The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-22

lng to reverence Truth. they do not listen to
its teachings lest, listening, they be converted
1t was then observed by the Archbishop
that If truth is 50 valuable and essential. how
great is the happinc.s Of those who have been
brought TO its knowledge, not hy hearing
simply, but by believing and making it n part
OF their very being, so lliat it influences all
their words and actions. This Is too serious
matter for doubt. After the Grace OF God
has touched the heart it needs authoritative
instruction in holy things. Man cannot
evolve truth out OF his own brain. Divine
teaching is Necessary. God, therefore, sent
his Son into the world; Christ commissioned
the Apostles in His name. and the successors,
of those Apostle, to-day proclaim and enforce
the same truth Ivy Divine authority. "l[e
that heIrcth YOU hcarcth uIc, and he that
desplscth you dcSpiscth me-" There was
never time when there was not on earth a
visible teaching Notwithstanding the
long line Of Pairjarclas and Prophets. the
Synagogue, our blessed Lord and his apos.
toiic successors. The Holy Church Is ground
cd and founded in truth it Is the guardian
anu Interpreter Of truth, and It has never
ceased to exercise those functions: Tic
sr'ril which spakc by the Apostles still ami
mates The Church Of Christ. Thus it is that
the Church detects and condemns all error
and diSpcnscs and puts in the proper light
all necessary truth. Otherwise it would not
he the Church Of God, and the foundations
ol truth would be ever changing. Other
Wise what faith could we h:tYr in the tnyti.
mony of the Church. No, the wonder
l. not that God has 50 endowed the
Church, but that men reject the idea.
They turn from this living fountain and hew
themselves cistcrnH--brokcn cisternS-thrt
hold Ho warcr. Why Will men iced on
hll>kS when there is good bread in their
Fathers house: is it not strange that
men substitute for the living voice of God
their own private Judgment. the rcsu, OF
the meditation OF their own poor brains
not accepting Gods revealed will until il
has been Simmercd in their own shallow
brau-pans. If such ideas had prevailed in
tie early days the seamless garment Of d
vine truth would lave been torn in tatter>
Mt the beginuing
Tie positions taken might be established
By argument rot to he ovcrthroWn, ant
also by the history Of The Church and the
testimony q the 'atii2r&, but it ra> deem
ed unnecessary. The unity OF the Churci
might, however. be mentioned as single
proof. The bishops, priests, and deaccEs o
the Catholic Church are scattered all over
The globe, and their !laEit% a'id language
are aS diverse Is th"'f liaiuI'aiitieS: BIZ!
when II comes 10 a question vi Teii-loii,
principle they have but one voice. They
,le like the small body gathered with OH
Lord in the upper room ut Jerusalem. H.
deed. how can the ChurCh be the body oi
Cbri,i unless il Is one. All inEriihle Church.
divinely endowed. ard ii alone, tan ,'atIsii
the sincere Scalchc' alter liiliIi;
The Archbishop then snid that lie did moi
wish TO he led into discussion OH this ocra.
sion. II WAS day Of lc!y JOY. j" desired
| only 10 impress upon the n!indS Of his hearers
The Importance Of receiving the Divine
cord aS made known l.r III authorized ini;l-
istry. lie thanked God that the tcct oI !ht'
people We're placed on solid rock Which
bids defiance to the waves ol error. In coli,
rIusicn he urged ;he people o; thr ploccS'
tu receive ib.o hyiJ:td bi:h2r - an angel ol
God. obey him, rs said 81 !-rnatillS, Wnn, il
NAV almost tc said, was one o! the Apostles
Obey your bishop aS you Wonll cbcy de.&ti,
,uli~t hiui>Cif. t!!a!, :" nlirtirr 'E Tie iGrn
OF sound words and his holy teachings, a,iG
>trcn4thcnpd by the Divine Sacramcnt%, tai
iow ng him a he follows Christ, yc MAJ con-
tinl,. faithful! T. the end, AID finally become
!;;in- stnn"s in liza: Church nor made with
imnAs, eternal in the hravrha.
>lrMnN ry BISHOP GitE0>S. 49, =
At the ru,i Of ii1c mas HislJp Gibbons, o
Richmond. wearing bis mtrc ana noi,,l.i-
his crcZcr in band preached a sermon iron
lhc follow ing text, which WAS really IN able
ana cloquCut cilUrt. and was heard viii
most profound attention. We laTn n":",
- Is,tli snl
Iucnhnd tya congregation.
Acia AZ, 2a: Take heed TO yollr<elvc,
and to tie whole i'ocI; over which 'le I:"i:
Gho.t hatl placed You, bishops; to rule the
church Of Grd, which lie hath purchased
with His own blood
These words. dearly beloved children III
Christ, were originally addressed TO thu
BISHOP and clergy Of EphcsuS by The apost':
Gr The Gtl.iIrS before lie took his final de-
u9rturc from them. Iacccpt them 1S aNoicc
rom the grave. receive them Is solemn
admoniti5n administered 20 me by your late
bisbop INV venerable predecessor. Though
dead: he still Iiveth for you ana f,r me-toT
vou nv in, iraYcrs; for me, he lives by hi'
BRIGHT example. And could the sc!i be r"
moved which separates earth from Heaven
and time from eternity we might behold hln
Offering up his suprlcatious for this diocese
as Judas MaccabclS bchcld the plophe'
Jeremiah praying after his death for his BE-
loved Jerusalem.
give but a feeble expression to the Scu'l
mrnts Of lnv !cirt when ! say that | an
deeply rcnctra'cd with deep >ci'Sc OF II"
Responsibility which assume to-day, IL W.
your privilege In IN governed for the ia:'
thirty years by his plr!:ita>, cnilcnt Tor thcll
sanctity, zeal, and learning.
The first bishop that practically occupied
this See w;!s the present venerable b'shop ol
Wheeling. As he still lives, dare not en-
Iarre upon his virtues, which are known "
many of yo,l. But this much | an con-
strained n sny: that he Iria been spared ny
Divine Providence, and still moves above t'lt
horizon Of the tomb that ii" might stamp lis
character upon lis younger members ol the
Episcopucy. and that he might hand down &c
lis unimpaircd that spirit OF heroic zeal loi
which the early Fathers Of the American
church were so conspicuous.
lie was succeeded by Bishop McGlll, ol
whom / can say, in the language OF Scrip
turc, that she WAS a great priest, VINO IL
his days pleased Cod and was found Just
and in the time of wrath was made q recon-
citation" The highest cucomitlm can pro
nounce upon him is to say that after having
lived among YOU for twenty years, having
occupied conspicuous position, "a spccta
Gle to the world, to angels, and TO mel" II.
has gone DOWN to his honored grave without
Il stain upon his Episcopal robes.
The excited merits OF those men naturally
fill nle with confusion and humiliation. Ho"
can I occupy this chair which they so Wor'
thiIv filled! II i; hard to take up tie rein
OF government which those characters
Israel held SO long with steady ana uhefF
ing hand. ,,.
Aud yet it is in my very weakness tilat
find my greatest support ana coilsoialich. |