The herald., 1896-03-17
|NFALL|B|L|TY OF THE POPE
AN ELOQUENT LECTURE BY FATHER YORKE
AT HAZARDS PAVILION
Before One Of the Largest Audiences Ever
Assembled In that BuiIding-Fuiiy Twen-
ty.iive Hundred People Present Mastery
Exposition Of the Doctrine

ty-five Hundred People Present-Masteriy
Exposition Of the Doctrine
Fully $500 people were at Hazards pa
vilion last evening to listen to Father
Yorke's lecture on The lnfallibility of the
Pope. Tue lecture was under the auspices
of the Ladies' Catholic Benevolent society,
and was for the benefit of the poor of the
city. The citizens turned out en- masse to
make it a success, and, as result, hand
some sum was realized.
The stage had been carpeted and taste
fully decorated with palms and other semi
tropical plants, while the national emblens
were draped about the walls. Ahrend' 8 or
chestra was in attendance. Among other
prominent citizens who occupied seats on
the stage were the following: ID. E. Done
gan, Victor Ponet, W. H. Mcdonald, NJ. L.
Collins, General Mcdonnell. Zach Mont
romery, DR.. M. Nj. Kannon, Don Juan
Forster, DR.. Lindenfeldt, Herman W.
Hellman, Lewis A. Grant, Robert Steere.
Hicks, John Kenealy, D. NJ. McGarry, Joe
Wolfskill. John Alton. B. G. Reeve, DR..
Reed and W. K. Burke. John F. Francis
acted as master of ceremonies.
Az Father Yorke, with Bishop Montgom-
cry, Bishop Medlycott Of India. Mg-. Nu.
Of Redlands. Lynn, a. }. Myer. Autel and
Victor of Los Angeles, appeared on the
stage and took their seats, they were re-
ceived with an outburst of applause.
The exercises were opened with selec.
tion by the orchestra, after which Miss
was charminaly rendered. her sister, ac-
companying her on the piano.
Mr.. Francis, in brief but well chosen
words, in which he paid high tribute to
the prelate, introduced Bishop Montgom-
cry, who, as he stepped to the front OF the
xr,sft, a
bishop said that he could not refrain from
speaking few words in behalf OF his pet
project, the building of q Catholic hall in
Los Angeles, where lectures could be given
and the doubts and prejudices against the
Catholic religion removed by open and free
debate. He said that he hoped that the
present meeting was but the opening of an
educational campaign, that if followed up
could not but De productive of much good.
The bishop then introduced the speaker of
the evening, Rev. Father Yorke, who, he
said, needed no introduction from him, but
merely Identification.
As Father Yorke stepped forward there
was Q general outburst of applause, and it
was some seconds before the speaker could
proceed. His reception was in tho nature
Of an ovation, in which the entire audience
took part. Father Yorke is compara-
tor and in his address last evening he fully
sustained his high reputation. The speaker
announced as his subjectThe Infallibility of
the Pope. Not very fiery subject, he
said, but one by which he hoped to redeem
his character for peacefulness and at the
same time remove some doubts as to what
the Catholic belief was on this doctrine,
and explain it's relation to the allegiance
which they acknowledge to the national
flag, an allegiance which Catholics give as
freely and as fully as any other denomna-
ton. The Catholic church, the speaker
said, has nothing to conceal. 1t is not a
secret society, nor does it hide in cellars.
She wishes nothing but the light, she asks
nothing but justice. All that Catholics ask
10 that seekers after information come to
them and not Judge them by what their en-
emies say. They would get the truth, for
whatever else might be said Of the Catho-
lie church, it could not be said that she did
not have courage. The speaker then
gave review OF the revolt against the
Catholic church, which started 800 years
is based on q protest against certain truths,
some more and some less, commencing
with the Episcopal church and ending
with Colonel Bob Ingersoll, who
now sits with his legs over the
abyss and laughs the whole procession to
the council of bishops, twenty-five years
ago, which enunciated the dogma of papal
infallibility, the speaker came to the SUD-
ject of his discourse. the Infallibility of the
Pope. This doctrine, said the speaker,
was generally misunderstood by nom
Catholics. The Catholic church, it is true,
he said, taught that the pope, as the
bishop of Rome, is the successor of Peter,
As the rock designated by the Master on
which his church is founded, but he wished
to remove q few misconceptions as to the
pope's infallibility and it's relation to civil
life. 1t was the general opinion, outside
the church, that Catholics believe that the
pope cannot sin. This is not so, Catholics
believe that the pope can SIN, as any other
man; he goes to the priest for confession.
receives his penance. and goes his way try
ing not to sin any more. There was no use
in people decrying against few bad
popes; Catholics admit that there have
been such, but when Protestants can find
pope with as many crimes against him
~ had David, then there is time to qiles-
ton his infallibility. Catholics fully ard
freely acknowledge the authority of the
pope as God gave it, solely and entirely in
spiritual matters. The pope claims nc
supreme civil authority, and while the
Catholic bows to the pope in religious mat
ters, in civil matters he owes no alleQience
except to the flag that waves above him.
The speaker referred to what he demon.
mated the epidemic OF bigotry sweeping
over the country, like measles or other
contagious diseases, which seemed to at.
tack men and women sane on every other
subject. AS to the infallibility of the
yond the possibility of doubt, that Christ
said this was SO or that was SO. THE
speaker likened the pope. in constituting
spiritual matters, to the supreme court in
passing upon temporal affairs. 1t was a
court of last resort, and unless there was
some provision of this kind, neither the
constitution nor the church could
Dast ten minutes. The speaker paid
high tribute to the loyalty of
the Catholic to his country, and con-
cluded his eloquent address as follows
'There ia no stain on the name of Ameri-
San Catholics, aud in all the long list we
defy them to point out the name of one
Catholic Benedict Arnold. There is moth
ing in our teachings to make disloyal citi-
sens; there is everything that links us to
that old flag that floats over US. There is
not one white stripe but what is made
whittier by Catholic virtues; there is no. one
red stripe that is not made brighter by the
blood of Catholic patriots, If the day ever
comes the Catholics will in the future, as
In the past, offer themselves and their for
tunes in the defense of the government
under which they and their church enjoy
such glorious liberty"
As the speaker retired there was a wild
outAurst of applause ali over the house,
and he was compelled to several times bow