Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-18

by the POpe's Standard Mere words! Mr..
Breed should prove the Pope a tyrant; that is,
| transgresses the limits of his commission. IF
he speaks within the commission, and it is
bondage to obey him, I will ask, was it not
bondage for the first Christian obeying the
apostolate bondage for the Jews re-
through through Moses, bondage for citizens citizens
obeying civil courts, bondage for men accepting
any fact of history on the most reliable testi-
mony-accepting every mathematical deduc-
ton? Would not license be true iberty3
Catholics do not, as already said, obey the
Pope beyond the limits of his commission.
How little the true temper of the Catholic
mind is understood! Not only do we call for
the church's credentials, but we scan them
carefully, to know their limitations, and to al
low the church to go no farther. Faith and
morals-beyond these she does not command
our assent. Only within the commission is her
word law, and law only we obey.
MIR. Breed speaks much of the one-man pow
er in the church, as if the supremacy of the
Roman pontiff of itself substantiated his
charge Of despotism. republican form of
government he evidently deems best in civil
and religious commonwealth. The sacred in
terests of supernatural religion are far differ
ent, we must confess, from questions of our
mere material and social welfare. And do
not believe that with all our admiration for our
American republic we are SO welded
box, and the occasional electoral commission,
! and assent that Christ must have constructed
his church on this model But the question in
reality is not what we would like. but what he
did.
There are certain principles essential to all
social structures, which to suppose that Christ
| overlooked in his church, would be to us, in
Mr. Breed own words, an imputation on divine
providence.
But as to the precise form of the structure,
his will is the rule. Christ, to be wise legis-
lator must have established in his society law
and courts, but whether the supreme court
OF his church should have on its bench one or
many judges-it is a question of facts
What form of government, what guarantee of
law and order did Christ establish? None, his
tory answers if it be not the Catholic hierarchy
with Peter at it's head. Legitimate authority
only begets law and saves liberty, and authority
Is legitimate only by Gods appointment.
The Catholic church is not despotsm; it 10
liberty regulated by law, founded in truth.
But Professionalism is communism. In COM
munism, says Mr.. Breed, the power is dis
trlbuted among the people, without any rule or
restriction, and the right of each individual
to live and think as he pleases is governed by
no limitations.
This is precisely the condition of things in
Professionalism. We come, says Mr.. Breed, to
our second point, Protestant authority. This,
he continues, is by all means the most import
ant point.
will give Mr.. Breeds own principles on COM
munism. Communism is the absence of
law Of rule or limitation. Communists are
| they who impatient of restraint form indepen-
who extol the right to think without imita-
ton and to live according to no formal au-
thority.
l will define the constitutive principles of
Professionalism. 1t is the right of individuals
singly to interpret the bible for themselves,
being amenable for their interpretations to no
superior authority. Protestants reject all ideas
of a divinely instituted ministry-the min is
terial powers being simply those received from
the men, few or many, who form themselves
into a congregation.
Why, the very statement of the two cases
those OF communism and Professionalism are
identical.
MIR. Breed terms independent churches and
irresponsible ministries unmixed evil. But
| the man would be no Protestant who does not
protest against the idea of ministry that
all must accept; who docs not believe himself
invested with as much power as any ministry;
Who does not claim us his inaienable right to
unite with few neighbors. and set up church
OF their own, with parson of their own choice
| On this essential principle Of Protestant Luther
and Calvin and Zwinglius, and Knox, and
Wesley, set up their own ministries. The mo-
ment you demand responsible ministries. YOU
blot out the whole so-called reformation.
wonder whom Mr.. Breed could have had in his
mind when he talked Of irresponsible minis
| tiers. Perhaps it was Mr.. Gannett, Mitchell, or
Rev. Lady --- in the East. will take up
| the gauntlet in their defense, and ask Mr.
Breed, what authority has he to preach more
than they? What authority had Knox and
Calvin?
Still Mr.. Breed believes to have some au-
thority for his ministry. He is 10th to be be-
ieved as Catholics, he says, hold him and his
brethren, Ecclesiastical Ishmaelites who have
RIGHT to to- ~,
scriptures" And he states his authority.
The Catholics he says, arise in apparent bold
ness and demand of u.s. what lis your AUTHORITY?
My authority! My authority! My friends, my
authority is the only one which has ever been
recognized by the true people of God. My au-
thority was the authority of Moses, and David,
and Isaias, and Daniel, and Paul, and Peter,
and John, and even Jesus himself-God's holy
word. Deny it who can.
According to this declaration, Mr.. Breed is all
right. He should, however, leave out David;
Saul was punished for assuming the minis
try. But Mr. B.'s patron saint 1870
The word of God! Where is the irrespons1-
BILE minister who will not say alike?
All is confusion of ideas. OF course Gods
word is the sole source of ministerial jurisdic-
ton, but not Gods words, whatever these
may be-God's word appointing the minister.
The law of Minnesota is the source Of an.
thority for the judges of our supreme court,
but not any chapter whatsoever of our stat
utes, but the appointing supreme court.
Gods word was the authority of Moses.
This one: Il will send thee to Pharao, that
thou mayest bring forth my people," And
when Moses replied that neither Hebrews nor
Egyptians would believe him, the Lord said:
Il will stretch forth my hand, and will strike
Egypt with all my wonders" The word of
God, of the eternal father, was the authority of
the Saviour himself: This day have begot-
ten thee, spoken from the clouds, while he
stood on the banks of the Jordan; and Jesus
was ever ready to prove that he-the father
had sent him, by his works. The word of God
was the authority of Peter, Paul. etc.: $50
and teach.'
the ministry of Mr.. Breed. or of any
Protestant parson? It is not the commits
sion, go and teach," for they have sepa-
rated from the only historic ministry
that could have received this commission. If
| 1t IS an extraordinary word to Mr. Breed or to
John Calvin, let US have the proof, the,only
proof which ever establishes an extraordinary
ministry, that of Moses, of the Saviour-mira-
cles.
Yes; where, the word instituting his ministry!
These Protestant ministers remain "ecclesi-
astlcal lshmaelites," with no more AUTHORITY
congregation. And will ask, how with nny
principle of Professionalism whatsoever. ME-.
Breed will prevent independent churches and
irresponsible ministers-and this according to
hlmself-is religious communism.
Ihs is civil communism, where each indiv-
idual would say, am the Judge, 1 am the
governor, am the legislature-and when
asked for his authority, would Indignantly re-
Ply. MY authority! Why, it is the sole au-
thority that any judge, or governor, or legisla-
ture ever had: it is the law of the sovereign
state OF minnesota. Here is the statute book
under my hand.'
They are religious communists, Mr.. Breed
says who deem subscription to the creed of a
church, "servility," who on the contrary, extol
the right to think without limitations and to