The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-29
Episcopal Slight of Hand.

~ AAA'So NV" W SssppooOSA Choo euO AuoSAhu-
ting art of jugglery is confined to those
brilliant professors who eat burning
Goals, swallow swords, and draw intermin-
able lengths of ribbon from their threats.
There is an intellectual hocus-pocus also,
whereby not too cXacting public is easily
mystifed, and a desired conclusion arrived
at by logical dexterity almost as satisfacto-
rily as if hy logical fairness.
The most scientific instance of this intel
lectual slight of hand presented to the won
der of this generation, is probably that fur
nished as the chef dGurfe-the substantial
fruit--of the recent Episcopalian General
Convention held in New York. 1t is en-
bodied in~tle so-called pastoral letter of the
House of Bishops.
+ The great difficulty with Episcopalianism
Is the old fashioned one of trying to carry
water on both shoulders. 1t wants to be
both Catholic and Protestant-Catholic,
| as claiming that there is authority in the
Church; Protestant, as denying it. Catho-
lies and Protestants agree on the following
propositions Either the Church has author
ity, or it has not; either there is right of
there is not either the Church is infallible,
or it is not. The broad common sense of
mankind admits these propositions rs self
evident. Episcopalianism denies them ALL
1t insists there is Il middle ground be-
tween these opposite terms and it essays to
compromise on that ground. Its existence
is based on the pretension that contradict
pry form 1,o JnI t. =,
that the ordinary human mind can never
follow the ingenious calculations necessary
to such conclusion, and SO the difficult
points must be dexterously kept out of
sight. Is that not splendidly- done in the
following bold dash with which the above
mentioned pastoral letter opens $?
Brethren Belored IN the Lord: The Incarnate
God hath committed to filllible men that great
commission wherewith He came into the world
from the Father who sent Him. But to His
ministers, thus weak and subject to error, He
hath given His holy and infallible word, that
without peril OF misleading His flock, we may
instruc- them, with all authority by speaking
always according to the Scriptures.
The last sentence is the gem. 1t is the
great literary triumph of human history SO
far, where intellectual oil and water are
combined, ice and fire amalgamated, light
and darkness made to co-exist. The former
limb of the sentence claims infallibility with
all authority;" the second repudiates the
claim with calm, in fact, ironical disdain.
Luther and the Apostles are introduced to
one another. AS successors of the Apostles,
the silken-robed bishops claim that ,cith-
out peril Of misleading His flock, we may in
struct them with all authority" Just here
Luther breaks in with a sneer, and spoiIs
all by adding, "D we speak always ac-
cording to the Scriptures"
Oh, that lovely "If!" and to think that
it is not even expressed, but neatly evaded
with the turn "by speaking" There is
where the slight of hand comes in.
Just as the weary Christian, sick of his
own errors, and yearning for some certain
ty of TRUTH thinks that now, at last, he has
found an authority that may instruct him
without peril of misleading,'' he is
discouraged with the proviso that their in
struction must be "according to the Scrip
lures" Alas, the same uncertainty still
Who is to tell him whether that instruction
is according to the Scriptures
This is like amending an elaborate bill
by striking out the enacting clause in a
proviso. The pious Episcopalian is mysti-
fed, however, by the proceeding. He can
not conceive that so labored 4 manifesto
should actually mean nothing, and there
fore consoles himself with the hypothesis
that the reverend pastors do claim some
authority.
If they speak according to the Scriptures!
Truly, not a very hazardous promise That
Any man, or body of men on ear:h could
say the same thing. If they always speak
according to the Scriptures, they certainly
will not lead any one astray. Such an as
surancc, however, would still leave un-
solved the great difficulty :: :. Whit is &C