The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-02-15

The Sacrifice OF the Mass-Thc Testimony OF
Reason, Scripture, and the Fathers.
LECTURE DELIVERED IN ST.. pArRrcxs CATHEDRAL,
THURSDAY EVENING, FEB l3, BY BISHOP HUGHES.
We haps an altar whereef they hare right eat ,Oho
serre the Iaoerndce-HEBREw, 10Th chap. 18Th verse
In these works, Christian brethren. the APOSTLE
IS directing the attention Of the converts from the
Jewish religion to the contrast and difference be-
tween their ancient sacrifices, and that with which
they mad been made acquainted in their Christian
profession. They were attached naturally to these
ancient usages, and above all, to the sacrifice
which 1t was foretod in the prophecies should
cease, and we know by the writings of the Apos
ed with kind OF attachment, giving occasion to
persons to blend, as far as it was not prohibited
these usages which were calculated ia conci!iate
me preJudlces OF that slowly believing and mere
dulous people. The Apostle is here speaking of
the difference between the Christian and Jewish
affairs; and. as in the Jewish religion, they who
offered sacrihce. as well as those for whom the
s sad was onereo par11k OF the victim immo-
OF thes have no right to eat who serve the Taber-
nacle." This has always been understood in
every age OF Christianity TO refer to the sacrifice
of the Cross. 1t is found in other writings Of the
same Apostle, when addressing those who were
not Jews, but Pagans, before their conversion. In
this case, he prescrlbes the rules to be observed
with regard to the meat offered in the market, but
which had been before offered unto idols; and he
tells them IN the same correspondence, that in all
rites or sacrifices, the priest officiating, and the
person for whom the victim was sacrificed ,partook
OF It, and SO he tells them that they could not be
partakers with devils, by partaking of that offered
to idols. Internationally, beloved brethren, sa
crltce Is essential 10 the worship of the true God
There can be no doubt that its divine origin dates
from the tall OF man-that 1t was established by the
express command of the Almighty himself But
even, according to our reason, sacrifice is es-
sentiaI TO- express the nature Of our worship, as
well as the attributes Of the Being to whom it
IS tod. md tho nh
ways held that her divine founder did not leave
her without this means Of adoring God in spirit
and in truth. And it is in this particularly, that
the excellence OF her sacrifice srrpasses all which
preceded 1t. In what we have already said of the
eucharist, the object of our remarks has been to
establish the simple dogma always held by the
church,but denied in modern times and discarded by
those separated from her communion We have not
dwelt upon the special dogma ef transubstantia-
ton, because 1t Is consequence Of what we have
presented and proved; And, 1t seems to me, that
II the unanimous and unbroken testimony of all
processing. christianity in primitive times, and
The sacred writings can prove anything that the
doctrine Of the real presence has been proved
What is the meaning Of il! 1t is this-that simply
efficacy of the power of God, through the instru-
mentality of the words of conservation, pronounc-
ed by the priest at the altar, there is affected
change into the real presence of the body and
blood OF Christ. Now, therefore, it is unnecessa-
ry for our separated brethren to take offence at
what they call transubstantiation, because they
deny the presence atogether that Is, they preserve
The form OF conservation, but regard the elements
s bread and wine before conservation, and bread
and wine after it; and if they have any idea OF
the real presence at all, 1t is unconnected with
hat solemn ceremony-but is merely species OF
intellectual sentimental presence, and this
IS the only notion they have of it. II they
admit the real presence at all, then
Will enter upon an inquiry as to the manner IN
which it exists but as they deny it altogether, it
is not necessary to discuss the manner in which it
exists, What is transubstantiation ? 1t is this
that when Christ took bread and wine, and blessed
and brake it, with the declaration, !" take, eat,
this is my bedy," we believe ii was so; and as
an inevitable consequence Of that benedictioa, it
may be said to be changed from bread and wine,
transubstantiated SO as to be what 1t was natu.
rally, and something else spirituany-and in by
words Of Almighty po~er,i is his body and his blood.
na = LIE sa ad nas
then occurred what we call transubstantiation. At
the marriage of Cana, in Galilee, water was
changed into wine this again is what ismeant by
transubstantiatlon. But there is no use discus
sing that word, since they do not admit the real
presence at all-that is to say-as being identified
with the elements in the sacrament, either before
or after conservation. You know the Friends do
not believe IN baptism ; so that it would be very
absurd in them to find fault with the administration
OF baptism In one and not in another form This
is all that is necessary to be said on transatlantic
alton. Then having established it, after locking
abroad upon the great tide Of Catholic authority
having walked along its banks until we trace
It up to its pure fountain in the time of our
Saviour himsef-we may begin to- ask for
what purpose has 1t pleased divine Sa-
viour to establish this great institution. Accord
ing to the explanation OF the Catholic Church, and
the authority of the ancient fathers, It is that he
should give us that last and most perfect pledge Of
his love; that he should accomplish In reference
70 u.s. as individuals, through that sacrifice, what
he accomplished for our whole race, in the aggre-
gate upon the cross; and, as by his death, it was
designed to unite us more to the divinity, so, by
a
tuary OF his holy temple, are brought into more
intimate union and participation of that divine ma
ture. But before charging on that doctrine, have
to speak of another subject. You are aware that
the progress OF error, those who began what is
styled the reformation Of the Church did not
toresee how one link should be attached to another
in the chain OF their work. They did not per.
ceve in breaking away from her communion that
It was necessary TO institute anew order OF minis
try, for which they had no authority. All history,
all antiquity, the universal conception OF mans re-
dempton, became changed and modified, and
adapted to few principles on which they coaceiv-
edthemselves justified to found their supersructon
And thus Luther could not, for long time, get rid
of the sacrifice OF the mass but when at length
he did, he tells us in his writings that it was Ia con
sequence OF discussion he had IN the night
time with some mysterious spirit which argu-
ed with him against that doctrine. But you
perceive how soon the altar st. Paul speaks
of was levelled to the earth-how the sacrifice dis
appeared from amongst them-how their temples
remain without vlctim-so that one thing after
another disappeared until that altar was Invested
of the whole body and blood of Christ, and all
participation in the victim was narrowed down to
the lnsignltcance OF ceremony IN which a few
persons meet simply round table and partake
of bread and understanding for the time their
memories in reference to an historical event which
happened 1900 years ago. Having once denied
the real presence of Christi was a natural
consequence to reject sacrifice But at the same
time, in doing this they rejected all that there
of soul and life in Christian worship; so that
among their descendants OF the present day. the whole
meaning and force and strength Of the expression of our
saviour obleratej the whole has disappeared from
good actions works of charity sncrihce OF any
consideration OF value for Gods sake. IT, beloved breth
rem you look back TO the origin Of our race you will per
cevc that Immediately after the fall Of God ordained
sacrifices and subsequently,, when the nations iai away
the truth into the Of idolary they still reser