THE STRUGGLE FOR TRUTH.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9299, 27 December 1895, Page 6

THE STRUGGLE FOR TRUTH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sib,—Anyone who has taken the trouble to follow the correspondence on the Scripture Text Book must see revealed therein some traits of Christian character that would be highly amusing—indeed comical— but for the sad face that he is at the same time painfully reminded of a memorable scene at the dawn of Christianity between an historic personage, the sound of whose name has ever given the widest conception of reproach, and the great Author of our Faith. I will take, for instance, the concluding portion of Mr Johnston's last letter. He says—" I wish to state that correspondence of this kind is not conducive to either public or private good, therefore I refrain from replying to any more on the subject." It must be confessed that it is neither pleasant nor edifying, but a sense of public decency compels all who regard it to admit that the removal of highly slanderous untruths is aa necessary to the moral wellbeing of the community as is the removal of all sorts of offensive rubbish to the physical health of the people. Therefore, when the offensive correspondence was commenced by this same Mr J. Johnston taking exception to what he evidently considered a complimentary reference towards Catholics by the Rev. H. Williams, and wonld have the public understand instead that they (the Catholics) held a meeting for the purpose of denouncing the Bible in schools, and advocating its withdrawal, and thereby brought about the "establishment" of the present "godless" system, it was time that a falsehood, though so palpable to Catholics and to all intelligent people in the least acquainted with Catholic teaching, should be removed from the minds of the public. I knew not then who Mr J. Johnston was and cared not; I know not now who he is, and care not as to his personality. I think the public view things in the same light. Bat there was his letter, and there was his charge—and as we have abundance of proofs of how easy it is to start a lie upon its legs, and of how difficult it is to overtake and strangle it, if it geta much of a start, I consider it the duty of any Catholic with a knowledge of that meeting to state the truth about it and its object, and thereby lay Mr J. Johnston's offensive statement low, to seethe among the many calumnies which men of hie style of writing and talking have set adrift amongst the community. Air Nolan has now done this—my object in writing, has, thereby, been gained. It not difficult to understand then why Mr Johnston thinks that no more of the correspondence would be conducive to the public good. It is a pity that he did not consider this view of it when he started it to arouse prejudice against Catholics. The public good is now paramount .with him ; so it was with the historic personage I have previously referred to. He makeff certain. statements. In ;the face of proof to the contrary, he neither makes an attempt to substantiate them, nor has he the candour to admit a mistake, but withdraws in silence with the evident desire that -the public should harbour as truth the insult to the religion of " Mr Nolan and his compeers." In reply to Mr Johnaton's objection to my not signing my name, permit mc to remark that not feeling myself an important Christian personage like himself, the force of whose name has to. make up for the feebleness of his logic, and the absence of his facts, I content myself, an humble individual, with obeying that very old Arab proverb, which runs thus:—" Consider not who speaks, but what he says." Thanking you, Mr Editor, for your kindly hint on future discussion, and your liberality in this.—Yours, &c, M. ■^Mi——in—————