People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1894 — Liberal’s Views. [ARTICLE]

Liberal’s Views.

It is rumored that Prof. Rudolph, the ex-Priest, will lecture in our town. Through whose agency he comes is unknown to us; but we believe that his coming here is injudicious. While we believe in the utmost freedom of speech in religion and politics, there are some things that are expedient and others inexpedient. Prof. Rudolph indulges in abuse, denunciation and vilification of the morals and private character of the clergy of the denomination of which he was once a member. His remarks have a tendency to create disturbance or a disorder and we can not see what benefits may result, and we can see what harm may be produced. Suppose an ex-Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist or Christian minister should come here and attack the private character of the ministers of the denomintion of which he was once a member, would it not insult the members of either of those denominations. Assuredly it would. Remember that Catholics are human beings and consider their religion as sacred as you do yours. If Prof. Rudolph should produce arguments drawn from history, logic and science to show the errors of the Catholic church, he should be granted an attentive hearing. But we understand that he does not do this. Our Catholic fellow citizens are law abiding. They are doing in their way what seems to them to be for the betterment of the race and why should w T e who has been expelled from their church be invited here to abuse and denounce them? Rev. Keeley was here a few months ago and he abused and denounced ‘every body and his influence was detrimental to oui town. Should Prof. Rudolph lecture here we hope that no one will be so indiscreet as to interrupt him in the least and then some one will be badly disappointed. We are not a Catholic, but we accord to them the same honesty of purpose that actuates the members of all other denominations. Liberal.