The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-12
THE NFALLIBLE TEACHER
POWERFUL LECTURE BY THE REV.
FATHER SPLINTER LAST NIGHT.
Christ Said Centuries Ago That the
Gates of He'll Should Not Prevail
Against His Church, and They Have
Not-Close of the Successful Mission.
The Dominican Mission has closed.

ultorlum mas Deen nlled 10 ovcrlOWlng by
the faithful Catholic, the inquiring Protest.
ant, the worldly minded.
Believer and dissenter have listened Ia
most powerful, most eloquent, most inter.
esting sermons from two of the Catholic
Church's earnest missionary workers, the
Rev. Fathers Splinter and McF,e ey. The
large parish responded TO the call, a rich
harvest has been garnored for the Masters
cause and the loved and devoted pastor Of
St Peters, the Rev. Father Moran, and
his assistants, the Rev. Fathers Edelin, and
Dunn, will close the Lenten fast with O
grand Easter anthem OF thanksgiving.
The Mission proper closed yesterday,
but the lecture last hight was a more fit
ting finale and was delivered by the Rev.
Father Splinter before an immense. audi.
ence. Prior to the beginning OF the lee
ture Miss Tilie Smith sang most beauti.
full "Ave Maria" Her rich soprano never
sounded sweeter.
The subject chosen by Father Splinter
was "The Iniallible Teacher"
And the text, "And | say unto thee,
that thou art Peter, and upon this rock !
build my church, and the gates of he'll
shall not prevail against il.
In small town in Judea, said the
speaker, nineteen centuries ago a man
began preaching strange philosophy,
n new religion, philosophy spoken
OF TO Abraham, religion prom.
Used TO the patriarchs. II was the
dogmas OF the school of the Nazarene,
founded on sure and solid basis that was
TO bring n more perfect union between
God and man. Between finite man and
his infinite Creator was n separation, but
by redemption they were 10 be rebound.
lie had few followers TO begin his church
with, few 10 whom he could intrust its
principles, and they were those not versed
in arts, in sciences, not gifted in solving
problems OF philosophy, not crowned
heads, nor those high in authority, but
poor fishermen. who knew no other science
than that OF catching fish, no other philos-
ophy than that OF mending their nets.
They espoused the cause OF the Nazarene,
and with them ms foundation stones Christ
erected his church.
Now, concerning the establishing OF
haAN NhhANht AhNNN NAAA aAA0f AilN ANAHAihAlf
What authority was given Ills church,
by what works can she prove that au-
thority was given her? To prove this we
must examine Christ's mind. Whom tho
all-wise God established His church lie
intended IL 10 remain until tho lapse OF
time. IL was not for day, q year or q
century, but for all time. lie meant Ia
build il upon q solid foundation. lie chose
rock, aud in the parable lie gave
His disciples spoke OF the wise man
who built his house upon a rock, and re-
manned secure and whole against the
waves and the storms. Note his words:
upon this rock | build my church"
And that rock.built church has stood firm
against persecution, as the waves Of hatred
beat against IT, and today bids defiance Ia
wind and wave.
Since diyiney established II must be
iniallible. Christs life was embraced In
thirty-three years, His ministry in but
three, and cre the Savior had arisen 10
His throne on high there we're denials
and assertions, but His church still re-
manned Ms a monument TO It's divine
founder and guide. ole made II the in.
strument Of His divine acts. and, there.
FORE again must be inialliblc Not one
promise given by God has been broken
not one sentence fell idly from Ills lips.
Man errs, man is but human; God never
makes a mistake, God is divine. To err
Is human, 10 forgive divine. II Ills
church failed TO stand for an hour. the
gates Of hell prevailed against II, and
II that be true then Christs prediction has
como TO naughL But, thank God, they
are as truo today as on that day OF utter
ancc. lie il the fountain Of truth. and
when lie told those disciples that all power
was given them. lie meant just what lie
said. NV Father has sent me Tan ininlli.
bic toachcr), therefore ! send you Tan in.
iallible teacher), aud through the church
Christ gives His inialliblc teachings; and
you arc required 10 hear her, for does lie
not say: "llc that heareth and bclieyeth
me not Is heather and publican"
His mission % the apostles was, "Go yo
forth aud preach the gospel. lie that be-.
lievcth and is baptized shall be "a cd, and
he that belicyelh not shall be damned. "
God requires you 10 hear and believe I'M
der pain Of ropFohaiion.
In the mirror you see your reflection.
In the world the reflection Of Gods crca.
tive power, Gods likeness. You wonder
then why Ia this world there Is 10 much
disorder, 80 much injustice; the strong ter.
rorizing the weak. You SEQ M
many strange religions, and you
ask Why God has not a svbinted somo one.
Such supposition Is reasonable, but re-
mcmbcs tod has endowed his creatures
with FREQ will, aud they will only be saved
by moral suasion. Down through the
vista Of time the Catholic Church, like a
loving mother, has preached Christ 10 the
world, the same yesterday, today and for
ever. st. Paul says there is a Savior OF
the BODY. Tho Catholic Church Is that
body, and Christ Is its head, aud ho acts
through Ills Church, il Is His mouth.
piece.
OF the hundred or moro denominations
in this world no two are exactly alike. yet
the Catholic Church u the samo today M
It was when Christ established IL. lie
told his disciples 10 eat OF his flesh and
drink Of his blood, and the Catholic
Church stands alone a. the living ombodi-
mcnt Of that promise, and teaches actual
transition Of the sacrament Of communion.
II was no figure Of speech. lie said my
body-my blood" aud in the holy sacri.
lice Of the mass We have Ellis body, Ills
blood"
Again God said THAT which God has
.inel together let no man put aaunder."
In this tho Catl ole Church stands .lone
am an American; my heart beats IN
patriotic sympathy 10 my country, but
must say that our system Of divorce law'
is a curse 60 our land No ihurch, no
sect. no people, except the God ordained
Catholic Church puts esundor that which
God has joined together She mus
be iniallble, for she alone oboys the
commandments Of Christ and obcys then
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