The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1878-01-13

that rssson have come to . certain oonclu-
siop, the moment this authority speaks, ne
must how hia head and submit TO 1t uutwith- |
etapdinu HE previous cow lotions. suppose An |
intellectual balance before yon. A msn de- |
liberates on q certain question. lie pu'S inc
nr1uuents for the doctrine into one scale ana |
the arguments against il in the other: foiiow-
ing his reason, he comes to a conclusion ad- |
verso to tho doctrine, and the scale aRslhs1 |
the doctrine sinks, and the scale win inc |
arouments for il risee. Now, using the reason
that God gave him, he mas come 70 VIZ HS oo
oIus;on He hears OF decision OF Churcn
authority-the Pope speaking e. e .hs 20 IN
oDnositiou to his previous convlctions-mcsb
submit his intellect-tbe Church, as IL were,
rudely pulling down the lighter scare ana ne
nust bow aud CRY credo. Here, lt may DO
nrped ia m epslsving of the human lnteheoI.
Again, the intellect is enslsVed' because tne
Church takes from it the grounos on "rLcc
il can form an intelligent Judgment. que takes
the Scriptures of God from mao, or II she per
Imits him to read them, 1t mnst be Win her
own interpretation. Here, therefore, 10 slavery
Of tina intellect Of the very worst character.
And again by her gorgeous ceremonial, by
ber use Of the arts-arch;t eoture, sculpture,
music paintip @ ard poetry-she cheats, as IL
were, reason. Reason has TO Dc sl!ent ano
the Catholic, overswed by the mojesty and
magnitude Of her grand cathedrais, oazzsea
with excessive light aud glory, by her use OF
the fine arts-the Catholic LEG SsPhse, T .h.
tifll-her sentiEen talism-is no longer
reasonable. He is the slave of this sentiment
| tAlism. 1t is said Of nsn, Who. being pres,
| the splendor of some grand ceremonial, found
him,elf kueelipR on the marble pavement. He
| felt his heart moved as il had never been
moved before. The religious ssthetic indu-
| encs was upon him, but he rose superior TO IT,
and said: -.
This is not reason, this is sentiment, this
| is imagination ; l will bresk these enchantinG
| bonds will DO q man and follow my reason
| alone"
religion; because the great object OF reiision
! ia God and any power that places upon bis
! throne any being bat God, and offers that cSeA-
| ture worship, is degrading religion because u
| is degrading the obisct ct oil religion and vet
| the Church, by her devotion to the Blessed
Virgin, to saints and angels, by her Devotion
| to even inanimate objeots-pictures, statues,
| relics, aud 90 forth, substituies something for
| fore deprades Religion. Finally, cite demora :
ICES the in div 10 al aud the public conscience,
| becauge She teaches the doctrine that uai
may hold the place OF COD O man may DE the
iud pe of the conscience of another, q III sn may
| forgive sins as he pleases, and because CT this
fatal facility of forgiving, the horror Tor s'u
muet be losseued. a cutprit goes to tina trl'
| buual and has forgiveness extended 10 hun,
and goes away and sins again, again to be for
given! Here is -, man, like himself, sinner
who Eas tbis tremendous power to forgive sint
! 81 he pleases. Hence the Individual conscl encG
, | must 10 demoralized, and the nation, which 1t
, bnt a collection of individuals, must become
| demoralized ; and hence tho low and corrnp
, | condition If go many Catholic peoples
: | have brought Onward these objections
having placed myself in the pe s.ton OF an so
versary to tue Church-apd have endeavoret
to do so honestly aud as strongly, think, q
| could be expected from q m an not accustomed
o to anti Cath olic public speaking. But fee'ln
Q there is power to answer them, feeling IN
0 truth can neve, suffer in this conflict VII
= error, becauee these charges are oil founde
upon what Catholics do not believe have pI
d them as strongly as it is possible for NE to dc
s and proceed now TO reply to these charges
n There is no fear of mere special pleading i
d nv defence of the Church. 1t is true tia
It almost anything can be plausiely defended
8, that objections can be ingeniorsly explaine
& away. A man has written defence even 9
n Judas Iscariot. l have been told OF case {
J., | special pleading, or rather special judging, b
It explsinirg away of charges, which occ 1rrs
OF in this State, aud which is sn amusing illustr
IT ten of what have been speaking.
20 An old Democratic judge found himself
" the awkward position of being called 10 q
Of two clergymen who, during the tine that Il
n test oath was in force here, had 6een guilty
at the high crime Of preaching the gospel, wit
out taking the "iron-clad OATH" He inquire
" of the first preacher arraignod before him,
e | what religious aenomin atiou no belonged, o.
y, the clergyman replied, am member OF 8
of Christian Church, or what is called sonetim
re- | by outsidere, the Campbellite Church. "Ot
'Ct said the old Democratic Judge. =" Enev A's
x snder Campbell myself. l am Raptlss.
no understand tho doctrines of your ssct. Now
Or don't call preaching the gospel according
,ts Alexander Campbell irTedchlHg tae gospel C. G
Id aud therefore you con L come urGsr this lGV
ng The next Clergyman wss Baptist of the ga
10 shade as the judge himself. The old man ask
sn for the witness agsil 81 this clergyman, a
nv when hs WA produced, he said to him, " II
oee does this evereud gentleman preach - I'VE
Ca replied the witness, "as l am on my ostt
are must say that be ia the worst preacher O.
ct, heard. woaId no: call that prsashiug at
1 would cali that trying 10 preach" I'VE
m- said the judge, this law deolares man Ru'
&C. who preaobss, but not 8 man who only trie'
lti preach therefore, sir, ynn can coutinue
10 try to proscn, but you mast be very care
ees not to preach the gospel without taking
sal. OATH"
,ix. Special pleading. explaining away, defendi
ont when the prejudicss are in favor OF the per
tho defended, in all tits there may be, indie
ith much delusioD; but it is impossible, lat
art aud gentlemen, that you should be deoei
his by any explaining away in ans~sr to tue
Gus dictment whioh have just brcoght sgsi
the the old Church, because ete doctrines of
re- Catholic Church ara not variable opinions;
nta doctrines of the Catholic Church are shaT
am aud authoritAtiVely defined, and are ca
al known. Were to tell you tonight of any
ept doctrine which asserted Catholics do ros
,va. Have but which thew do, there is not q O.