AN EYE WITNESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 288, 6 December 1871, Page 2

AN EYE WITNESS.

To the Editor of the Nelsox Evening Mal. Sir, — I am a German, and I always tnke a lively interest in what affects my countrymen. I saw lately in your columns an article representing Bishop Strossrnayer, a German prelate, as having made a speech at the Vatican Council. You also published afterwards a letter contradicting the statement, am! grounded upon tho very testimony of tiie Bishop himself, who denied ihe accusation. Bat as a man who gives evidence for himself is not always believed, allow me to send to you another testimony of a reliable authority, that of J. W. Croke, D.D., Bishop of Auckland, who was an eyo-wiiuess, sitting in the Council as Bishop. The Prelate wrote the following to the Auckland Evening Star : — " Sni, — Some one lias sent me your issue of the 25th October. It ecu tains a paper beaded 'Bishop Strossmayer's Speech at the Vaticau Council ;' and while at the Thames, I whs made aware that partifs were pressing; on you to publish it. Now, sir, I sat in the Council as Bishop for a short time, anJ ju.LcJ as Theologian in the Council during all its liveliest discussions, and I do hereby most unequivocally declare, on my word and honor, that Bishop Strossmayer never delivered the speech, nor anything like it, to which tho anti-Cutholic Press of these Colonies is striving to jrive currency. So far as he is coucerned, it is a tissue of iujurious falsehoods; theologically speaking, it contains a series of propositions long since formally condemned ; and were Bishop Sfcrossmayer known to hold auy one or all of them, he would not be suffered to sil^for even au hour amongst the assembled or the Church. The Church of Rome admits of no compromise; fears no opposition; never lowers her standard in front of auy foe; and, if^ Bishop Strossmayer had dared to say in^ Council what you report, him to have said, his See would now be iu possession of another, and himself amongst those who had made shipwreck of the faith." I am, sir, Yours, &c, Christopher Frank.