Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-02-07
For he Spectator.


.He,srs. Editors 1t is denied by Those VINO OPP
pose the Know Nothings, that the Pope oil home
Claims to be anything more than the spiritual neau
of the Church; that he claims no temporal au'aoF
;,v All this, Messrs Editors, is nothing more
Nm = little special pleading The Pope can
dsny this. aud under the claim to spiritual au'
,hority, get all that he wants. just put your
conscience in the keeping Of another and see II he
don't have both body and soul.
The Pope claims to be the head ofthe only true
church claims to be the deScendent Of Peter the
Sicege.ent of God-to hold the keys OF heaven
to expound and promnlgate doctrines Tor his peo-
Mo An this the Catholic Believes IN his heart
sn1 conscience Then the first command he gives
"a bis neope is, YOU must serve God hut he clans
t,a tigbt of telling them how the service is to be
n.rlorned. He may say to them You are requr
ed 10 do that which w,ll promote the prosperity OF
the Chdrch-which is the only true Church OF
Gid upon earth and in building up his Church
Yuu are renderinr him service. In order to do THIS
You must, ii necessary, not only pToScf'oe nose
see prnper to denouace as hereicS because OF their
unbelier in the true Church, but You are request
cd 10 persecute them-tu ex,erm!uate them trom
Nh. face of the earth. if the good of the Church
REQUIRES it. Il in doing this you have to commit
,hat which seems To be sinful, hold the keys OF
heaven aud will absolve you from all blame; you
have only served God in Furnishing the enemies o
his Charch. "a
Thus we see. Messrs Editors, the Pope of Rome
may deny that he claims temporal authority Owe
the people az his Church, but what is 1t he canno
do under his claim to spiritual authority having
hold of the conscienceS Of men what is 1t that he
cannot do with them? Here lies the fault. II
mankind will blindly place their hearts and con
sciences in the keeping of another, they may eN
pect to be rode legitimatoIy by the grace VI God
Men who are thus ruled are unit to rule others
especialiy those who acknowledge but one rule OF
Gts-that is the Old and New Tesament-bH'
ons head. ana that the Saviour Of mankind; bu
one lord, and that Lord, Jehovah. The descend
'an.s of those who Landed upon the rock OF Ply
mouth determined to establish government with
out King and Church withou! the influence .
the Pope
viii the friends of the Pope answer one ques
lion? Suppose the Catholics Oft this country wer
tod through their Bishops aud Priests, that TIN
prosperity of the Church required them to do al
In their power to pat Catholics IN office, to kee
out heretics would they not obey The mandate
Then suppose the Catholics were to get the pow
or, would it he long before the government woul
be connected in sone way with the Church, a.
Tor the good of the Church :
II wont do, Mess;s. Editors; men may deny a
inuch as they please the ten po7aI power ct tn
Popo, it the Pope has their hearts and conscience
Ii is all he need want for his purposes. Then be
ing himselfa King or Emperor. holdlng abSolu'
20 ser over his OSn ;jaatry, those he thus hold
an influence over here are not good material
make republicans of.
expect. Messrs. Editors. to have word to sa
on the subject OF Kaow Nuhingism and Abolition
A FR,rXD OF rHE Know NormXGs.