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Show SOUND ADVICE Methodist Minister Tells His Co-Religionists to Read History Lamentabie Ignorance Ig-norance Open Letter. It is a strange and lamentable fact that not one Protestant in ten thousand knows the truth about the teaching and practice of the Catholic Church. Many do not know that there Mas any Christian Church from the first or second century, until the "Reformation," or for about a thousand four hundred hun-dred years. And they believe that there was then, virtually, a new Revelation. When a person of common sense wishes to obtain ob-tain information about anything, whether political, religious, scientific, or it matters not what it may be, he goes to headquarters for authentic information informa-tion never to those who seek to destroy, or who are the enemies of that, which he wishes to study. Not one Protestant in thousands ever seeks information infor-mation concerning the Catholic Church from Catholic Cath-olic sources. The history of Christianity, from the apostles to the fifteenth century, is not taught in any Protestant theological seminary, nor anywhere else amongst Protestants, as far as I know. Nor is it possessed by Protestants. 1 have never seen nor " heard of such work, except in Germany. It studied theology, passed my examinations for the Methodist Meth-odist church, and knew absolutely nothing of. Christianity, or whether there was any, during this period. When I awoke to the fact of my dense ignorance, ig-norance, I felt resentment; and I confess 1 do to this day. Protestants never think of such a thing as reading read-ing Catholic books, or periodicals: or anything that smells of ''Borne." 1 never did; and yet I was. of all men. not a bigot. It is an inborn and fostered prejudice of many generations. But this is not all. Not only are Protestants absolutely ignorant of Catholic teaching, practice and history; but they generally believe a distorted caricature, and call it "Romanism." This is not to be wondared at. The general source of information being the "Protestant Tradition," Tra-dition," as Newman calls it handed down from generation to generation, from pulpit to. pew. and mouth to ear, for four centuries. And coming through such sources as "Maria Monk." and Chin-iquy, Chin-iquy, why wonder at the misconceptions? Now, without saying more. 1 come to the purpose pur-pose for which 1 write this letter, viz: I appeal to all Ca1 holies, to put forth renewed efforts to make their faith and practice known to the Protestant world. First, by personal intercourse. Be prepared pre-pared to give a simple statement of doctrine and "a reason of the hope within you." if necessary, to everyone you meet, when a proper opportunity occurs. oc-curs. Secondly, by correcting all slanders in the press, with a brief explanation of the question at issue if possible. Much has been done this way. Thirdly, by circulating the Rev. Mr. Starbuck's letters let-ters "amongst Protestant friends and acquaintances. I hope there will be a cheap edition of Mr. Star-buck's Star-buck's articles and that it will be circulated by millions, mil-lions, to the. ends of the earth! Our object is simply without taking any side to explain just what the Catholic Church teaches and leave it there. For instance: Most Protestants believe that, for money, the Catholic Church undertakes under-takes to pray any soul, even out of hell, into heaven; instead of the fact that only a truly penitent peni-tent soul goes to "purgatory." and can be helped to the "Beatific Vision" by prayer. We live, to make "peace and good will oft earth": especially amongst Christian peoples. J. B. HEMMEON. (Methodist Minister) Wolville. Nova Scotia,-April 0, 190:). |