Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-20
A NOVEL DISCUSSION
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE REGISTER"
COUNTING ROOM YESTERDAY.
Rev. Mr.. Dryden, Rev. Father BcutlOu and Others
Conduct an Able and highly Inter-
estng Argument


The readers of the REGISTER are famil-
lar with the interesting controversy that
has been waged in its columns on the SUBJ
iect Of "Transubstantiation," by Rev.
Mr.. DRYDEN on one side and Rev. Father
MCELLIGoTT on the other. The argument
between the distinguished disputants cul-
minated yesterday in o somewhat remark
able conference in the REGISTER counting
room, in which the learned gentlemen con-
Quoted warm and highly interesting dis
cussion of one of the points at issue. The
discussion originated in question of the
authent, city Of certain quotations from the
Fathers of the Church, that appeared In
Rev. DRYDEN's published lecture. In
this lecture the following passages occurred:
"And now we shall cite some of the early
fathers of the Church on the nature and
end to the Holy Sacrament. We ask at
tenti0n first to the testimony Of st. Justin,
who was by birth and religion Grecian.
In the eighty-fifth chapter of his first
apology he tells us how the Eucharist was
celebrated in his time. His testimony is
especially valuable because he wrote about
fifty years after the death Of 81. John. He
says after the words of conservation had
been pronounced by the bishop, ''those We
call deacons distribute to every one present
to partake of this Eucharistic bread and
zine and water and then they carry it to
the absent"
Upon which Mr.. Dryden made the fol-
lowing comment: Now, ST. Justin tells us
that after conservation the bread and wine
were unchanged. 1t is evident that this
father regarded them as emblems of
Christ's broken body and shed blood"
The reverned gentleman further quoted
from the same authority as follows: The
bread of the Eucharist was figure which
Christ the Lord commanded to do in re-
membrance OF his passion"
Rev. Father McEiligott took exceptions
to the quotations from st. Justin aud
Eusebius. In his criticism of Rev. Dry
den's lecture that appeared in the REGIS
TER of the following day, he spoke as fol-
lows:
TN the continuation of Rev. Mr.. Dry
denis sermon of last Sunday, publish
ed in the REGISTER of to-day, he still
quotes the Fathers against the doctrine of
Transubstantiation. The first quotation
he cites against our doctrine il from the
S5th chapter of st. Justin, one of the ear
lest Apologists of the Church. l have
looked over and over again for the chapter
referred TO in st. Justin's first Apology,
and have not been able to find it. The
truth Ia, Mr. Editor, there are only seventy
one chapters III that Fathers first Apology,
and in proof of this assertion, ! will leave
st. Justin's work at the REGISTER Office,
where it may he seen and psIuSed by Rev.
Mr. d. and his friends between the hours
of two and five o'clock p. m. tomorrow"
Rev. Mr.. Dryden replied stating that
a typographical error had made hun quote
the 85th chapter of s.. Justin instead Of
the Goth, aud further proclaiming his read
mess to verify all his quotations from APP
proved authorities. HIS communication
in Yesterdays REGISTER contained the
challenge:
Aud now in conclusion ask Rsv. Nc
Elligott and all others interested in this
subject to meet me at the REGISTER Office
Tomorrow between and 3 o'clock p. IN.
and shall be glad to verify the quotations
I have made from the works Of Justin,
Tertulliau, Cyril, Eusebius, Origen, Celia
sius, Du Pin and others"
In response TO this invitation there
Was very notable gathering of
ciergymep, Catholic and Protestant, at the
office of the REGIsTER, yesterday alter
nom. There were present besides the two
gentlemen who have been carrying on the |
Rev. Father Schilpp, of
the Cathedral, Rev. Father Bout
lou, of Mouudsville, Rev. VIM. U!fert,
IF the German Lutheran Church, Prot. w. |
A. Myera, of New York, Rev. MIR. Jones,
Presiding Elder of the NJ. Z |
Church. Rev. Mr.. Grimes, Prof.
Roemer, of the Liusly Institute, aud q
number OF others, the business
office Of the REGlsTEB, where the gentlemen
nal gathered, being completely filed,
while quite large crowd had cOngregated |
upon the sidewalk in front Of the office.
The u,hnritie4 which Rev. Mr. Dryden |
desired should be examined were ST. JUS
tin, s.. Cyril, Eusehius, Tertullisu, Ori-
gen, Du Pm and others, and Mr, Dryden
arrived at the Office accompanied by a
hamper of hooks, behind the contents of
which he had entrenched himself. There
was good deal of time lost at first in get
ting the gentlemen together, hut about
three o'clock the literary combat WAS
opened by the examination of st Justin,
rom which authority Rev. Mr.. Dryden
had quoted an account of how the Euchar-
st was celebrated in his time Tue dis.
,ussion was mainly conducted by Rev,
Nr. Dryden and Rev. Father Bout
ou, and was quite lively and in
.erestipg at times, the discussion he
ng listened to with the greatest
interest by the large number of persons
present. Rev. Mr.. Ulfert and Professor
Roemer acted in the capacity of trsnsla
tors, and the Latin. and Greek texts were
cited on ore hand and compared on the
other, while the gentlemen Just above
named looked on aud took copious notes.
The pertinent portion of the quotations
from st. Justin are as follows:
"Those we call deacons distribute to
everyone present to partake of this Eucha-
rist, bread and wine and water.
THE bread of the Eucharist was figure
which Christ the Lord commanded to DO
in remembrance Of Ills passion"
Originally, Rev. Mr.. Dryden had SO.
elected Messrs Elwood Hughes aud John
Baltic TO ect in the capacity of umpires for
b;m, but these gentlemen had little oppor
tunity to eEerrise the duties of their office.
To verify the Rrst quotation Rev. Dry
den presented Bishop Coxe's translation of
st. Just,n's works, and after q careful
comparison with the Greek version pro-
iuced by Rev. Father McElligott, the
was declared correct, and the
quotation authentic. The single obi lection
was urged by Father Boutlou that it was
and did injustice to the author.
Ia regard TO the second quotation it was
ound that the Greek Of Father McE!li-
,ott's version could not be construed into
he exact words of the quotation; although
Rev. Dryden produced q translation by
Elliott, in which the exact language he
The