The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-08-11
what Is Papal EncalElbl..tx Z
Te EseUs1a in Honor of its Prom sElzsa-
tion--ACicress by vicar gen. STAIRS.

Te EseUs1a in Honor OF its Esronau5Sa-
tion--AS,cEess by vicar Gen. STAIRS.
A TIE Deum service was held in ST. Pat
rick's Cathedral yesterday morning in honor
of the PRONUNCIATION of the dogma Of infalli-
bilty at Rome.
The spacious building was filed at the
appointed hour The celebrant of the mass,
which preceded the Te Deum was Father
Mclean. Father STAIRS, Vicar General,
made an address in front of the altar, expla-
natory of the dogma of infallibility, before
mass. He said after announcing the TIE
Deum service. that be deemed it necessary
to give concise description of the dogma of
iDfaiiblity, and the reason of its promuga-
tion, and that this could easily be done be-
cause the doctrine is simple and compre-
hensble. Many entertain the erroneous
opinion that the Pope cannot err in anything
he says or does but that is not so-that is
not the meaning of papal infallibilty. This
is no new doctrine; the recent ceremony at
Rome.was only for its more distinct enuncia
ton. 1t is as old as the church itself. The
dogma of papal infaliibility does not teach
that the Pope cannot err in what he says or
does. He can make mistakes-he is human
just as we are. The doctrine does not mean
that he cannot err in discussion or preach
ing. He is truly faIlible as a man. ''Infal-
ibility means this, and no more or less that
the Pope, speaking er cathedTa-cfficial
from the chair of St. Peter declaring anv-
thing as to matters of faiths infallble. =
This attribute belongs TO all the successors
OF St. Peter, the visible head Of the church.
Christ prayed for St. Peter that his faith
might not fail, and said, Peter, thsu art the
rock, and on this rock | will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it." / give thee the keys of the kingdom
of heaven. Feed my sheep and lambs" )" &c.
All that Christ gave to Peter belongs to his
successors. As Peter could not live always,
the power given to him as head of the church,
could not be perpetuated except as delegated
authority. This doctrine is then very simple
and plain, when rightly viewed. So mnay
false ideas have been uttered on this subject,
it is necessary to test plainly just what the
doctrine is. 1t is well illustrated in some
human affairs. For instance, in the United
States we have Supreme Court, with a
Chief Justice and Associate Justices. Many
cases are referred from lower courts to this
But after a case has been decided ic the Su-
preme Court there can be no appeal. These
final decisions are as near like those Of the
Pope as any secular matter can be like a
spiritual one. When the Chief Justice is
not on the bench his opinions only pass as
those of an ordinary citizen when he pre-
sides in the court bis decisions are final, and
the whole country submits TO them. And
so in the church, now that the great dogma
is announced from the papal chair there is
no appeal from it. And you will ali Join
in this rejoicing with all the rest of the
Christian Church. that the visible head of
the church is proclaimed infallible." when
speaking &c cattedra. uttering doctrines
from the chair of ST. Peter
The principal musical parts of the mass
that followed this address were the beginning
OF the "Gloria" and "Et Incarnatus' (solo
quartette without organ). This mass was
arranged by GuStaVus Schmitz, organist of
St. Patrick's
The Te Deum was by Coccia The first
part was sung by chorus Of thrty-five
voices. The second part was bass solo and
solo quiutette. The solo singers were =
Madame Chorne, soprano; Mrs. Werner,
alto /; Mr.. II. Schmitz, tenor Mr.. a. Sohst,
baSsu.