The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-09
THE BISHOPS LETTER
RI. REV. MIR. CHATARD WARNS
CATHOLICS AGAINST INGERsoLLIsM.
The Learned Are Not Troubled by
Such Difficulties as Men Like In
gersoIl Suggest.

A letter bearing the signature of Bishop
Chatard has been sent to the Roman Catho-
lie congregations of this city. The Bishop
dwelt chiefly upon the needs of the Do
cesar Seminary students and TO the cele-
bration of Holy Week. He also warned his
people against that doctrine of which Col.
Robert G. Ingersoll is the chief exponent.
In commenting upon the views of the inf
del the Bishop said, without mentioning
Ingersoll by name:
THE Bible. which is Gods word to u.s.
both foretells these events and relates them
as coming about in time. 1t is precisely for
this reason that the enemies of God and
His revelation attack it and strive to ridi-
Guile it. Impudent and barefaced assertions
which have been met and answered time
and again by learned men, not mountebanks
or superficial gatherers of objections from
foes of the faith who, though astray, yet
were learned. The great writers of the
church, in times past and to-day, have re-
piled to such objections, not with evasion,
but with a directness and argument that
left no chance for cavil, regards the
main story of the Bible, its genuineness
and it's truthfulness. That in a compila-
ton of books beginning with Moses, fifteen
centuries before Christ, and ending toward
the last years of the first century after
with the revelation of st. John-that in
such variety of writings. which we have
not in the originals, the work OF men not
inspired and, therefore, liable to error,
should present difficulties. some of which
may never be cleared up for want of nee
essary knowledge, but which do not eff
feet the consistence and truth of the main
narrative-is not to be wondered at. The
learned are not troubled by such difficulties.
for they know the weight of testimony in
favor of the Bible and quietly await the
discoveries of science; wnlcn as they are
cate the truthfulness and exactness of the
Scripture. 1t is a source OF never-endlng
Of t the os dcu aV
been solved by discoveries In the use or
language and in archaeology; Thus Martin
Luther thought the word abred, used by
Egypt, could never be explained. but its
true meaning has been discovered in conse
quence Of the study of Egyptian language
and customs it means bend your knee.
Again archaeology has shown the. truth
existence of a great kingdom, that of the
Elamites, whose kings bore the, name of
kudur, or servant OF some t COD %. one e,;e OF
among them the King. of SEMINAR, or Baby
lon, now known to have been subject to
in Chapter xiv of Genesis. We refer to
these facts, dearly beloved brethren, that
you may not be troubled by what is said
of the Bible by those who go about speak
ing against it. BY no means. through Curl
osity or any other motive, go to hear sue c
speakers and, therefore. cooperate in the
crime committed by them against the Most
High Let us strive to have more of the
spirit of the church, which is guided by the
Holy Ghost and is, therefore. the guardian
of the Holy Scriptures, and let us recall
the words of the fourth session of the
ecumenical council Of Trent, which declares
and shows for it the greatest reverence.
In fact, it is the custom of the general
councils of the church to put the. word of
God the Bible, upon an altar in the midst
of the assembled fathers, as upon
throne"