The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-05
is the third kind of kingdom which he

is the third kind of kingdom which he
possesses over what he has created.
She represents him as the law River. as the
teacher, as the redeemer and as the judge
The Gospel is to be preached for testi-
mony, he says, and the church is the
bearer of this testimony. and in order to
be the bearer of this testimony he made
the church a corporate body, with one
head, And this he did not only for the
age 10 which he made st. Peter the head,
but for all ages. and for all nations. When
he said "all generations" he pointed out
how they could increase their band by
the sacramento of holy orders, and perpe
tuate it through all times. So he made
his church self governed and selfsustain-
ed, power within itself, and all sufficient
to ITSELF That is to say, the church rules
in his stead We can have no scruples,
then in calling the church a kingdom-that
is kingdom, and it is the only one that
will last forever. But to understand it
rightly, we must call to mind the entire
doctrine of Christianity; In Christ
Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircum.
cision is of any avail, but a new creature"
See what this means when applied to the
church In the long list of her servants
we read the names Of men eminent for
their learning zeal and virtue, But it is not
| their zeal, their virtue or their learning
that has upheld the cause of Jesus Christ
To be sure, society formed amcng men
must necessarily be human; but so far as
they are men they do not constitute the
soul of the church-they are nothing but
the body, the outward appearance. That
which gives life to the church is the pres
ence of the Holy Ghost. We see this
illustrated in all the sacraments of the
church. When the priest baptizes, he
does not pray; May this soul be cleansed
as wash the body with WATER" but he
Esays: II baptize thee in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Ghost" So 10 the
confessional, so in that most stupendous
of all miracles, the changing of the bread
and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
| the priests no longer man, but he is the
minister, the very person of Jesus Christ.
And so when we call the church king
dom, it is only to those who are grossly
misinformed, or wilfuly blind and pre-
JUDGED, that there is any alarm, and il
we spoke of her coming into collision with
the Kingdoms of this world. Of all the
absurdities urged against the church by
those who are determined to misunderstood
what she is, the most absurd seems to me
to be that of those who imagine the
church to rest upon the cunning anC
policy of the hierarchy throughout the
world. In the first place, no human
power could create hierarchy so devoted
to one interest. 10 the next place, NJ
human policy could maintain her power l,
the world without the aid of human arms
Her doctrines are as hard now as whel
J our Lord first said Let a man den
himself, and take up his cross and folloy
me" And though including a majorit,
of the men who call themselves Christian
she is the weakest of all bodies of men
But the church will never decay. Gu
Lord accepts the talents of men and tn
influence Of nations when they are offered
but he does not need them. He ha
accepted alike the greatest prejudice O
men and nations. and their creates
enthusiasm. Men are changing an
shifting, but the church is the same a
; when the apostles were sent forth, and s
the church will remain. She will never b
acknowledged as the head to the tempora
powers OF the earth, because the worl
:; will never be worthy of it. List US not b
] afraid of those who say we must b
ulclOy al OD OuS SONGTuDCUL IL we are IOJs
e to another. We can be loyal to both, ant
= the best and most loyal citizen is the tru
+ Catholic. In conclusion, let me say to tn
e young chosen one who to-day has receive
!, the episcopal conservation, that he mus
: henceforth be alone N the world Hi
: duties, this position. will leave him withou
any one to lean on, but all will expect t
: lean on him. | congratulate the churc
> and him on his succession to the episc(
:. pacy.
After the sermon the bishop elect kne
II at the altar before the cardinal, who, wit
J, the two assistant bishops. laid their hand
:. upon his head, saying, Receive the Hol
!; Ghost" The ''Veni Creator" was the
II intoned. and Bishop Spalding's head VS.
2 bound round with white linen cloth. H
% head and hands were then anointed by II
= cardinal. the crozier and ring were blesse
e and presented to him. The mass pr,
5; ceeded to the offertory. Bishop Spaldlu
% brought from his altar two loaves
e bread, two miniature casks of wine al
s. two torches, in symbol of tribute to IL
church. After the benediction he W;
d. invested with the ring and mitre and gay
IL the kiss of peace to the cardinal
s The musical programme was we'll re
j. dered by the regular soloists of the churC
As and chorus Of sixty voices, assisted |
y an efficient orchestra.