The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-10
F'ro.rs!nut Prayer for the Dead.

To TIFF EDITOR or THE SUN-Sw. Controver-
sizes of all kiEdsare odious. especially religious
controversies: but when articles appear in the
columns Of our daily misrepresentation
written in ignorance and through bigotry--
one cannot refrain from replying thereto.
Speaking Of the Protestant Episcopal Church
In America. contributor to your columns in
to-day's issue writes as follows: 1T cannot be
denied that prayers for the dead are supported
~ Tradition This | freely grant him. and
add this much more-that even at the present
day the Hebrew sects and the Eastern schis-
mates. rs well as the Church OF Rome. teach
that prayers for tho dead are beneficial: but
deny that tEe Episcopal Protestant Church
teaches that doctrine. for the Sixteenth Article
cond ennis the doctrine OF pur:atory. which is
nothing nlse but the doctrine Of prayer for tho
dead. Your contributor says: Il: needs no
argument t" distinguish between prayers for
the dcR" and the tomish doctrine OF rurca-
tory" Why does it need no argument Be-
cause lie has none to offer: ] will show him
that purcnt Org and prayer for The dead nre one.
win mhG Gs ,ntnolic GhHrch teache, ,lHt ,hGIs
those who, are not infinitely pure cannot enter
Heaven; For thos" who hay" died in reninl IN
forgiven through the sinners contritiun,
miIdie state. temporary abode. is believed
in. based on the teachings OF Scripture. whcrr,
these latter souls must rcMnin unit pHrE'i
hy fire of all stain. This is absolutely fair
doctrine. for. II II soul be not bad enough Tor
hell. nor yet good enough tor iraN"n, IT must
remain some place until 1t is clcanS"l from rs
xii. ~ we read: lsn holyanl wh"l"son"
thought to pray for the .dcan that they may b"
loosed from their sins. This raSshT" com
pels some stat to exist from which tho souls
In job. xix. 81 We read: Have pity on me.
have pity on me. at least YOU, my friends. he,
cause tho hand ~ tho Lord bath touched mo.
In this passage the souls NJ the sufferers them
selves call upon til" church lhiithnt !" pray
for the Church suffering. In St; Matthew MI.
sins viii he forgiven" Where do the sinners
remain during the time that these sins re-
main unforg!vent And again. ~, Paul, ~ his
First Episte to til" Corinthians. N. l't ~,
loss speaking of man. yet J." himself shall b.
saved. YET SO as by IRE" Where is H.. soul Of
such /. n,an while the ire J. pur:inG IL Here.
Then ir"m Srr h ",st|n,o " of I
die state. which the 'ath9.lc Church
calls purgatory: aud besides TINS. 70 show
that It il no new dogma. the teachihSs %
such men ms Tertul ian. EusebIus. rs. Cyril;
Ephrem. AMI rose, Jerome Chrysost2m, and
Augustine. all testify to the universal belief.
in their times. in tho doctrine OF pureatoly.
Since purgatory exists an accompanying doE-
ma must follow. namely. PRAYERS LOT tie oeau,
and to pray for the dead must necessltate; ~, u
purGatory might exist without prayer tor tho
dead and the Justice OF God be satisfied yet
prayer for the dead would be useless without
nurgatory. because. II the soul vas -. Heaven
hell PRAYER would not, avail It. lecnrse out OF
lnl, there is no redemption :. iours. very
TGooKLyN. n. y. Nov. s, 1892.