poor. During the recent earthquake in South-
ern Italy two of these deaconesses went to
!Naples and labored for seven weeks among the
sufferers. They knew no difference between
Protestants and Roman Catholics in the help
they gave and in the distribution of more than
$15^000 of Methodist money, which they dis-
tributed for the homeless and the suffering". It
is one thing to make a slanderous charge of
''dishonorable methods" against the Methodists
of Rome, but it is quite another thing to prove
it. The charge is false that the methods adopted
68
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
by the Methodists in their work in Italy are not
honorable. Large numbers of Italy's inhabit-
ants have forsaken the Church altogether, many
of them going over to infidelity and atheism.
Some authorities assert that there are more than <> / 7 /
twenty million Italians in Italy who have sev- j /v
ered themselves entirely from the Roman Cath-
olic Church. If the Protestant Church does not
reach and save these people, what Church will ?
Our ministers are instructed to preach the gos-
pel to these people, and to help all who come
within the range of their influence. If Catholics
and non-Catholics attend our services and are
converted to Protestantism, where is there any-
thing dishonorable in that ? The Methodist
Church in Italy operates imder the privileges
granted to it or to any other denomination by
the laws of the kingdom of Italy. We know
that if the Church of Rome could have its way,
the Methodist Church would be banished from
Italy before the going down of another sun.
We are not there by the permission, not even
by the tolerance of that Church. Unlike it, we
69
THE ROMAK CATHOLIC CHURCH
are as a Church loyal to the Government and
to the best interests of the people of Italy. The
king of Italy thinks so well of us that, a few
years ago, he called Dr. William (now Bishop)
iBurt to the royal palace and made him a mem-
ber of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus,
the oldest and most respected order in Italy.
He also presented him with a medal in recogni-
tion of his work. In bestowing upon him these
favors, the king spoke in the highest terms of
the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Italy.
The books published by our press in Rome
are chiefly historical works and defenses of Prot-
estantism from historical and doctrinal stand-
points. We print millions of pages of literature
every year for general distribution, and en-
deavor through this agency to make plain to the
people of Italy the truths of the Holy Scriptures
from the standpoint of evangelical Christianity.
Our literature is trenchant and vigorous, but
eminently truthful and logical. De Sanctus, the
70
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
great apologist for Protestantism thirty years
ago, himself at one time an influential priest,
has left tracts and books on the Mass, Confes-
sion, Mariolatry, Purgatory, etc., which are pub-
lished by the Waldensian Pu blishing House , and
are sold by our Church in Rome. In reply to
Archbishop Ireland's severe and unjust criticism
regarding the literature published b}' the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in Eome, Dr. J. M.
Buckley says :
"This would be very difficult to prove. We
take, however, the testimony of Archbishop Ire-
land as to the fact that we are not secretly
circulating them, but publish them and place
them where the defenders of the Catholic faith
may see them. If he will produce a book circu-
lated by the authority of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church which slanders the Catholic faith,
slanders Pius X, and is a misrepresentation of
the whole Catholic system, we pledge him that
we will secure the withdrawal of such book from
circulation. But, having seen many of the
books sold there, and not having seen in them
71
THE KOMAlsr CATHOLIC CHUKCH
anytliing fundamentally wrong as to the teach-
ings of the Catholic Church, we question the
accuracy of the Archbishop's representation.
However, in that case, it would not trouble us
to find among Roman Catholic books, in Italian,
German, Trench, Spanish, and English, gross
misrepresentations of the doctrines and practices
and spirit, not only of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but of every Protestant communion.
Even those communions that came out bodily
from the Roman Catholic Church do not wholly
escape."
So far as I am informed the Archbishop has
not accepted Dr. Buckley's challenge.
We do help the poor to the limit of our ability,
regardless of whether they are Roman Catholics,
Jews, or Protestants. The undenominational
"Priests' Refuge Home" has given temporary
shelter to large numbers of priests and monks
who have left the Church. It is usually filled
to capacity. The Methodists have given every
possible and reasonable aid in support of this
72
AT THE FOUNTAIN HEAD
work. Priests are not asked to leave the priest-
hood or the Church. They come of their o\ni
accord. The daily press of this country usually
gives large space and prominent place in report-
ing the case of any Protestant minister who goes
over to the Roman Catholic Church. If, how-
ever, a Catholic priest turns Protestant, too fre-
quently but little space, if any, is given to it.
We do not operate under cover. Archbishop
Ireland himself says: "The purpose of the
Methodist Association in Rome is confessed
openly." Are its methods, therefore, dishonor-
able if its purpose is ''confessed openly?" We
are doing in Italy what the Paulist fathers are
doing all over this country. They say they are
preaching the gospel to the "non-Catholics of
the United States." We are preaching the gos-
pel to the non-Catholics of Italy. It little mat-
ters whether they are Roman Catholics, infidels,
atheists, or Jews. They are welcome to attend
our preaching services, and if while there they
find Jesus Christ as their Divine Savior from
sin, we shall rejoice with them.
73
THE roma:^ catholic church
That Methodism in Italy, which was not
begun until 18Y3, in the year 1910 is strong
enough to attract the attention of the Pope and
the Roman hierarchy, should be an encourage-
ment to Protestants throughout the world. It
is admitted the world over, by both Protestants
and Roman Catholics, that the Pope and the
Vatican authorities have made egregious blun-
ders in connection with the recent visits of Mr.
Fairbanks and Mr. Roosevelt in Rome. I re-
gard the whole matter as providential, for the
world has had fresh proof of the intolerant spirit
which has characterized the Church of Rome
throughout all her history. It does not concern
Methodism alone, but Protestantism. More
than that, the recent attitude of the Vatican
strikes at the very tap-root of personal liberty.
It is greatly to the credit of both Mr. Roosevelt
and Mr. Fairbanks that they were not swerved
from a loyal adherence to the cardinal principles
of American liberty, although as Ex-President
and Ex- Vice-President of this great ISTation,
they could not honorably have done other than
they did. 74
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