Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-04-09
THE MISSION AT Tbs CATHOLIC
CHURCH.

on last evening, an audience Of over eight
hundred persons of ell denominations hsv-
ing assembled to listen to the sermon Of
Rev. Father Coghlan on the subject of
90 nfession.
The Text chosen was from XIX chap. OF
ST. John, / to % verse. "Jesus come and
stood in the midst and he said to them
sgain Peace be to you, as the Father hath
sent ne also send you. When be had
said this he breathed on them and he said
to them. Receive ys the holy Ghost,
whose sins you shall forgive they are for
given them and whose sins you shall retain
.hey are retained" This meeting Of Christ
and his Disciples took place after his resur-
rection, when be impaired the power to for
give sins 10 his Apostles. This power and
its use is regarded in different lights by
different classes of psOple. To the Catholic
| it is seource Of genuine happiness. Some
say it should be set aside because i, was
never established by Christ or his Disciples.
Others have imposed ON the boundless
credulity of many BY stating that it was en-
invention Of Catholic Ecclesiastics' to en-
rich themselves from the proceeds Of money
paid them for the remission Of sins, some
have even gone so Jar as to inform the
World that a scale Of prices were arranged
proportional to the enormity Of the sin to
be forgiven. Bat these statements now are
! only believed by persons who are prejudiced
against and will not endeSvor to enquire
into the Catholic doctrine of Confession
To the Intelligent uuprsj udiced euquiring
persons ofths age and country denial Of
such foolish statements is unnecessary.
But space will allow bat mere notice OF
the principal authorities cited and argu-
ments used by the Rev. Father. Confer
sionis a most, OnerOus Guty, especially in
, large cities, on the Catholic Priest without
compensation.
Christ was not one of those who avoided
teaching doctrine because it was not
pleasing 10 his hearers.
10 ancient times the plnish nent for q
fragrant breach OF Gods law was oorporssl
at one time the earth flooded, at another
cities destroyed.
Il is for God to say what mus. be done tC
n expi&te al oFense against him, and w
' must follow the law strictly IS laid down b.
i hun. He has SAID "whAtsoever YOU shat
IL loose on earth shall be loossd il heaven suC
.ka,.oarnr 90, sh.II Lin1 =, aartn .hau y,
: bound iE heaven, and again, Go and teaci
}, eli nations, bSpIising them IN the name o
,e the Father, Syn aud Holy Ghost, who's,
e sins you shall forgive they are forgiven, ans
It Behold am with you all days even uu.t
f the end of the world"
Chrim having given this power to hi
apostles And their successors. Tns Rev
. Father cited nunbsTless passages from ID,
= Scriptures sud from the writings of Ter
tutlisn, Ireueus and many others OF the
Is early writers in the Christian era showing
thss Confession of sins has been prAclicec
by the early Christians and BY the CAthoii,
Church from the time Of Christ down to the
present time.
Priests only can forgive sins through Coo
and by the power vested in them by Chria
when on earth. A mere forgiveness by
priest without the penitent fulfilling all III
necessary requirements, among which arr
, true SORROW, re pErstiou OF iuj uries, sud 6ru
purpose Of amendment, lie without efFeC
before God.
10 As Christ has given a Discretionary pOwe
TO his successors it necessary that hi
/, minister should kGow of What the psniten
y. Is guilty, AEi how Tar hs has prescribed
with the necessary conditions for forgive
d, ness, before his sin can be RENTED.
The general doctrine OF Confession 10 ret
n Ognized by the Episcopal Church and som
-, others. The words used in the High Epi,
!. cops Church Of England Sre-Art. Q, "B
\. sae Power shat is 10 ice a5solve thee frol
- thy sins"
a Martin La,her said The priests forgiv,
-, ness is the pardon Of God"
Confession has a most sAlatGry effect upu
. those who practice it.
-, TIE heinous crines OF infsnticide 40
:. abortion are not known among those wb
- believe aud practice Auriculsr Confession
Charles the V was asked to make lGW
;. compelling his SUBJECTS to practice Coz
a fession with the view Of restraining Grim
q, which then prevailed through his kin
- dom to an alarming extent.
! The Rev. Lecturer closed with deligh
-. fol picture of the happiness resulting fro
- the practice of this grea. means of recol
ciiatiou with God, citing Lon
=, fellow in his beautiful poem
-, Evangeline, where after giving a mo
b charming description Of that beAuteol
=, maiden, the poet says:
"But celestial brightnou a more ethere
- beauty,
~ shons ON her fsoe and encirclsd her form, VII,
Z after Confession,
OF Homsward ssrsnely she walked with Gods ben
diction upon her."
re The sermon was an hour and three qua
at ters in length, and was listened to wit
in, great attention to the close.
to
= When people see a nan advertise tn,
= know he is a business man, and his sdve
:, tisement proclaims that he is not above b
r business, but anxious to do it.
;. The Masonic Temple at Lyons was open,
:. on Tuesday evening, the 4sh inst. on the G
casion of the Fourth Annual Banquet
- the Hugh de Psyens Council Knights K
dosh.
- During al awkward pause in the farni
- dinner q citizen of Springfield knocked /
nm wife down with plate and she retAliat
NM BY praotcing on him with q carving kni
CO Then both arose and got their deserts.
Al. D..E.II L.. r 49,. l.