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To Our Speakers and Writers

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 47.

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To Our Speakers and Writers

By W. W. P.

WE desire to impress upon the minds of those who write and speak upon topics relating to the controversy with Rome, that it is very necessary to use only accurate quotations, and in every case to give such a reference as will make it possible to trace the quotation to its source and prove its reliability. There are many garbled citations that have been handed down from one writer to another, and other paragraphs purporting to be the utterances of various persons, or to be extracts from publications more or less well known, but all dates and places are omitted in the credits given. Such omissions render the quotations absolutely valueless as testimony concerning the doctrines or actions of the papal hierarchy.
In our attempt to verify some such statements, we have found that quite a number of them can not be rightfully used, as they either do not fairly represent the Roman position, or are the views of Protestants based upon the declarations of Roman writers, rather than the exact words of the writers themselves. As a sample of this kind of quotation, we call attention to one which appears, with some variations, substantially as follows: “The Pope has power to change times, to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ.” This is sometimes credited to Pope Nicholas, and one reference is Decretal de Translat. Episcop. Cap. This abbreviated reference given in full would read, Decretal de Translatione Episcoporum, Caput, which may be rendered thus: “Decretal Concerning the Transference of Bishops, Chapter,” but the number of the chapter is omitted. It makes little difference which reference is given to this citation, as neither is correct, and the statement was made by a Protestant writer who based his view upon the general tenor of Roman Catholic documents.
The controversy with Rome is rapidly growing more and more intense, and representatives of Roman Catholic interests are watching carefully for any errors committed by Protestant writers and speakers, and are quick to note them and to deal with them. A recent case will illustrate this: A correspondent of a Philadelphia paper wrote at some length on the opposition of the papal hierarchy to the public-school system, using a long list of quotations to establish his position. Immediately upon the appearance of this article a leading Roman Catholic paper took up the matter in the following fashion:—
The reverend gentleman seems to be the possessor of a stock of childlike simplicity that would do credit to Ah Sin, the heathen Chinee, judging from the character of the “proofs” he now offers in the organ of his sort of wisdom. Here are a few specimens of his artlessness:—
“The public-school system is a swindle on the people and an outrage on justice, a foul disgrace on the matter of morals, and should be abolished forthwith.—The Tablet, Freeman’s Journal.”
Which paper? What date?
“These public schools are a devouring fire and pits of destruction. They ought to go back to the devil from whence they came.—Freeman’s Journal.”
Date?
“The public school is a national fraud; it must cease to exist, and the day will come when it will cease to exist.—Sermon by Father McCarthy, Dec. 23, 1887.”
Father McCarthy of where?
“The public schools have produced nothing but a godless generation of thieves and blackguards.—Priest Schauer.”
Priest Schauer of where? Also date of speech wanted.
“Unless you suppress the public-school system as at present conducted, it will prove the damnation of the country.—Father Walker.”
Date and locality needed.
“Catholic parents who send their children to the so-called public schools are guilty of mortal sin.—Rev. Dr. Frul.”
Date and locality needed. Also, who is Rev. Dr. Frul?
“When I see them drag from me the children, the poor little children, and give them an infidel education, it breaks my heart.—Pope Pius IX.”
Is this any wonder?
“The common-school system of the United States is the worst in the world.—Cardinal Manning.”
Where was this said or printed?
When these are the kind of proofs that the Rev. — coolly asks us to accept, we feel sorry that we have wasted our time in looking over them, but shall not repeat such a mistake.
Instances have also come to our knowledge where some of our own workers have been brought into very embarrassing positions by having some quotations that they used in their arguments proved to be either garbled or without any foundation whatever; and we have noticed a goodly number of cases where this might have been done, if any one had taken it upon himself to challenge the citations used. Great care is exercised in verifying citations of this character which appear in the Protestant Magazine, and our intention is to make it a repository for reliable material of this kind. We shall, therefore, esteem it a favor if any one who detects any error of this kind will bring it to our attention.
One who is sure that he is on the side of truth can afford to be fair, and even generous, in any controversy with those who differ from him, and Protestants who charge Rome with deception and with the perversion of the truth, ought not to give the least occasion for just criticism concerning their fairness or the absolute truthfulness and reliability of their statements.
W. W. P.