The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-11
Communicates.
LNIOlIAIAHt
COSTELLO SUCCESSION.


iatB APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION : "a
- 1. There is no misunderstanding in
the public mind as. to the meaning of
the terms Apostolic Succession. The
general public all understand that
certain Churches claim ministry
that aods appointed by the Lord Jesus
while here on earth; that the true
Christian ministry on earth to-day,
and everywhere, proceeds from that,
as a stream proceeds from the foun-
tain; that whenever we see, walking
the streets or ministering at the altar,
minister of the Roman Catholic or
Protestant Episcopal Church, we see
one who is honored as no other man,
since he is In this Apostolic success.
sion. Let the friends of, this dogma
then understand that they are under
stood. 49,, .
2. The public however, would ike to
have information on some other
points from the friends of this dogma.
81 Y on claim that Christ ordained the
first Bishops with powers to ordain
others to the end of time. Will the
friends make good this claim? A
great many can't see that this is a
historic fact, no more than that
Christ ordained Bishops for the
mountains of the moon.
One seems as evident Is the
other asl lsf9i 1as iI1a
3. If Christ made a chain that
was to reach from His ascension to
his second coming, YOU--nOt those
that dispute the point-1nust make it
plain. Otherwise you stand in a
ridiculous attitude before an intelli-
gent community. A chain that Christ
made, and of such magnitude as you
claim, ought to be as visible as chain
Of mountains. Ii the chain is historic,
and is not a myth nor pretense, but a
feet no unreasonable thing is de-
manded when You are asked to make
it plain The old and true apostles
gave proof Of their claims-not asaer-
tions. They did not stand ia the at
titude Of some in modern times-of
sincere but deluded men.
f. You say no man is ayalid minister
who is not in this faneied line of sue
cession-and yon blandly say this does
not violate the law of charity, since
charity has nothing to do with histo-
rical facts - Cd fa 4uLaj ssaassI
Well, ace claim that there is nc.
such line, that you cannot before any
enlightened community prove such
line.s Therefore,. If you base your
claim on. such, you are no minister at
all, apostolic or otherwise. You are
simply pretendeH. Those who thus.
regard your claim that this does not
violate the Law of Charity, Charity
has nothing to do with historical
facts. 4 arser marin ,fg.-,....s.t = ~
n 5. No one claims that one man may
minister In holy things because he is
wiser and better than another man.
No man can, of himself, claim to be
either Minister or Judge-nor is any
man. of himself, qualified to MAKE
Minister or Judge-be he Pope,
Bishop or cobler. aafa3s fl1,i
o. 6. A succession Of orders is In fact
regarded as NECESSARY by nearly all
Christians" This is a blunder. It is
not so regarded by any Christians.
The orders of the Christian Ministry
are established for ever. They have
Audience but no succession. But if
the writer means that all Christians
acknowledge Apostolic Succession, he
simply begs the question. lie must
certainly know that in his own land
and community, the largest bodies
of Christians deny it outright,
and hold that God supplies His
Church with ministers now, as
He has always done, by a call
made directly upon the person, of the
validity of which call the Church is
to be the judge. sis
Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist.
ALL Protestant bodies In our land ex-
cept the Protestant Episcopal Church,
DENY apostolic succession Come,
my s5tbrOSa friend, is not this the
case? A right to Orddia men to the
work of the Christian ministry is
acknowledged by most of protesting
Christians, but this is a very different
thing from apostolic succession. F55a
- If the cobbler should start up
firm his bench, or a civil magistrate
from his chair, and take to himself |
the name Of minister of the gospel,
tomorrow, there is not probably a |
congregation In the town who would |
accept him as a minister. They Wonld |
not be baptized by. him, nor receive |
the bord's Supper from him. If the |
butcher should ordain the eobbler, or !
the comfy clerk the magistrate, it |
would not affect the case. What |
does my good friend mean here? |
Does he mean that such case ever
did occur. or that ID is now about to |
occur, IN our community? IF the |
latter, the-County- Commissioners
ought at once to meet to consider the |
public Interests. But does not my
SUB ROSA friend mean that
all ministers outside of HIS church |
and its great relative-the Roman
Catholic Church-possess no more
authority than if ordained by eobler,
butcher, or county clerk? e5
Come, my friend. you might as well
let your feelings for out as leak out
and the community would esteem
you Gar more if you would open your
heart. ASSUMING = yoatg whole dog
ma and much that flows with /
it is asSamlptiom. and we agree
with you that assumption has not the
nature ofvalidity, [ do not, however,
agree with you when you tell US that
the merit eff the question can be esti-
mated when it is known that nine
te1aths of the Christian world enter
tain this as a fundamental doctrine,
and hold it as the only ground that
makes their ministry valid, and as
the sole mark between a clergyman
and layman."
L did not know the number of per-
sons believing a dogma made the
dogma true. Do the number of per.