The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-01-18
From the London Times, Dec. 9.
The Meeting of the Roman Catholic
prcIa feS nj Rome.


10 be attempted; so nothing was left for it
but TO breach new doctrine. The wor
ship Of the Virgin Mary has been in
peculiar degree the work Of Popes and
Of Councils. 1t was only in the eleventh
century that a solemn office was decreed
10 her. Hence proceeded furious con.
lroversy, in which ST. Bernard, ST. Thos
Aquinis, and Dominicans, were on one
side, and Dun Scotus and the Uni, ersity
Of Paris Oh the other. The subject Of
discussion was neither very decorous,
nor,ato profane eyes, very important
1t was admitted on all hands that the
Virgen Mary was without sin, else she
could not have been fitting mother to
sinless child. The question which has
so long divided the Roman Church world
is, al what period this change was effec-
ted? All are agreed that it was before
the birth of the Virgin; the difference is
as to the precise time. Was it at the mo-
ment of conception, or was it at later
period?
Several Popes and the Couacil Of Trent
have laid down that difference on This
delicate subject is unimportant, and the
church has canonized persons holding
either opinion; but it is now determined
10 put an end to this sinful federation. and
10 decide the question once for all afir,
malvely or negatively, and thus in the
interest 'oi Christian charity, TO convert
venial difference into a moral sin. In
order TO establish this doctrine the pre-
lates of the Roman Catholic Church are
summoned from the four winds to give
sanction Of their authority 10 this new
fgment and the Catholic world may ex.
pect shortly 10 be edited and astonished
by the proclamation Of new miracle
wrought, nobody knows where, nobody
knows upon whom, and nobody knows
when. We regard the step, all things
considered, as one Of the most extreme
audacity.
To require the nineteenth century to
believe, and that as truth necessary TO
salvation, fact utterly and avowedly
unknown 10 The Apostles, the early Faith.
ers of the Church, the Popes, the Mar.
tyrs, and the whole calendar OF Saints,
and that upon no better evidence than
the opinion oil the Pope and number of
Bishops, is really stretch of ofpresumpion
of which we could not have believed even
the Church of Rome to have been capa.
BILE. She is not content with holding in
her hands the Book of Revelation, which
she claims TO interpret at her will, and to
add 10 from the resources oil tradition; she
is now inventing and improvising new
facts, and requiring them TO be received
by her votaries without the slighestest at.
tempts at demonstration. If This claim
of the Pope be admitted, he may as nell
conceal The ,Chole Bible, and leave The
doctrines Of Christianity TO be taught
ane1c al his pleasure. No fact is so well
established, no conclusion so logical and
absolute. that he cannot al his will over,
throw it.
Indeed, it is quite evident that this
matter of the immaculate conception can
not stay where il is. The same neces.
sity which drives the Church of Rome TO
make the immaculate concipient herself
The offspring Of an immediate concep
ton, will operate with equal force upon
the whole succession of generations that
occur between the Virgin Mary and the
beginning Of the world. What is true
of the mother may be alleged with equal
force of the great-grandmother and The
more remote ancestors. 1t will only be
necessary for Pope in difficulties to go
one step further backward, in order TO
add a new saint 10 the calendar, and a
new miracle to the annals of the church.
Names will be wanting, but Rome is rich
in nomenclature, and the same inspira.
lion which reveals the miracle will not
withhold the name Of its object. When
this is done we may look for an increase
upon authority oil the plaques of Egypt,
the days of the creation, the number OF
the patriarohs, or any other firmly settled
fact or number. Nothing is so true that,
under this system, it may not become
false nothing so false that il may not be-
come true. Hs
Weshall wait with some curiosity this
bold experiment on the credulily of man.
kind, and if it succeeds, though we shall
not be able to agree with Mr., MaCauly
that the teaching OF the Church is the
same in all ages, we shall certainly be
10 admit to him that, after hav.
ing done this with impunity, no amount
of absurdity, however gross-no deocP.
ton, however trausparent-no fraud or
(alsehood, however glaring, can shake
the empire OF the Roman Catholic church
over the minds OF men, or teach them to
apply TO her the same canons of com
mon sense and reason with which they
measure all other subjects. She is about
10 make Two Immaculate conceptions out
of one: If she proceed TO multiply mir.
acles al this rate, and with the facility,
she may incorporate into Christianity,
in single hour, all the lying wonders Of
The IIindoo Pantheon. We know of but
Two parallels TO such astounding audOcily
who improved a chapter in
The Koran 10 re.establish The more than
character of his favorite
wife, and Joseph Smith who ever had
new revelation ready TO conceal fraud,
10 secure MISTRESS. or TO. punish an en-
emy.
One OF the most remarkable replies we
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