The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-09
PAPAL INFALLIBILITY.
THE LECTUR BIZ THE REV.
FATHER GIRESCHE.
An Immense Gathering at the Aiber-
nfQn Hall.

ture by Father Garesche, the fame of whose
eloquence has spread with astonishing rapidity
over the city, was received with general ant
sincere satisfaction. The fact, too, that tht
proceeds OF the lecture would be handed Ovel
to the noble Sisters Of Charity, whom we res
pect and admire, added fuel to the flame, ant
strengthened, If possible, the popular deter
mination to hear the lecture without fail.
At as early an hour as six o'clock some pa
tient sight-seers made their way to the Hiber
nian Hall, and long before eight O'Clock it was
crowded in every part. The halls and ccrri
dors were thronsed. The platform and wait
ing rooms were packed close. Only in the
centre of the platform itself might even stand
| ing room have been found for a few of the
eager many who were unable to squeeze their
way into the building. Upon the platform
General of the Diocese, the Catholic clergy,
and large number of influential citizens.
At little after eight o'clock, NJ. P. O'Connor.
ESQ.,, came forward and spoke as follows:
REMARKS OF Mr.. o'cONNoR.
Ladies and Gen,tlemen-The pleasing duty
has devolved upon me of introducing to You the
distinguished lecturer Of the evening. This is
almost an idle ceremony, for he has already
introduced himself to most of you, most cffec-
tually, in the character of the Jealous mission
most lasting and agreeable impression. To us
all he has become known by his reputation,
and his skill and tame as preacher.
The great West has sent him forth amongst US
as missionary, upon timely occasion. The
South receives this gifted son Of the West with
the most heartfelt gratitude. His eloquent
accents have resounded to the delight OF ad-
souri,, and tonight they will re- echo upon the
shores OF the Atlantic, on behalf OF living, a
sacred and public charity.
1 would then beg leave to present TO you
the Rev. F. P. Garesche.
THE LECTURE.
The Reverend Father, on coming forward,
was greeted with warm applause.
He began by saying that the subject Of the
lecture for this evening was not one OF his
own sele .tion. 1t was rather referred to him
BY others as being that which would be likely
to interest the largest number of persons; and
the object of the lecture-being to give pecu-
mary assistance to the female orphans--of
course he could only say, 'Do with Inc as you
will"
He did not know but that he might have
. chosen this subject, because 1t is one oil great
and growing interest, not merely to members
of the Catholic Church. but to those whom,
he would not call enemies, but who, at least,
are separated from the Catholic Church. They
hear so much said of the Gcumenical Council
and the Infallibillty OF the Pope that they are
willing to listen to any one who is ready to
speak on the subject Having received so
much kindness from Charleston audiences, he
had no fear of the result, should he not come
up to their expectations this evening.
~ i'll f1,a ac,,htn ta I,a6
bear in mind that he would doubtless appear
before an audience composed Of both Catholics
and none Catholics. He would naturally speak
as member of the Catholic Church, and one
accustomed always to speak the truth which
forces conviction-thc truth Of personal con-
viction-and certainly it would be his endeav-
or to send the force Of conviction upon dark
ness, and let none Catholics know what Catho-
lies think of the Council, what it is not and
what It Is.
To understand the Catholic idea of the Coun-
Gil, they must see 1t as he did. In the very
first age of Christianity, each apostle was In
fallible, that is each apostle. taught the truth
with unerring certainty. This position Is
granted by all those Protestants who call
themselves orthodox, as we'll as By Catholics.
In those times there was an attempt made and
insisted upon to impose the Mosaic law or jew
ish burdens upon the Gentiles who embraced
Christianity. This was hard burden, and
consequently there was a discussion. The
Apostle St. Paul was OF the opinion that these
observances should not be enforced upon the
Genti,es coming into the church. There being
O seeming unwillingness to yield to his de-
cision, and in order to give greater weight TO
his opinion OF teachings-tO back him.
self, as it were, by the whole body OF
the Apostolic College-he transferred the
discussion to Jerusalem, and there they
held the first general or GcumenicaI Council,
hinl,xx oil 0f a nhnrnh IL
though at that time it was not spread all over
the world When they had discussed the
question which brought them together, the re-
suit was sent in letter to all the apostles and
teachers, and that result was, ut seems good
to us and to the Holy Ghost that We shall alb
stain from such things, and that no more shall
be imposed upon the Gentiles among YOU than
seemeth good TO us and the Holy Ghost" The
Council, therefore, was assisted by the Holy
Ghost In that decision.
One of the promises Christ gave the church
and His apostles was chat the Paraclete should
lead them into all truth. Christ had also told
them that He had many other things to ten
came He should tell them all truth. In the
Ecumenical Council it is the whole church
speaking. 1t is the paraclete teaching man.
kind through that church, whom to hear Is TO
hear Christ himself. This was the grand
means Of stopping discussion. Any resistance
to tnelr decision was nOC reSlSCluS lnt OOuuCil
OF the church, but resisting the Holy Ghost
Consequently it was the bar OF ultimate resort.
From age to age. generation to generation,
these general or Ecumenical Councils have
been held to decide disputed questions. Some
times 1t was the Immaculate Conception
some denying that Mary could be the mother
of God, and asserting that she was but the
mother OF the man, and the Council estab-
lished the use of that name. In the same way
Others rose up who denied the divinity OF Je
sus, and another Council was held. So 1t has
been when any great error or schism has
arisen, General Councils have been called, and
heresy nipped in the bud, so that 1t withered
away. Those who believed In them, when
they read the decisions of the Council, aban-
doned their errors.
The failure of all these heresies and schisms
has only strengthened the church. Here and
there a vestiss remains, here and there We
may meet barracll or citadel, but their
crumbling ruins denote their failure. and the
fulhlment Of the promise that the gates OF hell
shall not prevail against our spouse, the
church. So, too, in our own days, we have
needed an Gcumenical Council. We have
needed it for ourselves as ,l as
for those who feel the d.snger OF
the growing irreligiOusness, error and
materialism in knowledge. Human ma
tllre is not so blind as it was. In these days
all the world seems TO be tainted with coagl-
lated mass of error, and thinking men, not
only Catholics, but conservative men OF every
conservative in spirit and in
nrincinIe are saddered to the heart TO think