Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-09-13

We are not enemes-that is the first ster
towards union. The religious history OF
the past three centuries may be COM
pressed into the contrary statement-wt
are enemies. Unless we can now look up
on each other with friendly eyes, then nc
force of argument may prove convincing
Our contact, as in the past, may prove
only passage at arms. Remember, we
desire not to conquer, but to win.
The second step is to go back to the
fountain of Christianity, and together
drink of its water. In other words, let
us in friendly spirit, seek principle
that may be called the backbone OF the
Christian body. Having found and
acknowledged that, the third step comes
without effort-we are friends-and union
is a matter OF course.
Assuming, then, that the first state
ment, 1--WE are not enemies, Is accepted
by way OF common platform, our first
step has been taken. Now, l ask you
when Christianity was presented to the
world which has embraced it, what was
the one great truth, involving all its
claims, which won and held that world
its subject? 1t was, this cannot deceive
us. The finger of God is here" What
held the church united for fifteen hun
dred years, all Christians "in one fold?''
1t was the same great truth, w hat holds
the entire Catholic church to-day, made
up of all classes in every nation, united
in he same fold? 1t is still the same great
truth. What is the cause of all sects, the
cause of Professionalism? 1t is the denial
| of that great truth. That sublime truth,
then is, | claim, the very back bone of the
/ Christian body, the principle OF effective
4 union.
Injure that and the body is practically
/ dead. Preserve that and there is ever
harmony of purpose and action. Here
I the body lives and holds its lips at 1.-THE
! fountain OF living waters
Does that statement seem reasona Bile
and just to you, kind reader? why
well-yes;" you answer. Il certainly
believe my church cannot deceive me. l
truly believe the hand OF God is in it.
Otherwise would not be mem Der OF it ="
Well then, let us together develop hat
truth, and see to what it leads. We may
consider it both from Catholic and from
a Protestant point of view.
THE ARGUMENT FROM CATHOLIC
STANDPOINT.
Viewing the matter as a Cat holic, when
say that the church cannot deceive me,
| mean hat she cannot lead me into error.
II this be SO, ii evidently follows that she
cannot herself fall into error-snd all
because "the finger of God is here"
This consideration brings US at once to
the exact point of division between
Catholics and Protestants. Catholics
teach error. Protestants claim hat, as a
matter Of fact, the church did fall into
error and did teach error. At first sight
it would seem as il no settlement could
be reached in this matter, and yet reflec-
ton may convince us, ii seems to me,
that here we have the only ground OF
hope for a solution of all difficulty that
may clear the road to union. II we are to
unite at all, the union can only be formed
at the point where the breach has taken
place. But if we were TO review all the
arguments, pro and con in regard to the
alleged historical facts in the case we
would have lengthy and useless task
before us-s rehearsal of three hundred
years of controversy. We prefer to
examine the first principle at issue.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF QUESTION AT
Is there such a thing in HE world as
absolute certainty in religion And
what are its grounds?
At the outset We meet three prominent
facts, SO plainly evident To all that they
cannot escape observation. As they have
an important bearing on our subject. !
deem it we'll to mention them here. lst.
The Catholic church has continued
through the ages, even since he division
or secession, always a compact body, and
always by far the largest body of Christ
ians. I'd. Protestants have always, from
the very first of their existence, differed
among themselves, and have continued to
divide and su bdivide as years advanced
Sd. Large portions OF the population of
our towns are not allied to any church
In the town where l live, the proportion
of such is about four fifths of the entire
population.) Practically, they have no
religion. These nearly all come from Prot
estant families. Whatever weight,
therefore, may be drawn from consistency,
harmony, and force OF numbers, stands
in favor of the Catholic claims. Now il
We seek to put those claims into the
simplest form of expression, that form is
embraced in one word ,-infallibiiity. For
if that doctrine be proved, all is proved.
We will, then, select that doctrine as
the test matter; and in its regard we
shall attempt to answer the following
questions. What is infallibility? Was
there ever in this world such thing as
infallibility? Was it given to the church
of Christ? Is it now in the world? II 50,
where is it? What are its limitations?
FIRST QUESTION.
What is meant by infallibility? l am
not writing a scientific dissertation, but
am trying to write plain statement that
may be easily read and understood by one
who runs. Hence, / define infallibility as
certainty guaranteed from on high.
1t will be noticed that this article treats
Of religion, and religion only. The basis
of religion is the will OF God Its practice
consists in voluntarily fulfilling the
known will of God. Hence, God must
have revealed His will. A general state
ment Of the Christian religion, then, may
be that, on the authority Of God, he who
believes certain truths, and willingly
obeys certain code OF laws, shall obtain
a right to a share in the merits OF Christ
and thus inevitably reach salvation. He
who denies infallibility to religion, denies
that any religion exists, which OF its
nature, on the authority of God, inevits-
bly, leads to salvation. It is essential
then, since the substance OF religious
knowledge is a message from God that
there be an absolute certainty that the
message bears the stamp Of the sender
That is infallibility, as far as the religion
itself is concerned.
SECOND QUESTION.
Now, was infallibility ever in this
world? This bring us to the messenger
as well as to the message. / unhesitating-
ly answer, yes; for Christ was in the
world, and He surely had with Him Ger
tQintu guaranteed from on hioh To prova