St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-17


in order to look up testimony.
! Mrs. Keeper was fined S. for throwing
bucket OF water on a neighbor woman, and
the case Of Fl. E. Mckinney, who threatened
to blow the brains out Of man was eontin-
ued to the goth, while several buns were
sent to the bastle.
The Inconsistency of Reason When 4p-
piled to the Mysteries of Truth
To the Editor of the Globe.
l noticed in your paper Of last Monday
sermon by the Rev. G. S. Smith, ON Reason
in Religion, purporting to be refutauon of
the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation
so admirably explained by Monsignor Capel
during his course of lectures last week at the
cathedral. Being only an humble layman
''Romanistn Gas Mr. Smith is charitably
pleased to term u.s. do not intend to enter
into any lengthy theological discussion with
him. Yet l cannot refrain from submitting
to the reverend gentleman few of the in
constituencies of reason when applied to mys-
ferrous truth. Before doing so | am com-
PEELED to correct the erroneous position he has
taken in regard to the attributes of reason.
Mr.. Smith states that treason is the faculty
of the soul by which we discern and apply
truth, and is therefore essential to the Chris.
tian.''
This statement is wrong. Reason is the
faculty by which we discern the principles Of
fact when made patent to the organs Of
sense, and is therefore the creature and ex-
ponent of the senses.
If Mr.. Smith had substituted faith for rea-
| no bn rI1r
Faith is Divine gift to the soul, which
enables reason to discern the truth of mys-
terry, and is therefore essential to the chris
tian. Reason being subordinate to faith
must necessarily accept the dictum.
Without faith reason will err in discover
ing the truth of mystery.
For example: The christian supported by
faith reasons that there is God The in
fdel without faith reasons there is no God.
By reason Ingersoll and host of infidels
before him reject as false the belief in the
mysteries of real, invisible God, because
they are not patent to these organs of sense.
By reason Mr.. Smith does not believe in the
real, invisible presence in the consecrated
wafer, because he cannot see or feel the bones
and nerves. Reason without faith being I'M
able to discover the truths of mystery must
naturally lead men to disregard religion,
because of its being the production of a
mysterious God. Is it possible that through
lack of faith Mr.. Smith is drifting into inf
deity?
Mr.. Smith admits that facts may be verb
fled by experience or testimony that there
may be in them great elements of mystery.
l will now submit few facts for a reason
able application. 1t is fact that Christians
believe Jesus Christ to be the supreme es-
sence of truth itself; that he cannot deceive
nor be deceived.
1t is fact, in order to illustrate his teach
ings and make them more clear to the minds
of his hearers, Christ sometimes spoke figur-
atively or in parallels. But it is also a fact
that in all his commands to the apostles he
spoke without ambiguity, in plain words that
could leave no doubt as to their meaning.
When he said $50 forth, teach, etc. he
surely did not mean they should stay at home
and remain silent.
1t is fact that Christ, at his last supper,
taking bread blessed it, saying: Take We
and eat for this is my body; do this in COM
memoration of me.'' A distinct command
Reason says. If he did not mean what lie
said he was guilty of deception.
Does Mr.. Smith accuse our Lord of trfing
with his apostles in his last sorrowful mo-
ments on earth? He does not, though that
is the inference, but says Christ spoke fgur-
ativey Is it not fact that our Savior did
perform miracles before his death! AT the
marriage of Cana he changed water to wine.
Does Mr. Smiths reason say it was changed
6guratively, and that by some deception or
hallucination the guests were induced to
believe they. drank wine instead of wateri
Christ was not yet dead.
1t is fact Christ fed the multitude in the
desert on few loaves and fishes without
visible decrease Of the substance or food,
though he was not yet dead.
Mr.. Smiths reason says Christ had not
the power to perform the miracle of transub-
sanitation without increasing the weight
and bulk of the visible substance, because he
was not yet dead.
Does Mr.. Smith undertake to define the
extent OF Christ's power in performing mira.
cles!
1t is fact that after death our Lord APP
peared to his disciples in flesh and blood
bones and nerves. Thomas, being absent,
doubted, and considered the story false and
a humbug, and would not believe until he
had seen and felt the wounds in the hands
Reason does not allow Mr.. Smith to believe
until he sees and feels the bones and nerves.
We may well ask, have we a doubling
Samuel in our midst. lfso Christ's words Ia
Thomas may have the desired effect of dis
pelling his doubts. "Blessed are they who
seeing hath believed. Thrice blessed are
they who believes and hath not seen"
Mr.. Smiths reason tells him that God is
everywhere, around him, in him aud with
him. Reason also tells him he is not with
Catholics, on their affairs, in the consecrated
Host.
Mr.. Smith affects to believe in the greatest
and most profound mysteries which nc
mortal eye can penetrate, no soul grasp, mol
the most brilliant intellect ever solve until
death draws aside the veil the mysteries
of the incarnation and Trinity.
Can it be that reason epronounces these
doctrines as false and humbug.
Oh Reason how Inconsistent thou art.
What vagaries thou dost play, and what
fantastic capers thou dost cut in the brain Of
poor faithess humanity. LAYMAN.
Plats Approved.
The plat commissioners approved the foE
lowing new plats yesterday.