The herald., 1895-10-21
Rev. j. S. Th0mson's Discourse
on the InfalIibIe Head
COURTS NUMBERING CHRIST
plate ID Palestine and Presbytery In
Los Angeles
ssrnens and Addresses by Persons of Many
Different ninds and Teachers Of
Varied Observation-Disclosures
At Unity Church


Who Is the Infallible Head of the Chris
tian church? was delivered yesterday
morning by the pastor, J. l.. Thomson.
The text was Zone Is your Master, even
Christ: and all ye are brethren" MAT
thew 23:S.
the Christian church is divided into
three great churches-the Greek church.
the Roman church, and the Protestant
church. The Greek and Protestant
churches have heads over large organiza-
tions; but the chief bishop of the Roman
church is the only one who claims to be
infaliible in ecclesiastical affairs. The
dogma of the infalIibilIty of the pope
was adopted in July, 1910, after it had
been strongly opposed by some OF the
greatest leaders in the Roman church.
The bishops, rchbishops, primates,
presidents of synods, presbyteries and
assemblies, in the Greek and Protestant
churches. frequently assume the autnorl-
ty of infallibiiity. We have no denomi-
nation without its infallible little god.
The assumption of infallibility is forbid
dan BIZ Christ. "One is your Master,
even Christ" No other head is mention
ed. He will ALWAYS be the. head of His
church. 81 am with you Away, even
unto the end of the world"
aye are all brethren" and equal, and
no one shouldsusurp authority over this
rest. THE princes of the Gentiles exer-
else dominion over them, and they that
are great exercise authority upon them
but it shall not be SO among you." These
words were spoken to all, but especially
to the two ambitious brothers who de-
sired chief places in His kingdom. This
shows that Christ favored 10 organization
among His followers that would be copied
after the constitution of any nation.
The Roman govern ment. being then uni
versal, it is almost certain that Christ re-
fsrred to its constitution.
The grand and almost perfect organZa-
ton Of the Roman church is copy of
the constitution of the Roman empire
All men must admire its com pleteness
and power; but it certainly has not the
sanction of Christs teaching. Christ's
disciples we're to be a bsolutely demo-
cratic. No one was to lord 1t over Gou's
heritage. He repudiates the machinery
of government in His church.
Ecclesiastical courts are great lovers of
infallibility, devoted 20 prejudice, enc
mles of facts, and always preferring their
official authority and dignity to justice.
They act as if they hated the Golden
Rule. They have been defamers OF char.
acter, and prosecutors since they began.
Every man is a hereto that was not born
with their eyes and their opinions. They
every new discovery as a trick of satan.
Thev have imprisoned aud put to death
some of the noblest men and women. 1t
was court OF priests that put Christ to
death; and most courts of this kind have
been putting Him to death ever since.
1t is pity that the present good pope
was forced by the college of cardinals to
frown-upon The celebration of the TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary of Italian unity.
That was one of the grandest events IN
the history of Italy. and it deserved the
sympathy and praise of every lover of
liberty and national unity. This antipa-
thy to the Italian government proves
that his holiness is fallible. or rather
that the college of cardinals is faliible. in
one important thing.
If that college would read and study
Christ's words. "My kingdom is not of
this world. and if the church would act
according to Christ's teaching, and give
anscendancy, and every desire to hold I'M
taxed church property, it would start
upon a new career of progress and pros
derity. The church would then stand for
spiritual and eternal things only. No
denomination can be trusted in politics.
In order to avoid all suspicious, the
separation OF church and state should be
absolute.
The early Christian societies were Or
gained according to the simple plan OF
the Jewish synagogue. Each church is
independent of all other churches in the
management of its own affairs, according
to congregationalism which is the mod
eEn representation of the synagogue. In
our own city we have just seen the evils
of the Presby terrain plan of church gov
eminent, which is copied from the con-
stitution of the Roman republic, gov
ernment of senators or elders. That lit
tie ecclesiastical court which tried and
condemned Rev. B. L. Howard last week
feels that it is infallible, that is authori-
ty and dignity must be maintained and
acknowledged. That court surely might
have made better impression by show
ing less.leaning to prejudice. little mure
fair play, and a greater willingness to fol-
low evidence than to raise technical o b.
jectlons. That court, like every ecclesiast-
ical court, is a descendant of the court
whicn murdered Christ. He who studies
gospel and prepares himself to be led
by ihe comforter that Christ prom sed
(and He never promised a Catholic or
Protestant pope) will not go astray
Christ is the only infallible head of the
church and the Holy Spirit is the only in
falllDle interpreter Of the gospel.