The New York herald., 1870-05-30
CALyaaY CEgRCg.
The Catholic Churcgi-scrmon by Rev. DIR.
Ashton.

The Catholic Csurcli-scrmou by Rev. DIR.
Ashton.
Yesterday afternoon the Church Of Calvary was
wen hled, despite the very unpleasant condition OF
the weather, by fashionable and intelligent audi
ence, to hear discourse by the Rev. Dr. Ashton,
VINO selected his text from Matthew, VIII, 20-'By
their fruits ye shall know them.n After enuncating
the general principle Of the text he spoke of ~
veneraton felt for that which Is ancient In art
science, literature ana even IN the matter Of family
descent In aliudng TO the latter pride he charac-
terzed 1t as last becoming absurdy prevalent In this
country, and III this connection showed how the
lttleness oil money was lost In The greatness OF Illus
trious ancestry. When they grew themselves 10
stalwart manhool they were truly noble. Making
transition from this topic, he spoke OF the number
OF churches now a-days Claiming TO DC
DEsCBNDED FROM THE APOSTOLIC AGES
Among them, he GAINED, stood prominent the
Roman Catholic Church. This Church crystal
lied despoSsm. Rome shielded herself behind It's
armies. Ii never had beea anything else but uncon-
trolabe ambition. IL seeks power. and Will have 1t
at any cost. Having dwelt ut some length on this
branch OF his topic, he showed how vastly different
II was IN this country. Here any could go TO
any church he pleased; but the Roman Catholic
Church, since getting fast hold here, became
ana 1t would have 1t at any cost No Church, he
claimed, had right to attempt the exercise Of the
power sought to be exercised by tne Catholic Church.
This Church Interpreted
TIE KEYS GIVEN TO ST. PETER,
not as metaphorica, but as positive fact.
Through this assumption OF power IL insisted that it
could Consl9n 10 he'll whom IL pleased and save only
those agreeing with II IN fait9. Abiding to the
''relic5a piece OF the table upon which CHI ist took
his last supper, lhe nails OF the cross piece OF the
wood OF the cross ana the liSe--he urged that they
were Introduced TO adect tho emotional nature.
The Church mesmerized its Victims, and when the
latter woke up their first utterance was-Humbng.
Showing the absurd righteousness OF this relic
business, which he did by IN amusing and effective
comparison o dog on the scent, he sa.lfe did not
beieye tlat the American priesthood, meu OF e1uca-
ton and refinement OF the Roman Catholic Church,
ha1 any SORT OF intellectual faith IA tracing back he
Peter.
THESE RELICS MERE JUGGLERY.
There was not a chip OF WOOD on pail In any mon
astery or cathedral or convent in the world thar
ever had anything TO do with the cross OF Jesus
Christ. The climax OF all this humbuggery, he
asserted, was the alleged infablity or the Pope.
The plain fact OF the case was tisat Pope Plus TX
not iniaible unless Napoleon III. permitted It,.
tan Church said
"LEr MEN BE FRER.n
The Catholic Church used the lnquistIon. There
was blood aud there were signs and groans through
its history This Church sells in0ugences for
dollars and cents Drawing an eloquent con-
trast between the humble Saviour OF man.
kind, riding on an ass and the Pope, with
his magnificent reilnue, riding on one to-day
weary, worm travelling disciples, which Jesus Christ
washes which feet had beeR ptsi2odsy wa.ei ~ IN
the occasion. he pictured with mastery power and
ton in begettng inddety among the masses Of tho
european country. From all this he deduced that
the present Pope was not the true successor OF st.
Peler Pope George Was an imposter-no manhood
ana fought our battles and won our splendid Veto
TICS were true descendants OF the Puritans so those
VINO soughs TO lift the community up 10 q loftier
s'ahaard were The descendants Of the apostolic age.