The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-10-26
From the n. Z. Christian Advoeate and Journal
THE KNOW NOTHINGS.'

7
be incorrect, or at least imperfect but as
suming that public opinion does no injus-
tice to the views and purpose by which
the association is actuated, we incline 10
the opinion that stern necessity called it
into existence, and requires its continu-
ance.
live are rightly informed, the associa:'
ton has been got up to counteract the po-
litical influence of Romanism. by resisting
the political elevation of foreigners. It
does not purpose to exclude from office or
authority, legislative or executive, Roman
lists as such, but only foreigners. Yet, as
the great body of Romanists, in this coun-
try. are emigrants from Europe, it cannot
be denied that the exclusion of foreigners
will necessarily affect the Roman Catholic
! Church more than any other Churches;and
this, so far as being political eiyil.may
be shown to be necessary TO the conserva-
!! tion and perpetuatien of civil and religious
liberty And hence it may be asserted with
great propriety, that an organization, such
as the know Nothings" constitute, is es-
sential to the welfare ofourt country, as
the only adequate means Of counteracting
Romanism, the most secret and the most
formidable association that human ingenu-
Iity ever devised, sud which from its very
nature is, and cannot cease to be, hostile
to the principles ofcivh and religious lib
erty. a
That the Roman Catholic Church is
secret society, directed by its hierarchy
absolutely controlled by its priesthood, to
degree which has never been exercised by
the leaders of any other system-is evil
dent by its religious creed, and its prac
f tice everywhere. The confessional is a Sc
cret tribunal, before which every member of
E the Church is required to make known, not
only every immoral action, but every tho't
and purpose of the heart, upon pain of in
curing the anathema ofthe Church. which
f is equivalent to sentence of eternal dam
nation. The secrecy of this tribunal is not
only admitted by the Church, but gloried
in. Even the priest dare not reveal what
. is extracted from the penitent under the
seal of confession, unless he DO authorized
u to divulge it by Church authority.
This will not be denied, we presume,
> but this is not all. The priest is thus put
in possession of secrets which enable him
. to hold bis peniteht under secret obliga-
tions which he dare not violate. The priest
u as we have said, is bound to secrecy, but
may be released by his superiors from the
u obligation, and always will be, as he al
ways has been, so released, when the good
Of the church requires it. The penitent
j. must have been very correct man in all
his relations, if his confession does not
@ place him absolutely in the power of his
priest, even in regard to his worldly inter-
t. ests; but in regard to his spiritual interests
his absolute dependence, on his confessor
j. is unquestionable. IIo has been taught
to believe that priestly absolution is essen
|, tial to his salvation, and what is still worse
thatthe validity and efficacy of this abso-
|, luton depend upon the secret intention OF
the,priest who administers, or pronounces
|, it, SO that if it be pronounced with all form
atty, and according to the established for
/, mula of the Church, it is wholly unavail-
l. ing. unless the priest has "right in
tention' in the exercise of his function.
The pen.ent is, therefore, wholly in the
= power ofthe priest; for although his con-
fessor may go through all the outward
e forms ofreceiving his confession and giving
t. absolution, yet he must be los.-forever
l. his priest has not been so concil-
lated as to exercise right intention in his
d own mind This is tho doctrine of the
church as laid down by the so called holy,
" mfallble Council of Trent, the last occu-
: mcnical couch of tho Roman Catholic
ID Church.
Now we putt to any man Of reason and
r common sense, if you believed all this
ifyou believed the priest had all your eter-
r. nal interests in his power--could send you
ID to heaven or hell, even while he admins
tered the rites of the Church outwardly,
le by exercising or Withholding a secret
right intention" in the administration of
the sacraments, or the power of absolution
If you believed in these doctrines of the
Church of Rome, would you incur the dis
pleasure of the priest for any earthly con
sideration? Butifnot, is not every Ro-
man Catholic under the absolute control of
u secret society, by considerations not
only Of temporal but Of an eternal
ID weight?
But it may be thought that no sensible
B. man can believe all this! Yet if a man does
not believe it, he is no! Roman Catholic
at all; and why any but such cango to con
q fession, in country where no legal au-
i thoriLy or political advantages are made
TO to depend upon going to confession, we
cannot divine. In Roman Catholic coun-
tries, where all social and political advan-
tages are made to depend upon being in
the church and the being in the church
is made to depend upon going to confess
ion, at least once year, we can easily con-
ceive how an atheist may be induced to
conform tothe requirement, as he believes
in no future judgment or accountability
But why even nm atheist should profess to
be a Catholic, and conform to the require
N ments of the confessional in this country,
,. We cannot imagine, unless it be from de-
=. sire to secure Catholic votes, and influence
. to aid his political aspirations, ..t.
y Having among us very largo Sc
* cret society, governed by priesthood who
I, are believed by the members of the associ.
in alton to exercise by divine right the power
to fix and determine their eternal destiny,
and this priesthood itself being the subject
W of a foreign pontitf, prince and potentate,
by what means can such influence be con.
;. trolled but by acombination ofits opponents?