The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1884-01-19
REV. FATHER BOUCHARD AT THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Church OF Christ.


ON Sunday evening the Rev. Father Bouchard
opened his mission service in this city by deliver
ng an address on The Church Of Christ After
repeating what he had previously stated in the
morning with regard TO the object and conduct
Of his holy mission. he proceeded expuund the all
important subject above named.
He said that, according to the holy writings,
Christ our Saviour established His Church during
His sojOurn tLis earth, nearly 1900 years ago.
His Church Is now nineteen centuries old but
old and venerable as she Is she Is to-day the same
perfect organization that she was when Christ
established her. She was in the beginning a
visible corporation body. for Christ organized
His Church ont Of such material as ne (the Rev.
speaker before him-human beings, visible
men-and consequently the church which He
established was a visible corporation or body. 1t
Is such still. 1t then; it is still. 1t
ruled and directed by supreme authority,
vested III one head-that visible head directing the
Church III all that pertained to faith, morals and
discipline 1t was one in faith professed but one
creed, and believed one system in doctrine. The
Church is The same still, and the Sacraments then
administered are received and administered still.
The Church is still perfect in her organism, and
has been during the nineteen centuries of her ex-
istence. He might say she differs from what she
nineteen centuries ago: she is numerically
greater than she was then. tt Church was only
mere handful of members. and could be counted
on the fingers. Now she can be counted by mil
lions and hundreds of millions. The Prophets
have most wonderfully portrayed the growth of
the Church of Christ X 1t is compared
to little stone cut out of the mountain and as it
rolled down and onward il increased in magnitude
till it filled the whole world. So it is with the
Church. Ske has gone forward. increasing and
increasing in numbers, filling the whole earth. We
find her amongst every people, The sound of her
canticles re-echoing along every valley. There is
not a spot where she may not be found Our Di-
vine Saviour spoke Of the Church in these words :
- 1t was like grain of mustard seed which, when
planted becomes great tree, that the birds of
the air seek refuge III its bouehs.' 1t was very
small in the beginning. The Church has grown
up, increasing in magnitude, spreading far and
wide, that from the four ends of the world do
we find nations and tribes flowing into her bosom.
Such is the Church of Christ. To-day find her
hlling the whole earth, She has not ceased We
say without fear of contradiction, Christs Church
has ceased to increase. No obstacle that has
been placed in her way has prevented her
growth. so that she is to be found in
every land and among every people.
Christ pledged His word she should never cease
Behold the foundation of Christ's Church was
rock and what does that imply That the founda-
ton is every enduring is indestructible it implies
a material, solid and durable. Our Divine Saw
our wishes to have Us understand that His Spirit
tual Kingdom shall never cease to exist, from what
He tells us of him who hears the Word of God and
keeps it, II is built on a rock the rains fell and
the winds blew so that it could not be removed
imperishable. \ The powers of earth
feeble compared with the forces of hell combined
against the Church Of Christ With all the
weapons of destruction that have been brought
destroy it. We have the assurance of the indie
structability in the words Il am with you = = =
According to Christ's own promise, His Church
has failed.
The Rev. Father compared the Church to a lc7oIe
body, hence the Church could not be considered
without head. The question may be asked, who
was the great visible head her establishment? He
answered, Christ himself, and such He possessed
a Supreme Authority that body, and He ex-
ercised Supreme Authority in all that pertained
to faith. Let us how He exercises that author
ity. He appointed twelve apostles to be
at the head. He says to His disciples ''All power
is given me in Heaven and on earth; Go ye there
fore and teach all nations. ETC. He make His dis
ciples the confdants of His bosom. He entrusted
His doctrines TO them for they to go and
teach them to all nations. So that learning
these doctrines from His lips, they understood
them He understood them. For the nations
were To be brought to a knowledge of the truth ;
but they could only teach this truth by under
standing them because they could only under
stand by being taught and educated in the same
! sense as Christ taught them. His Disciples un-
derstood them, and Christ sent them His plen-
potentiaries. He clothed them with full authority
to teach these doctrines to all ma tions. They
went not without being sent. They listened and
learned, and when fully instructed, then they were
| clothed with all authority necessary. From this
we learn that Christ intended that His
| Church should be a national church never in
/ tended His Disciples to establish independent
| churches according to the laws and customs of
| the people amongst whom they went. They were
not to consult the opinions of monarchs the doc
triAe of sOvereigns The church is intended for all
subjects for the rich, for the ignorant and poor
/ the same gospel for all. The portals are
| thrown open to all nations, the bonded and free.
| Christs teaching was, gather all nations within
the sacred enclosure of Ny Church.. He was the
grand Shepherd. All to be gathered by His apos-
ties and by other means; under Govern
/ ment and directed by one Shepherd. 1t TO be
no national ns titution but intended for allblack
white-all according to Christ to gather into
one household in order thus to build up the
Church. All things whatsoever 1 have com
! manded you to know, are you TO teach.'' 1t was
not left for them to teach according to their pri-
Fate ieeLnSs OF oplnIons 1Iey were 10 put no con
struction on their teaching. There must no opposi
tion and no difference, not even dissenting voice
See the means by which they tC
be added to the Church and become heirs of the
Church. Baptism the means that Christ laid
down in His Church by which the people were to
be added to the Church. Baptism blots out every
sin and iInbues the Soul and makes one Will
him. 81 For he that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved and becomes member of the Church.
Christ was an infallible teacher and HI
told His apostles, those who hear you, hear Me.
This is the declaration of Christ concerning Hi
Church and to secure this infalibility He sent TIN
Holy Ghost that He might abide with them an,
guide in all truth. He has sent His shining hgh
leading men in the way of truth and salvation
Such is the Church of Christ. 1t dissipates preju
dice and points out the path of rectitude.