The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-14

Slerk-SOlHterS' Meeting, Etc,
Etc.
FAIRMoNT, June IL, 1877.
Editors IntelGcnccr:
On Sunday last, the 10th inst, the Sun.
day School Of the Methodist Protestant
Church, Of this town, celebrated its for
ty.secOnd anniversary. The church was
gayly and elegantly decorated with beau.
IiIul flowers. a large crowd assembled,
morning, and evening, to witness and
enjoy tie exercises, which consisted of
singing, Rotations and brief addresses.
The prominent speakers were Governor
PierpOint, DR.. ". W. Granger, Prof. 4.
C. Miller and Hon. John $. Barnes. The
audience seemed highly delighted and
entertained with the exercises.
The Sunday School was organized some
time in 1886, and has ever since enioyed
a high reputation for usefulness. Ii now
ranks amongst the most ilourishing in.
situations Of the kind in this country. It's
anniversary, this time, was fraught with
unusual interest, occurring rs it did, 40
soon after the union Of tho Methodist
and Methodist Protestant Churches. The
Methodist Church, it should be remem-
bered, was formerly branch Of the
Methodist Protestant Church, the sep.
aration growing out Of the parent church
having retained the word white" in its
book Of discipline after the abolition Of
the institution Of slavery by the General
Government. Now, however, that rec.
Onciliation has been affected, thatthe word
white" thus making the negro two bodies
have united in expunging the equal before
the law-the Sabbath school teachers and
scholars commemora'cd not only the
tOrty.secoHd anniversary Of their school,
but rejoiCcd in hand.clasping over the
settlement Of the difficulty which had
divided and es;rauSed the members Of
their church for the past fifteen years.
1t is noted and noticeable fact that
the Pedestrians OF the United States, in
the past ten or fifteen years, have been
giving Sabbath school work moro time
and attention than ever before in the
history Of the nation. 1t il n matter of
congratulNtion that our own State is not
tagging behind its sister States OF the
Union in this respect. Sunday schools
and Sunday school conventions are re-.
Ceiying US much attention by the people
Of our State now as churches and Camp.
meetings did in the earlier times OF which
we read. Indeed, it is now conceded
that Sunday Schools are the nurseries
from which churches are transplanted,
They are the great source to which Prot.
estant America must look for its safety
against the teachings Of the Roman Cath
Ole religion. But for the careful and
rigid manner in which the Catholic
Church disciplines and cNteChises lis in.
FAINT members in its creed, 1t would not
likely be as formidable a. it is. So thor
ough is that church IN this respect that
itsnost humble and unlettered adherents
can give reason or explanation for the
faith which they profess.
And right here, il may 10 permitted
to digresS little, letme ask, who are the
Cdt'Olicsf This may appear like grave
question, but 1t can be answered, The
Pagan religion was, A. D. 3S4, abolished
throughout the Roman Empire, BY a dc.
cree Of the Emperor Constantine the
Great. In its place the Chsistian Church
was established. At the Council Of Nice,
10 the year S25, ArianiSm was condemn.
ed, and the orthodox religion declared TO
be the Catholic religion OF the Empirc.
The word Catholic" rs you are aware,
signifies universal; consequently lie
Christian Church was called the iJniver.
sal Church, or the Catholic Church.
In the year coo, however, the Roman
Church separated from the Universal or
Catholic Church, and became apostate-
adhered to Pope and worshippedimaEe
For this reason, il l understand analogy,
the Roman Church then became n Po-
pish Church. Ifnot, why not? Wecall
the church,that is ruled by Presbyterians
the Presbyterian Church; the church that
Is ruled by Bishops the Episcopal Church;
and why not, then, call the church that
Is ruled by the Pope the Popish Church?
Idon't think the Popish Church has any
more right to the title Of Catholic-Uni.