Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-17

The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. The addition of a
dogma to the tenets ofthe most numerous of the
religious denominations of Cnristendom Is one OF the
remarkable events OF the day. The Pope has thought
fit collect the opinions OF the bishops OF the Cath
Ole Church the question Of the immaculate con-
ception OF Mary, the mother OF Jesus, and large
majority of their voices being in the affirmative, he
has proclaimed as the doctrine OF the church, that
the blessed Niry conceived without any stain
of original SIM What heretofore matter of
doubt and dispute is now to bea matter OF faith y
dogma which the councils of the church hitherto had
left open to question: which was not regarded as
settled by the Scriptures, or the Fathers or trad-
ton is now inserted i'll the Catholic creed, and all
who do not accept it are to be considered as here
tics. OF the Bishops OF the Latin Church thrty-two
only gave their voices against the proceedings as
unreasonable, and four objected to adopting tenet
of religion without holding General Council, i'll
which it could be first discussed. All Rome is
jocing that the list OF ncOrtroyertlbe points of doc
trine has received this important addition.
OF this declaration OF the sinessnesS of the
Virgin iroul the beginning Of her existence Is not
made without regard 10 It's bearing upon the doc
trines and practices Ofthe ciluch which adopts it, 10
the alteration OF the Son 1t Is not III any manner ne
ceSsary, or even auxiliary The character aScribed
to him by that church, as one OF the persons OF the
Godhead, is too exalted to admit of any admission
of emuence or honor, of purity or sinctity.
The Latin ChurcD, however, prescribes the wOr
snip OF the Virgin, and any view OF her character by
which it is eXaed and brought nearer to the Divine
would of course increase her claims, TO reverence,
faithful might feel in Offering prayers to human
being. The doctrine OF her immaculate conception
places her beatiticton far above that of any of the
Saints in the calender 1t places her i'll state OF
exemption from all human trates from all liab
ty to sin and throughout the of her life
and elevatcs her to height oil sanctity which no
other of the children OF men ever occupied. The
new dogma is, therefore, auxiliary to the alteration
Of the Virgin. Henceforth it is not permitted to
member Of the LAIN Church to admit the pos
Si6iity of her hayin allen into by prOcvity
inirinity inherited from her progenitors If any
man hereafter shall seek to lessen her claims
reverence i'll which she is held by speaking of her
liable, by original constitution TO the defects of
our common nature, he blasphcmes and renders
himself subject to the censures Of the church. In
this manner the dogma aids and fortifes the
Among the Prelates who objected that the doc
trine of the immaculate conception should not be
made a tenet of the Latin Church without tue in
PREVENTION of a General Council, the Archbishop of
Paris is mentioned. The Gallican Church has hith-
erto shown itself somewhat intractable in the rea
tons which it has maintained with the Pope; and
from letter written at Paris it appears that there is
some dissatisfaction with the late proceeding among
the French Catholics 1t would be rash however,
to predict any thing but eventual submission the
Papa authority in regard to this question. The
dency to liberalism in the Latin Church has had its
day. for the present at least, and now the movement
of the religious mind is in the contrary direction.
AZ. Y. Eoening Post