A PRIEST’S CHALLENGE

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 20 July 1925, Page 2

A PRIEST’S CHALLENGE

“SALE OF INDULGENCES.”

STATEMENT FOUND UNPROVED

“Did Pope Leo X 6ell or authorise tho sale ox muiugoueesi''’ was the subject of a keen controversy that has taken place in the columns of the “Manawatu Daily Times,” between Mr A. Ernest Mander, lecturer for the W.E.A., pnd the Rev. Father Lynch. As the result of a challenge by tho latter that ho would pay £IOO to the hospital if Mr Mander could prove the sale, a committee consisting of Messrs F. J. Natmui, M. L. loung, and o P. Innos heal'd their evidonce. They havo cockled that Mr Mander has failed to prove his case. The Committee made it a condition of the hearing that the evidence should not be published. Tho following is the finding of the committee: — “The question submitted to us is: 'Did Pope Leo X sell, or authorise tho sale of indulgences?” Mr Mander took up tho affirmative, and the Rev. Father Lynch the negative. It was agreed that the onus of proving that Leo X did, in fact, sell or authorise the sale, rested with Mr -Mander. “Mr Mander set out to prove his case: (1) By a copy and translation of a ‘Bull’ purporting to have been published by Leo X, and (2) by references to well-known and accepted historians. As to tho question of the ‘Bull,’ there was no actual proof before us that the original ‘Bull’ in the British Museum was a genuine document, nor was it proved that the alleged copy produced was a true copy, or that the translation produced is a true translation. Assuming, however, for the purposes of argument, tiiat the original is a genuine document, and that the copy and translation are correct, still such recorded ‘Bull’ does not support Mi; Mander’s contention, there being nothing in tho document authorising a sale of indulgences. . . As to the second point, viz —historical reports—Mr Mander has not satisfied us that the reports referred to in tho discussion prove that Pope Leo X sold or authorised the sale of indulgences. On the other lignd, the great bulk of such authority proves that no sale or authority to sell was authorised by Pope Leo X. Wo, therefore,, unanimously decide against Mr Mander on the question submitted.” Mr Mander is dissatisfied with the erdict, and desires to have the question referred 'to another tribunal.