The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-17
For the Central Presbyterian.
Rome and the Invocation of
Saints.
PETERSBURG, VA, Nov. 4th, 80

PETERSBURG, Va, Nov. 4th, 80.
MeSSrS. EditorS,-Before me lies a
limo volume of $50 pages, entitled "The
Holy Mass, the Sacrifice for the Living
and the Dead" by Michael Muller, G.
S. S. R." I had expected to give your
readers some very notable extracts from
it this week, but I have received COPY
of the Catholic Visitor of the Odd uft..
with four column letter from DR.. O'Con-
nell, on the subject of Du6o or the invo-
cation of the saints, and as this subject is
closely connected with the one treated in
my last letter, 1 think it best before pass
ing to the subject of the Mass, to devote
one letter to this strange practice of pray
ing to the saints. Dr. O'Connell says the
object of his letter is to show that the in
vocation of saints "is based upon the in
most convictions of our nature, supported
by the universal testimony of the Church
OF God, and sanctioned by the SACRED
SCRIPTURES [ ask particular attention
to this language What does DIR. OCon-
nell say this invocation is based upon
Not upon Scripture; not even upon that
great basis Of which Catholics make so
much-the testimony of the Church.
He says it is sanctioned" by the former,
and supported" by the latter, but is
" based upon the Utmost convictions of
our nature" What a lame and insecure
foundationl one upon which every her
esy, however bald, and every supersti-
ton, however gross, has claimed to build.
The very fact that he sets to work to es-
tablish as the basis of his saint-worship,
not the sure testimony of the word of
God, but the sub ective convictions of our
poor human nature is a proof at the out
set Of the human origin and superstitious
character of that for which he pleads.
All his arguments from our Utmost con-
victions" are utterly worthless. They
are mere hay and stubble, not worth the
consideration of moment. Nor can his
claim of the support of "the universal
testimony of the Church of God" be re-
garded as of any decisive importance.
He has not and cannot have that univer-
sal testimony. He has no testimony at
all from the early and primitive Church,
before the corruptions were introduced
which eliminated in the superstitions of
the Church Of Rome The few passages
from the early fathers quoted in defense
of the worship of Mary and the saints
are, some OF them, interpretations by
later hands, some of them mere rhap-
sodies-none of them intended by their
authors to give any countenance' or
support to the great system of saint
worship of later days He has only par
tial testimony after that period. The
purer portions of the Church were never
contaminated with that superstition Of
creature-worship. There were never
wanting in the darkest times the seven
thousand that did not bow the knee to
Baal, and his appeal to the testimony of
the Church for support is one which can
not be sustained. But he says he aims
to show that the practice is sanctioned
by the SACRED SCRIPTURES" (the capitals
are his own) and now indeed he interests
us. When he tells us of Scripture au-
thority we begin to listen with earnest
ness. If he can prove to us from the
word Of God that it is right to pray to
angels and saints we shall have not a.
word more to say. But what are the
ScriPtural proofs. Leaving out of view
one or two references to the Apocryphal
books which are not inspired, and there
fore are of no authority as a rule Of faith
and practice, he gives us but two quota
tions. One is from Gen. Xviii: 16, 1.-THE
angel that redeemed me from all evil
bless the lads, where he says Israel in
voked an angel. Well, it is now gener-
ally conceded that this angel Jehovah, or
Messenger ehovah of the old economy
to whom Jacob refers, and who was wor-
shipped by Abraham, Manoah, Gideon,
etc, was the Second Person Of the ador-
able Trinity, so that this invocation Of
Jacob is very good precedent for pray
ing to our Lord but no precedent at all
for offering prayers to any creature. The