Daily globe., 1879-09-10
BISHOP SPAULDING.
Eloquent Lecture Upon Religion From
Catholic Standpoint.

Eloquent Lecture Upon Religion From a
Catholic Standpoint.
Last night the Cathedral was filed with a
vast audience to hear Bishop Spaulding OF
Peoria, lecture. Yesterday it was stated the
bare announcement that he would lecture
would be sufficient to fill the Cathedral; at an
early hour last night the great concourse of
people seeking admission into the Cathedral
fully verified the prediction.
Very soon after the crowd had settled down
and became quiet in the sacred edifce, the
reverend lecturer asceuded the rostrum. The
subject treated of Religion from Catholic
Standpoint" and was a masterly end eloquent
exposition of the divine origin, the history, the
strength and organism Of the Catholic
church.
a history of Christianity, proved it's divine
origin, through the only begotten son of God,
and in this connection gave history Of the
New Testament. The church was established
by Christ and his apostles, following which
the bible was written. 1t put in writing the
life which had been lived, the experiences
which had been undergone and the faith which
had been given birth in organized and cstab-
lished churches. The point made was that
Christ's church had been established by the
voice of God through his son and his disciples,
without written word. After the crucifxion
the church spread, faith came to the multitude
through and by the preaching of the disciples
church grew. IN strength. achieved
glorious victories through supernatural Pc
riod of three centuries without tho New Testa-
ment, or at least only fragmentary portions of
it, which were in letters, or gospels, addressed
to localities. In the fourth century these
fragments were gathered together, examined
in councils of bishops, and authenticated and
sealed with the authority of the church.
During all this period without the New Teata
ment, the church had conquered the world
the Roman Empire. In other words the bible,
New Testament, was a creature Of the church,
the church having been established and exist
cd without it-and it was the expression of a
life and existence in an effective organization
through faith and strength in it, which had
already lived. The New Testament was SUBJ
sidiary and auxiliary, therefore, only to the
church.
the conquests of Christianity. Twice it had
subjugated the world. 1t had conquered the
Roman Empire, and survived its downfall to
conquer the host of Pagan barbarians, be they
Votbs, Huns, Franks, Gauls or Germans, who
laid waste tho highest civilization tho world
of to-day was the Christianity of that victory.
None but Gods religion, Gods church. and
that too, organized, could have withstood the
savagery of the destroyers of Roman civiliza-
tion. To further exemplify the church estab-
lishmeut and the scriptural teachings in writ
ten form, or the precedence of
the former, the lecturer said St.
of the dark ages preached the word of God,
and did not give it in book form to the people
conquered to the belief and faith of Jesus
Christ.
In this way, step by step, tho lecture was
advanced to tho days of the Reformation, and
frD Ho<h h>l, ,to l.
GRATED by sacred and profano history, were
cited az proof to establish the views presented.
In alluding to the Reformation Bishop Spauld-
ing touched upon the admitted difference be-
tween the Catholic church and Professionalism.
The Catholic obtained their faith from the
church, and Professionalism took their creeds
from the bible, each after his own interpreter
tion. Following this the speaker cited ar d di-
rected attention to the difference between the
Catholic church and Professionalism. The former
had stood the test Of time, had conquered the
world, had survived the inroadso of paganism to
subdue it, and for 1000 years had presented a
bold and progressive front in the van of civli-
zation, far out on the frontier in the name and
service of God. And to-day, though old, was
young, and yet led the advance over all. The
harmony and effective organization Of the
church was mentioned; it had withstood perse-
cution, armies had failed to destroy it; it had
withstood defamation; PHILOSOPHERS had been
WAAuVVA w uclluC lUS you IO-udy IL WHS bGCOUp
in the faith and service of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
In contrast, the eminent prelate spoke of the
numerous sects Of Professionalism. On the
whole the creeds of Protestant Christianity
annihilated Christianity. One asserted what
another denied, each basing his belief upon the
bible. The divinity of Christ was affirmed tc
be denied by another and so on. The effect
was to disturb and confuse the people until in
difference seized the supremacy and the mind
became ultimately oblivious to God. TEis was
manifest-if ministers and preachers, who
made the Interpretation of the bible study,
differed so widely, the people felt it was use.
less for them to attempt to determine and fell
into deplorable indifference, which begot inf
deity. And this country was cited rs positive
proof of this declaration, and figures
appalling in their magnitude were given,
which showed out of every 100000 people,
fully $4,000 unbelievers. This deplorable con-
dition of society could he avoided by the &C
ceptance of the only true religion-the
Catholic.
The above is the merest synopsis Of the elo-
Quent discourse, replete with historical cita-
tions eloquent recitals of the martyrdom of
the holy church and its grand mission which,
with the help of God it was daily accomplish.
ing. Throughout the utmost attention was
given and the greatest interest manifested.
a 0voY onyfo olrc ~