The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-01
LYRIC HALL.
LYRIC HALL.
Mr.. FRoTHINGHAM ON CLAIMS TO BE PRIEST

Mr.. rRorHrNoHAM ON CLAIMS TO BE PRIEST
AND KING OVER CONSCIENCE
Rev. o. B. rockingham took no text yesterday
morning. but announced as the subject OF his dis
cussion 'sThe Claims To Be Priest aud King Over
Conscience" Ny theme, he began, - many OF
you may surmse, Il suggested by the discussion
at present gong on In England. The claims Of
the Roman Church and other churches Is that,
being inallible, they are superior to mans con-
science. Scientific people, Independent thinkers
aud generously endowed men OF intellect oppose
this view entirely and. denounce IL as
an outrage. In all specimens OF their lit.
era,ure the Roman Catnollc Church has never
failed to eulosize conscience. But they place the
power OF their Church higher than the power OF
conscience, ana IN eulogizng conscience they
succeed in paying the highest tribute to their
Church. There are very NV who DO not agree
that conscience Is the representative in the heart
OF divine law. Rev. Mr. Newman says-'1f |
were called upon az dinner 10 give religious
toast conscience and then the Pope" Is not
here the whole case granted at once? Are they
fSey saw mean If not TIA. there Is power higher
than con. clence? The Cnurcn Is not supreme over
meniais, but over LORDS, not over servants our
over masters. All euiogums upon con-
science are but more earnest eulogiums
upon the Church. The Romanists speak or good
conscience that mas been set 0y diligence in the
right path. DR.. Newman uses very strong
language ia his letter. He disciaims what tine
Protestant believes. The kOmanists, ike any
dained power, sustained oy the divine wisdom
ana endowed by the divine jurisdiction. They be-
ieve that It's priests are reared up 10 regenerate
the sons OF men. Man ID subservient TO God; the
created to the Creator; the finite 70 the infinite
England sees the danger and Tears It. M. Glad
stone says I'll do not care TO ask what
sHgEDs AND TATrEKS OF HUMAN LIFE
lie outside the moral law. believe that DUTY Ii
low u.s." There are no snreds ana tatterS that lie
outside the moral law. Everything comes within
the range OF conscience. II Is the strangest thing
that t-ese believers have Jailed TO see That what
ever power rules In spiritual matters should
rule In temporal matters also. The Roman
Catholic Church believes that spiritual authority
has power over all things the jesuit tines S 70
q magnet have that instead OF pointing toward
the North star, atracnes Itself 10 something or
wanders aimlessiy In spsces What sort Of freedom
error? Bishop Newman calls other beliefs vulgar.
No person who weighs his words, measures his
thoughts and understands what he SAYS accepts
sucn definition oil freedom OF conscience IS the
ing to die IN defence OF what they constd-
cred freedom OF conscience. not for
freedom without any conscience st all. A con-
science that owes no allegiance to the moral law
rusty and stringless, 81 which sits no player what
makes conscience venerable Is Its sense OF obltga-
ton. Consc ence suggesting moral law immor-
raliZes those VINO keep It, Tue battle mas ALREADY
come for this struggle for
SUPREMACY OVER CONSCIENCE.
1t must be I0nght with vaor. The Roman Catholics
would win II the men WHO opposed were OF
vague and wandering minds. Let 1t DC Roman
Ca hOc.sn on one fide and reason on the other.
Let the contest be between those VINO believe IN
temporal ana those VINO believe IN spiritual
supremacy, and there Will he no doubt upon which
banner the victory will perch.