True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-05-20
The Immaculate Conception Protest
of the Dutch Romish Bishops against
the Dogma,

The Immaculate Conception Protest
Of the Dutch Romish Bishops against
the Dogma,
Evangelical Ghristendom for the pres.
ent month contains the translation of doe
uments Issued by the Archbishop ol
Utrecht aud the Bishops Of Hsarlem and
Devenler, eubodying their solemn pro-
test against the new dogma of the Ro-
.mish Chnrch. These prelates are the
successors. Of the old Jansenits, whose
spirit and learning they seem to inherit.
They have-sent a letter accompanied by a
pamphlet, entitled, Herderiyk, Onder-
right can den .9drGSbischOp Uan Utrecht
&cy oVer de Dnbevlekte OntUangeaiS
der II. Maagd Maria to the pope him.
self. The bishops boldly assert the right
of testing doclline by the word of God.
After a well reasoned and minute analysis
and refutatiohl of the grounds on which
the abominable and impious dogma is
said to rest, the mode Of its. PRONUNCIATION
in solemn pomp at Rome is thus touched
upon in the Instructions. ."-Meth. Prot.
"The doctrine of the Immaculate Con-
ception being thus entirely new, there
need be no wonder that the mode OF an
nouncing it was entirely new. Never
formerly were such ulierance heard from
Pope's' lips, formerly it was the congre'
gated. fathers, who, after previous delib-
erations, &c, judged and determined
BUTT was'on this occasion no Church
council, althodgh,. for the eye of the
world, such a cOloring' was attempted to
be given it,. The bishops were meraly
mute attestators Of what was done sole.
ly by Pious TX, and with too good reason
may the words of the prophet be applied
to lhem:-'Blind watchmen! they are all
dumb dogs; they cannot bark ;" Isa. Ivi
10.
o how did those teachers in Israel be-
lie their character! and how was theil
character trampled on by the first in ranl
amongst them. An open contumely and
spot of shame is thrown on the Episco
pal character and office, those funcliona
ries having nulified their very position
and work as judges of the faith. Wher
the successor of st. Peter gave utteranct
to the lie that the Immaculate COncep
hon Ind been revealed by God, waI
there no Paul to stand up and gainsay
him 20 the face! On the contrary, they
winked in the lowest cajolery, when on,
of the French bishops looked his holi
ness in the face and said, "Holy father
thou hast not decided the Immaculate
Conception; thou has decided thine owl
infalibillity,"
Under the fifth head of The "Pastoria
Instruction." reference is made to Greg
ory the great, Innocent ILL.,, and Iunocen
", Clement H., &c., to show that fo
fourteen centuries doctrine was held il
entire contradiction to that promulgated
by Pious TX, and it is then said:
We leave it to every unprejudiced per
son to decide whether we have goo,
ground for the structures we have made
and whether we have proved or not lha
the Apostolic Letter issued dy Pious TX
on the 9Th of December, 1854, is simpl,
a tissue (zamenwesfsel) of untruths
wherein the name of fScrpture and sacre
tradition are shamefulIy misapplied. t
exalt into a matter of faith mere mat
ter Of feeling or subjective impression
not even based on The lowest grade o
probability"
In conclusion, we solemnly declare be
fore the whole world that the maxim
Quod semper, quod ubique, quOd ab on,
nibuS, reaches neither in teaching nor il
acceptance to this dogma of the lmmacu
late Conception; and we say to all Ro
man Catholics. "Remove not the ancien
Ian dmarks which thy fathers have set,
proverbs xxi. 2s. "But though we o
an angel from Gods heaven preach an,
other gospel unto you than ye have re
ceived, let him be accursed." (Gal. i. 8.
"Remember how thou hast received an,
heard; and hold fast" REV. ii. 81
The letter to The Pope, enclosing th
"Pastolial Instruction" brands the dog
ma as 'the new and false doctrine" o
which, prior 10 the elevenenth century
no trace was to be found either in tn
eastern or Western Church. The Bish
ops justify their publication of the pam
phlct sin the language of the country
in order that their people may "be bette
acquainted with what they should thin
Of this new (also styled fabulous doc
srines," and conclude:
HOn account OF violation of The pledg
of faith, and on account Of the injustic
committed toword Episcopacy, at tn
time the doctrine olthe Immaculate Con
ception of the holy Virgin Mary, mothe
of our Savior was established, as thoug
this were "a divine revelation, we retail
the right of making an appeal when tim
and opportunity present, to future Gen
eral Council. May the father of ligh
open the eyes of our heart, and wor
in us that which is well-pleasing in hi
sight. 44
A COOP ANEcDoTE.-During the in
houon.ot;on - { H., T,ulo, - w -,