The New York herald., 1844-12-24

and dungeons OF earth We know thai not until the
reign Gregory were the ancient Pagan temples
consecrated as christian temples But know from the
testimony Of Tertuan who wrote in the third century
that In those days Of and blood the
tom to have an image Of the Grod shepherd engraven
the chalice and sacred vessels; and Theodosius,
IN the first book Of his History, says that the
Virgin Mary, which shows that Theodosius believed
the christians Of his times had images pictures
But there h upon record what really may be considered
an extraordinary testimony that in the period of
christianity images and statues introduced for the
respect of the people Eusebus who led the father
Of history in the days Of Constantine the
Great relates what If did not stand upon the testimony
Of 90 great man, might also be rIdcusd Here is his
testimony. the 7th Book Of his III Of the Church:n
vor as we read in the gospel, native OF Csssarea
that her house still shown there and that perpeuate
the benefits she had received she had placed
door bronze statue OF woman stretching forth her
hands It is positively. asserted thst this repre-
mt existence, having it when on jour
ney to Cessarea There nothing surprising in people
born among the heathsns raising statues &C." conse
those images for he says he had those Peter and
Paul &C. Now these statues existed until the days Of
Julian the Apostate, and Julian who had abjured the
Christian faith and reverted the doatry his ancient
Pagan ioreahers ordered the to be broken into
pieces, under the impression that a statue Of Jes
Christ (Dr Pise here read an extract detailing the de-
suction o the image by Julian and devotion OF the
Christians who gathered up the fragments through feel
ing Of veneraon for it Here then the Christians of the
earliest periods collected up the broken fragments of the
sacred image which the Aposate Julian had ordered be
whilst the Christians collected the fragments and pla
cedhem memorials in Their hurches must detain you
something longer than Intended because is
Tor to conclude this subj ct this evening / shall
therefore bring before you the testimony Of OF the
most distinguished and venerable fathers of the
Episcopal Lhuchapproving of this practice; and when
shall have addnced only or two their testimony add
ed to that ot all preceding Christians beyond the six
century, and when have added ths testimony Of the
fathers Of the church-when will show, have done
Ia mt nptt. scrip
tura but consistent and agreeable with the commands OF
scripture-then would It not become any candid mind
when he hea voice raised to decry the Catholic
religion doatrous, to deny the charge do not saw
he will become Catholic, but when he has heard what
edge that doctrines and that when
properly understood are vndcaed by the best possible
authority bat Will @ bring before you the testimony Of
cal Church. He declares OF sacred images that "ey are
Of very great use in exciting emotions of piety the pic
lures Of Christ and Of the blessed Virgin and the Saints
may be had and used by the Church The Protestasts
use them, &c." That to say, the Proestants Of his
lay; not the Protesants who have on recent occa
sion In solemn Convention, that the Catholics are guilty
o doatry in their use Of images and those who belong
the same Church with Bishop Montague who stands
here the vndcator Of this doctrine and hurs back upon
MS brethren the insults they have hurled upon the
venerable institutions ofthe Catholic Church CDR Pise
ly in favor Of the Catholic doctrine) Thus far
the authority Of Montague's testimony corroborates all
ections and dsanng those venerable tenets Of the an
cent church. Archbishop Lard in q speech before the
star chamber in 1897 himself to the whole
tiers there assembled thus 81 hope poor priest will be
allowed to worship God with lowly reverence % you
do since are bound BY order and by the cons
tuition Of give due honor and alteration to four
God and to his altar though that far Of divine
worship" Now argue that II It be lawful to paw honor
and respect to the aar lawful and proper pay
spect to sacred images In generating the altar we
venarate what Is made Of marble wood other
materals we pay no veneraton to 1t s insensble be-
cause not possessing OF the attributes of deity We
ray respect to sacred images maera,s not TO
the canvass not to the art but to what is
II can venerate the statue OF Washington so far al to
accord it national honors-so far as that, If
to raise his hand against it, it would excite my re-
sentiment it Is because he represents the republic
the honor paid to the father of his country. Is upon
the same principle, that II that sacred image were
injured, should not for sake Of the picture,
itself merely feel myself Christian insulted; and ii
be commendable to feel towards the statue D Wash.
ingt0n how much should be in relation 10 the
statue Of Jesua Christ expirng for salvation Reem.
Der that it is the easiest possible thing rdicue; and
when hear my religion ridicued and illuminated, a
saying Of antiquity comes into my mind which, for the
than the wise pcove The weapons Of Rouss
,ganst revelation we're ridcule The weapons OF Vol
weapons used today against Catholics For it is impo-
sible that II doctrines only investg thew
could be decred and we are bound to enquire and ask
this question: " Are these Catholics so blind, are
their clergy such slaves to the Pope they said TO
bep That question that every candid and fair man
should put himself and answer Were they to do 30
here would be respect for the ancient religion.
Then the faith OF Thomas Kempis and Of Fenelon
would not 20 considered quite SO idoatrous or you
choose, the religion OF Lafayette, whose memory claim
our respect. And yet whom we hear, have often
done the assertion msde thaif the liberties OF America
Priests may not ask how possible that
recommended 80 years ago. the late venerable Bishop
this Diocese then young French priest 10 seek home
in this country. He came. recommended by Lsfsyett,
And would he ever have done If he thought
that from Romsh priests tho liberties of this country
letter Of introduction the young French priest ad
mitted to the flend,hp tho society the confidence Of
Washington himself of Randolph to Patrick Henry to
whom he taught the French language, being
taught by. that revered man. the English in re.
tayete compare with theirs? In his last days he became
pous Catholic and before breathing his last received
the consoations Of religion from the hands Of Romsh
pres as they choose 10 style them. Why not this in
stance bebrought before the people, when they are told
of the ntrgues fRonsh priests against the country
the arms Of the other Why respect the religion
this great man. and Of others born upon the soil or
Carroll, fCarrollton who rsked his millions Of dol
lars as we'll 40 his life signing the declaration Of nde
pendence, and he was Caholic' why not respect the
religion Of the present Chief Justice the Uuied states
amabe the accomplished, the eloquent Judge Gaston
who also Catholic Is 1t to be supposed that these
c"o,rs gse all So atoT. and against hi.
have gone abroad, II is impossible not to regard
the Catholic religion as un6t TO- produce anything
great or NOBLE perfect do not know that Washi e
ton himself Objected 10 sacred imsges when find in the
very where he breathed his last there is to this day
threw his closing eyes upon IL why not then should
there not be more Of charity Of bsnevoence this
period Of peace not more glory to God In tine highest
and on earth peace and good will to man" why not at
festive season put asdc all prejudice and dscord and
learn 10 respestand live in charity with another and
learn this LESSON that IL all cannot be Catholics ali can
not be rroestsns but that religion teaches us all
possible religious social and domestic duties and that
the cry against must have originated either in ignor.
anee or (but hope no) malice. The next lecture on
Sunday night will be on the subject of the Cross fDr
rne closed by brief nnson to the Ladies' Fair for the
benefit of the Catholic Female Sunday Schools ds
course which listened to with extreme attention by
dense audience Of various religious denomnstions1
FIRES IN CHARlEsToN.-A fire broke out between
the hours of two and three clock this morning, in
Meeting street, west side between Society end George
streets, In the trimming room attached to the carIa9e