Logical Mexico
May 26, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 63 The second is a powerful addition to the work (growing daily fewer with...
...We really tourage toward adopting a policy less disparaging of do not begrudge him this ambition...
...of preaching nor the enlightenment of education, but Bishop Miller is in charge of Methodist work in through the magic of the Mass, the spell of the conMexico and Central America...
...All this is valuable to this new of inestimable importance to Christian civilization...
...In vain did the State Department and the tecture...
...It logical research and publication by Catholic mission- is difficult to restrain one's feelings before the harrowaries along the lines so greatly encouraged by the Pope ing spectacle of this repression...
...Obviously, the State Department had them have been, for half a century from the outside still fresh in mind the investigations conducted before world, there is invaluable knowledge of scientific value the Senate Committee in 1919 and 1920, reference to and of incalculable importance to the primary object which has previously been made in The Commonweal...
...These facts, together with others which might for the control of political affairs...
...He is represented very fessional, and the hocus-pocus of transferred merits well, we believe, by the title if not the contents of a and Purgatory remittances, peddled out by expert book published as Prowling About Panama...
...We do not, estant church which good men like Dr...
...No one is objecting to the doing the Christian Century...
...in the process he ment and Mexican officials during 1921, when there is too often handicapped in sympathetic understand- was talk of a treaty to be signed by the two countries, ing of the people with whom his mission lies, some- will see clearly that the grim violence of the present times with lasting prejudice to his personal efficiency...
...May 26, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 63 The second is a powerful addition to the work (growing daily fewer with increased facility of commuwhich lies so near the heart of the Holy Father, bring- nication and transportation) still lives in out-of-theing fresh vigor to a world-wide effort...
...Latin ecclesiastical salesmen...
...tween the Church and temporal powers...
...And gradually lives in most intimate contact with his people, far more a matter of so much moment to both peoples, and to intimate than are most parish contacts at home...
...The Mexican Foreign Office, however, in the person It is to be hoped that this new activity will draw of Senor Pani, objected to this provision on the ground to it all who have anything whatever of knowledge and of "legal reasons which preclude the Mexican governexperience to contribute...
...His first years in But even these, having read the summary of the the field are often spent in laboriously acquiring the diplomatic relations between the United States governelements of the problems of living...
...and it quest of Tamaulipas, one marvels at their supineness has been announced officially that the exile of all Prot- since the opening of the nineteenth century...
...Those whose faith in Anthropos (the notable Catholic review published in Providence is strong may find consolation in these in Vienna) in the new ethnological museum in Rome, words of the great Newman : "The truth remains that and the Milan University conferences...
...but it ought not the national honor and less scornful of public opinion...
...The point is that it that he is a case in point ; and as such we purpose to is the principle and practice of the Roman hierarchy deal with him, realizing full well that we might adjoin to control its constituents, not by the reasonableness a dozen names equally savory...
...the strength of the Church, as heretofore, does not There is no doubt of the value of these two objec- lie in earthly law, or human countenance, or civil statives to anyone who has spent much time in mission tion, but in her proper gifts: in those great giftscountries with any interest in mission work...
...Nothing estant ministers is to follow at once...
...such men in America, for we have not thought much The Catholic University can become a focal point of these matters...
...to have turned his color scheme into solid green...
...ing a treasurable distinction...
...movement, and, if a suggestion is in order at the moThat the University is keenly alive to this oppor- ment of its organization, should be utilized as it is tunity is evidenced constantly...
...It is true that the missionary ment's acceptance of this stipulation...
...His whole point is, By way of illustrating these, we offer the following there will be no religious persecution in Mexico so excerpts from his article, with footnotes of our own...
...of mission work...
...the former, a way places to which travelers and scientific investigauniversity in the true sense (inasmuch as it is not a tors rarely penetrate...
...He merely deleast of which is providing scope for the Brobding- clares that a Catholic cannot do good, thereby maknagian mental snoopings of men like Bishop Miller...
...it is their common civilization, was suffered to fade from true also that in the past he has lived, and in cases view and become almost forgotten...
...The man are powerless to clip...
...Most recent move- being utilized in Europe...
...It would be an be mentioned, ought at least to have the salutary excellent idea for many Americans to familiarize themeffect of silencing a variety of propagandist who has selves with the concordats recently arrived at between forced himself upon a national consciousness that the Vatican and various governments, and to get a would preferably be attentive to almost everything fleeting idea of the relations now being promoted beelse...
...Then our govIn the orders, in scattered and isolated missions, in ernment did insist that "the citizens of each of the private hands, and in cellars and in attics there is a high contracting parties shall not be disturbed, movast wealth of literature ; in the rapidly disappearing lested, nor annoyed in any manner, on account of their pioneer missionaries, practically cut off as many of religious belief...
...utter ignorance and inexperience...
...Nevertheless, there are many college, but a large group of colleges guided by men who are not missionaries or priests who have peneand women studying and teaching along differing lines trated as far, for business or for pleasure or scientific of experience from the same fundamental principles) interest, or who even have administered the affairs of has in it the seed of a clearing house of the practical the people among whom the missionary's work lies...
...twist of the screw and Rome would have taken over Perhaps the next few weeks will provide Bishop Miller by force the government of the country...
...His importance lies in the fact of good by anybody in Mexico...
...64 THE COMMONWEAL May 26, 1926 With two immediate results of this failure to available for cultivation between church doors in achieve the realization of an American principle we, Mexico, we can't help wondering if it was really the as a people, are now concerned...
...From the very beginning ments of importance are the drawing to the University all of America should be drawn in and utilized, not of a Benedictine foundation from Downside, Ample- merely the United States...
...S. Parkes Cad- however, recommend this effort to Bishop Miller...
...It may be a two Americas and Europe such as is not and cannot surprise to some to learn that there are not a few well be offered anywhere else...
...By expendAs a general rule this person has been attached, ing a little effort in this way, many bogies could be more or less professionally, to that wing of the Prot- slain and numerous nightmares avoided...
...An illuminating example mental strain, the devastating enlightenment, would is Bishop George A. Miller, speaker about Mexico probably be too much for him...
...has become a first principle for a junta impregnated Claiming always to be above kingdoms and thrones, with revolutionary atheism, will not spare the few the Pope steadfastly refused allegiance to any tem- "reasonable preachers" who have been at such pains poral powers and assumed to dictate the policies of the to distinguish between themselves and the religious state and control international relations...
...seen," and now the first meeting of the Catholic An- Having consistently broken its word, as has been thropological Conference, planned by Reverend Leo- revealed again by the publication of the Vatican corpold J. Tibesar of Maryknoll and Dr...
...The forced ex- is more ridiculous, because nothing is so preposterously odus of Methodist and allied clergymen has already impossible, than the supposed machinations of Rome begun...
...These weeks will, however, add only customary expresThe mountains of irony conjured up by this vision sions of brutality to the long litany of infamy with are too great for man to compass...
...John Mont- respondence relative to the appointment of the aposgomery Cooper, of the University...
...had most of the revenue...
...forth, and Fort Augustus, cooperation in the foundation of the Mediaeval Academy of America, which is LOGICAL MEXICO considered "to be one of the most significant steps toward the history of culture the United States has THE Mexican government is acting true to form...
...While the "rea"Only a visit to Mexico and first-hand sight of the sonableness of preaching" is suffered to continue, why unbelievable array of churches on every knoll, by every should any American worry about the Kingdom of road, in open fields, by running streams, on every Christ south of the Rio Grande...
...As Similarly, the British minister was powerless to pre- for the horrible purposes of Rome, the standing armies vent the expulsion of Dean Peacock, who had even of which were doubtless drilling daily for the new consigned an agreement not to preach in Mexico...
...The warfare against Christian teaching which which the Roman hand was upon everything...
...There must have been moments, at least, American ambassador try to influence the Calles en- when he looked about hopefully for a site...
...One more belief of the great majority of the Mexican people...
...Most of Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the "hardships" of the new missionary arise out of the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted...
...Although we are which the existing Mexican potentates have scourged relatively sure that small patches of land are still the conscience of the world...
...tolic delegate, the Calles potentates are certainly not Twenty-six delegates to this meeting discussed, as doing anything unexpected in carrying out the cama preliminary to organization, ethnological training for paign of forcible repression which has followed the candidates to the missions and the promotion of ethno- publication of the Mexican bishops' pastoral letter...
...The Bishop, you see, does America is faced with many serious problems, not the not object to a Catholic doing good...
...street and often so close together that one joins an- Well, the notable logic of Calles has settled the other, can give one even a faint idea of the extent to point...
...on a variety of platforms, and author of a summary "Why," continues the Bishop with an interrogation, of his views which appeared under the title, Is There "should not any man do good in any land and under Religious Persecution in Mexico?, in a recent issue of all circumstances...
...long as only Catholics are its victims...
...The first is the ex- absence of arable acres which troubled the Bishop...
...she already with an opportunity to alter a few of his conclusions...
...pulsion from Mexico of Monsignor Caruana, the new- We have a suspicion that his business was to foster, ly appointed apostolic delegate and an American citi- on his own hook, a little further ecclesiastical archizen...
...knowledge accumulated by different orders and relig- who have governed these peoples, with intimate knowlious or Catholic lay bodies and by individuals in the edge of them from quite other angles...
...was coolly planned long in advance...
Vol. 4 • May 1926 • No. 3
