The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-02-23

PERE HTAorNTHE's LECTURES Pore Hya-
cinthe Ioyson, accompanied by his gifted
wife and their bright little son, arrived
here Monday evening, according to APP
posntment, and remained until Thursday
afternoon, when they took their departure
on the steamer Natchez. During their So
journ they stopped at the Lee Hotel, where
they were visited by many of our leading
citizens, upon all of whom the distinguished
pulpit orator and his wife made a most
favorable impression. Pere Hyacinthe
lectured at Phoenix Hall Tuesday and
Wednesday evening to large, intelligent and
appreciative audiences, and we believe
that all who heard him were convinced that
his worldwide reputation for eloquence
and logic is fully deserved. We present
the following brief synopsis of the argu-
ments advanced in the two lectures, our
circumscribed space not permitting a
lengthy report
In entering a church the first thing which
attracts attention is the baptlsmal font,
where we are baptized and become Chris
tians, make our professions of faith and
declare our belief in the holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church. It is not necessary, in
order to be a Christian, that firm belief
should exist in all that is taught by the
Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church, the
word "Roman' not occurring in the bap-
tismal service, which is Apostolic. The
words land Roman'' we're added by the
Pope, the authority for which they as
sumed without right, as they have assumed
through many ages the prerogatlVes OF
"masters of the world, In affairs spiritual
and temporal Had they contented them
selves with matters properly within their
sphere-the expounding of doctrines OF the
Simple religion''-they would always have
commanded the respect and obedience OF
the faithful but in their pride they have
ceased to say "the Church alone is lnfalil-
BILE in that which she teaches" and now cry
aloud, II, the Pope, am alone infallble,
and you must believe all | say and obey
me, under penalty of accommodation.
This the enlightenment and education of
the people of the nineteenth century will
not allow. This it is that is driving the
people of France, the intellect of Paris into
atheism and deism, a disbelief IN God and
the scriptures.
The pulpit, from which the truths of re-
ligion should alone be explained, IS occu-
pied by too many men who, forgetting
their holy Office of priest and the precepts
of priesthood, seem to have only the IDEAS
Of making money and satisfying their own
desires or passions. The pulpit should be
purged, and to accomplish this lndepend-
ence should be given to priests and bishops
by allowing;the laity to select priests for
ordination and the laity and priests to-
gether to choose bishops. The people
would not then be held, as they now are, IN
servitude by the priests, nor the priests
by the bishops, nor the bishops by
their superiors. The privilege of marriage
should be allowed the clergy, and the lee
turer cited many instances where IL had
been permitted, going as far back as the
time of st. Peter.
Forced confession should be abolished.
Through its influence on women, children
and those deficient in intelligence or en-
the clergy have gained much
of their baneful power. The paterfamlilas
should be the priest and first master OF the
households; his will should be the will OF the
family, his orders sacred, and his lnterpre
tation of religious points the guidlng rule
of his wife and children, who, following he
precepts of Christian husband and fatheF,s
would be Virtuous and consequently happy.
The wife should confess to the husband ana u
the husband to the wife; the child to the
father and mother, that they be united; each
to his neighbor should acknowledge his
fault and contriteiy repair the hurt done;
confess each to himsef-to his conscience,
which is Judge, fully avowing wrong with
out attempt at excuse, and then to God,
asking for pardon. Should you wish it,
having sinned or being In doubt, seek out
your priest, he who is the mediator between
yourself and our heavenly Father. Would
you hesitate if the priest were married, and
~ "a .~,o1,,or that uour confession
would not be kept secret? The priest in
the state of matrimony 1s under no more
temptation than if eelibate. HIS exhor-
tations are then truly those of father.
Read. and you will find that IN the Greek
Church at Rome married and single priests
exercise their functions at the same altar
and have the same privileges. Can 1t De
said that lawyer, notary OF doctor would
be more secret than a priest? Is not their
state less sanctifed.
Priests would be more sincere and fer
vent if the mass were celebrated in the ma
tional language, instead of Latin, which
the people do not understand.
Were the Church at Rome reduced to
Apostolic simplicity its affairs would be the
palladium where Christians would unite to
receive the "bread and wine" consecrated
by worthy priests, and peace, good will to-
ward man would be established forever.
The only reference made by the lecturer
to the difficulty among the Catholics of this
parish was the remark that the church was
closed and that it seemed to be q question
Of land, the people being told, in effect,
g Give US the land and we stay; take the
| md from US, we GO"
BASE BALL.-The boys who are fond of
base ball had fine games on the Nolan
green Sunday before last and last'Sunday.
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