The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-11
Relics OF A SUPERSTITION
Said Kew. DR.. James McLeed In His
Last Nights Sermon.
uNsANCrlOxED BY SCRIPTURE
Lecture Was Not Sensational. but Argued
That the Cure for Relic Worship Il
Intelligence Bascd Upon q Clear
Understanding Of the Bible.

A large congregation was attracted
to. the First Presbyterian church last
night to hear Rev. DIR. James Mcleod,
the pastor, preach on "The Worship
OF Relics, and the Power or super
stition." 1t was part of DR.. McLeod's
series of lectures on 1.-The Ten Words,
and was a continuance of the lecture
on the second commandment which
was delivered last Sunday.
Possibly many In the church were
present with the expectation OF hear
ing something sensational or refer
ence to Rev. p. ]. Murphy. the Cath
Ollie priest, of Olyphant, with whom DR..
Mcleod last week had mild tilt
through the mediumship of the news
papers. There was no reference made
to the Catholic divine nor was there
anything of sensational nature IN the
sermon. 1t was rather an argument to
show that the worship of relics is
superstition.
DR.. McLeods texts were: And God
wrought special miracles by the hands
of Paul, so that from his body were
brought unto the sick handerchicfs
and aprons. and the disease departed
from them, and the evil spirits went
out of them" Acts, xix. 11-12; "Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God. and
Him only shalt thou serve" Matt. iv,
l0. lie said:
difference OF the Texts.
",The first of these texts was used
by the bishop of. Treves as an argu-
ment for the worship of relics. The
second was used by Christ, the Bishop
OF our souls, as an argument for the
worship of God alone. The worship of
relics ig oppressed to the doctrine of the
second commandment.
IF we pyrl1t tho rp1ipGg which arc
said to be pieces of the true cross, per-
haps no other relic has been more high
ly honored than ''The holy coat of
Trevcs." This so-calied holy coat" is
regarded by multitudes as the Identical
seamless robc for which the Roman
soldiers gambled. and to which your
attention was recently called. I3ut
there is another holy coat" in Argen-
teuil which claims to be the identical
coat which our Lord wore, and of
which He was stripped at the time Of
His crucifition. The identity of the
coat in Argenteuil is vouched for by
st. Gregory, of Tours, and surely he is
a high authority
I'VE need not try to decide between
these two claimants for honors. We
may, however, be permitted to say that,
In all probability. both claims are
equally false. Suppose we regard the
claims made for this holy coat'-both
In respect of its identity and prcserva-
tion and the miracles wrought in con-
nection with it-as only an interest
ing piece of superstition. What then?
Would this supposition be uncharita-
BILE?
The Religion OF Hcathcudom.
"Thc fact that multitudes have been
swayed by superstition will be conccd-
ed. The religion of heathendom is. for
the most part. the product of supersti-
tion. But is Christendom free from su-
perstition? No, indeed. there have
been times when multitudes of Chris
tians were controlled by it. We know
what power it exertcd curing tae Dark
and Middle Ages. Was it intelligent
piety that caused the Crusades? Was
it not rather q brilliant. or. If you
please. a majestic superstition? 1t
was then that the traffic in relics grew
to enormous proportions. and, not only
then. but many time since, the empty
treasury of one branch of the church
has been well filled by appealing not
only to the piety but to the supersti-
tions of the people.
But are we free from superstition? :?
We do not believe in the absurd claims
which are made for some relics. We do
not believe in winlsing Madonnas or in
the miracles said to be wrought in these
days at I,Ourdes and at other places
We do not believe that good st. Davis
or any other good saint picked up his
own head after 1t was cut off, and car
ried 1t considerable distance. But,
perhaps. some of us do believe in some
things equally absurd.
Luther believed In witches and so
did other Of the Reformers, and so did
some of the Puritans. History teens
with evidences Of delusion and delu-
sions defy all law.
The Critics Criticized
II suppose there are some here pres
ent who would rather not dine at q table
where thirteen were seated: or begin q
journey on Friday; or look at the moon
over their left shoulder; and I would
not be surprised If some of you have
now and then carried horsechestnut
in your pocket as a protection against
rheumatism; or. may be, you have car
ried charm. or hung up a horseshoe
because you We're told it might bring
you good luck. And what Is all tbs but
superstition?
THE cure for superstition Is intelli-
gence based upon a clear understanding
of Holy Scripture. 1t was said by q
master In our Israel that the great per-
son taught by the history of image
worship and the reverencing Of relics
is the importance of adherng to the
Word of God as the only rule of our
faith and practice; receiving nothing as
true in religion but what the Bible
teaches, and admitting nothing into
divine worship which the Scriptures do