The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-01

are performed in these ORDERS" (page
1879 1t also "shares in particular man
ner in all the good works which are per-
formed in the congregation of the Most
Holy Redeemer" another mammoth as
sociation. It's assets are therefore i'm
mense, and being on the mutual benefit
plan, they are being increased daily, as
each member obligates himself to con-
tribute to the utmost of his ability to the
general stock as long as he lives, hoping
to draw from it enough when he dies to
help him through the fires of Purgatory
with dispatch. If the new system of OBJ
tanning Masses by lottery should come into
general use, as it doubtless will very soon,
we may expect these assets to be increased
with great rapidity. Thus recent num-
Der of the Quebec Morning Chronicle con-
tained the following advertisement:
1.-The Lottery for the Rimonski Semi
nary will be held on the 10th of August
next and following days. Tickets 81 each
Two hundred and fifty prizes Six hun
dred masses for the living, and the dead
will be at the disposal of holders of tick
cts. Address the secretary of the Bishop
of Rimonski. June I6, 1880"
When we remember what Father Null
ler tells us about the heat of Purgatorial
fires it will be evident that these contra
ternities, with masses by lottery, will be
immensely popular, more so than fire in
surance companies, or life insurance COM
panies, or any of these institutions
With headquarters at Rome, and a Jesuit
as Procurator-G General, with its hundreds
of confraternities and millions of enrolled
members all over the world, it will be-
come mighty engine in the hands of the
Papacy whenever occasion may arise.
But would call attention more par
ticularly to a "heroic act of charity, -
which is recommended to its members by
this Automatically, and which is SO
remarkable as to deserve more than a
passing notice. l quote the act with its
heading as it appears on page l65.
:" Heroic Act Of Charity or Offering of
all Works of Satisfaction and Sufrdges
IN behalf of the Souls IN P,1rgoto7Y.
"This heroic act Of charity in behalf of
the souls in Purgatory, consists in vol
untary offering made to them by any one
of the faithful of all works of satisfaction
done by him in this life as we'll as all
sufrages offered for him after death, he
thereby depositing them into the hands
of the Blessed Virgin that she may dis
tribute them in behalf of those holy souls
whom it is her good pleasure to deliver
from the pains Of Purgatory"
Well this does indeed at first blush
look like very heroic act of charity, to
sign away with single stroke of the pen,
a mans whole interest for time and eter-
nifty in all that can help him through
Purgatory, and consent to go there and
burn whilst the Virgin Mary releases
some favored votary in his stead. 1t re.
minds me of that wonderful charity which
so charmed the celebrated Duke of Bruins.
wick, and became his crowning reason
for becoming a Catholic, namely, thai
the Catholic to whom 1 spake concern.
ing my salvation, assured me that if
were to be damned for embracing the
Catholic faith they were ready to answer
for me at the day of Judgment, and tc
take my damnation upon themselves,
forgetting, poor silly soul, that if he were
damned for embracing the Catholic
faith, they would have to be damned toe
for the same reason, instead of being
damned in his stead and that, even 4
such were not the case, the Lord might
have something to say as to whether that
singular case Of soul-insurance should be
recognized in the courts of heaven. And
so here, if there were such place as Pur-
gatory 1 do not think the Lord would
pay much regard to this system of bar
gain and sale, lottery-drawing and raf-
fling In Masses for the dead, indulgences
&C., so that man might very safely bar
gain to give away his interest in Purga-
torial consolation" of this character, and
not consider it any very heroic act either
But looking little further down find
that the gift after all is not so heroic as
it at first appeared, for it is distinctly
agreed that in this "heroic act" the man
only gives away the satisfactory part
of his good works, the meritorious, pro-
pitiatory and impetratory parts, which
being personal cannot be communicated
being reserved for ourselves" page 169.
So then the man only gives away one
fourth and retains three-fourths for him
self. And if he could keep all the naeri-
toTtous part of his stock, all the propitlo-
tory part and all the impetruto7'y part,
should think he could afford to let the
satistoctogy part 60. So his "heroic act"
already begins to dwarf very much
But read little further "To make