The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-09

respectable ladies of that city, PROTESTING
from personal experience against what
they term the denominations of the con-
fesslonal, declaration which closes
with these words, Gas for us, daughters
and wives of Montreal, who have known
by experience the filth of the confessional.
we cannot sufficiently bless God for hav-
ing shown us the error of our ways in
teaching us that it is not at the feet of
man as weak and as sinful as ourselves
but at the feet of Christ alone that we
must seek salvation"
In the appendix to the work the author
has quoted in the original Latin of Dens.
Liguori, and others, many of the subjects
on which the confessor is required to
question his female penitents, and these
subjects are disgusting and loathesome
beyond expression. It is impossible to
see how man can address such aues-
lions to any woman even the most de-
PRAYED in the world, or how any woman
can listen to them, much less answer
them, without utterly forfeiting all self
respect.
1t will be seen from what 1 have said
that this work is not suitable for promis-
euous reading. 1t was not published
with that design 1t ought not to be in
the hands of our women, nor indeed If
the young people of either sex. But it
ought to be read by every husband and
father In the land. The necessity for the
publication of such works is a painful
one; but the evils against which they
warn are so great that the necessity is
Imperative. My advice to the ministers.
church officers, and laymen, under whose
eyes these lines may fall would be to pur-
chase the book, which is small and in
expensive one, to read it carefully and
then either keep it under lock and kew or
commit it to the flames.
This whole system of "auricular confess
sion is so utterly without foundation in
Scripture, as well as without precedent in
the early Church; it is so susceptible of
abuse, however wisely it might be admin
istered; and it is as Father Chiniouy"
conclusively shows, so fatally adjusted
under the direction of Dens, Liguori, and
others, to endanger the purity both of
confessor and penitent that it seems
amazing that it should be tolerated in the
Church of Rome. The explanation given
by " Father Chiniquy'' is the only one
that seems adequate viz, that it is
through the confessional that the priest
hood gain that tremendous power over
the consciences of their votaries by which
they are able to maintain their supremacy
In the face of advancing civilization and
Scriptural enlightenment May God
hasten the day when all the victims of
this man-made delusion shall, like those
Catholic daughters and wives of Mon
treal, be brought to see that cit is not
at the feet OF a man. as weak and as sim
ful as ourselves, but at the feet of Christ
alone we must seek salvation
T.. D. WITHERspooN.
P. S. take this occasion to acknowl-
edge the receipt of numerous letters from
all parts of the country, and from persons
OF various denominations, thanking me
for my letters, commencing the courteous
and charitable spirit in which they have
been written, and asking for their publ
cation in permanent form. 1t is impos-
sible for me to answer all individually.
and L now tender in this way my thanks
to these kind friends who have so honored
and cheered me. Two more letters, one
on Relics and one on Civil Liberty"
will probably complete the course; and
should it please God to give me time and
strength, | hope then to make thorough
revision of the work and give it to the
public in more durable form.
r. D. w.