The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15
The Prelate Declares the Church
Lives Independent of the
Bible.
TRANSACTIONS OF SCRIPTURES.
The Bible in Religious Society Com.
pared to the Constitution in Civil
Government.

The Most Rev. Archbishop Riordan de-
livered a lecture on "Phe Church and the
Scriptures" before a large and cultured
audience at Metropolitan Hall last night
His Grace held the undivided attention of
The immense gathering for nearly two
hours. The discourse covered wide field
of history, showing extensive research and
profound learning.
Many prominent clergymen occupied
seats on the platform which was decorated
with palms and overhung with the National
colors. This was the last lecture of the
series under the auspices of the San Fran
cisco Educational Union.
When the eminent prelate walked out on
the platform the people rose to their feet
out OF respect for him. The Archbishop
wasted no time in preliminaries, and was
soon lost in his subject. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The
object OF this lecture is to indicate. as briefly
as the imports of the subject will permit
me, the part the Holy Scriptures hold in the
Catholic system OF theology, the grounds on
which the discipline of the church, respecting
the reading of them in the vernacular tongue,
rests-and point ont the solicitude of the Cath
oIlc church in preserving in all its purity and
Integrity the written word of God. The theme
Is too ample to be com pressed within the limits
OF single lecture, and l can only call your at
tentlon TO the prominent parts of the subject.
We will first examine how Christ our Lord
intended mis- teachings TO be transmitted to the
world, what system did he devise that men
living in ages lar removed from the one in
which he lived might be enabled to arrive
with positive certainty al a knowledge of the
truths whose acceptance he made obligatory
on all.
OUR LORD CAME AS GOD AND NAN
To redeem fallen man. But his sole mission
was not to satisfy the justice OF God for sins
committed, but also to form vast community
of a spiritual nature, q community which
would nos be conterminous with any country
or nation; dependent on himself alone for its
power and authority; whose dominion would
commence in time and continue throughout
eternity. He wished to break down the odious
distinctions which existed in ages preceding
his coming, between man and man, between
nation and nation, that there might be zone
the darkness which clouded the intellect of
man, TO infuse into his mind q correct idea OF
the relations which existed between him and
has creator. To that end he bequeathed to
mankind religion, which all men were
obliged 10 receive, making their intellects, as
St Paul says, captive TO the faith" if they
wished to have any share in the inheritance of
Gods chosen Ones for 'she that believeth not
shall be condemned" 1t is, therefore evident
t4idk NIS id4i0 OF DOuN OI Q0EII1Qe given by
our Lord TO the world was to be preserved in
tact until the end of time.
ALL CHRISTIANS ADMIT yHIs.
No matter what political revolutions might
sweep over the earth, no matter what new
theories might be broeched in. civil govern
ments, no matter what developments the arts
or sciences might assume, the fundamental
principles on which Christ built his church
the eternal truths which were 10 be its life
were always, and under every changed condi-
tlon OF things, 10 remain the same. They were
10 10 De IKE himself, who, in the words of st.
Paul, is Yesterday, to-day and the same for
ever" They might be better known, more
July drawn out into the conclusions which
they tain, but they were to be in all times
substantially the same. And on this point all
Christians agree For what is a Christian but
follower OF Christ? And who can be called q
follower OF Christ but ne who receives with
uestioning fsith and with childlike SIM
pIlclty the teachings of Christ? All Christians
appeal continually to the words of our Savior
IN their behalf; and the reason alleged by
those who are not of the fold OF the
Catholic church for not receiving many
OF It's doctrines is precisely that the
Cathouc church no longer teaches what Christ
revealed; that in ages long passed, when
science was only in its cradle and the human
mind was in the infancy OF its development
IN ages known to many under the name of the
dark ages" because many are In the dark re-
specttng them-the Catholic church proposed
new doctrines, new system of religious belief,
me more effectually TO retain in her grasp the
intellectual supremacy of the world; to be not
only mistress of the political world, but also of
the consciences of the human race
1t does not concern US at present what ex-
planation may be given for their refusal to
submit TO Catholic doctrine it is sufficient for
our present purpose that they admit with us
tnst the doctrine revealed by Christ was to be
received and believed not only by those who
were contem poraries with the apostles the
first teachers OF Christian truth but of all men
IN every age OF the world. But to have pro-
posed this doctrine and commanded subnis-
sion OF mans intellect TO its teaching was not
sufficient to insure its perpetuity. 1t would
not be the part of a wise legislator to have
provlded constitution on which society was
TO be founded, unless al the same time he had
provided most eficacious means By which al
men might come to a knowledge OF its princi-
pies, and by which it might be transmitted
unlmpaired TO the remotest generation.
IF CHRIST OUR LORD HAD NOT PROVIDED
Some such means, how are we-liying in the
nineteenth century-to be absolutely certain of
what he taught in the first?
We might, indeed, CLEAN from the writings of
contemporary historians few scanty outlines
of his doctrine; few traits of his character; a
FEW items OF his private and public life They
might tell u.s. for instance, that in the reign OF
the first Augustus, an extraordinary man an
peared IN the East, who preached doctrines
whose beauty and sublimity told of a heavenly
origin; how great nultitudes followed him as
he evangeliZed Judea and Samaria; who
walked on the storm-tossed sea as if it we're
dry land; who made the blind see. the deaf
hear, the dumb speak; at whose potent word
the grave gave up its dead. They .woulo tell
us OF ms oeath. resurrection and how at the
close OF his earthly life he triumphaptly as
cended into heaven.
But all these details would not suffice for the
establishment and perpetuity of the Christian
religion.
We would not find in the. scattered frap.
ments of historical documents that convinc-
ing authority of Christs word or the oblipa-
tion OF receiving with unhesitating faith his
doctrines.
Some means, therefore, were to be provided
by Christ whereby men in every age could as
certain with an infallible certainty the doc
trines which our Lord intended should be EN-.
bodied in the system OF religion which he
gave the world.
On this point all Christians agree But what
means were provided? Here two different sys-
TENS claim our attention. The Protestant tells
us that we are to find the doctrines of Christ
by reading the Scriptures.
According TO his belief, 1T is Gods unerr-
ing word and contains all the truths which
Christ taught. Consequently we are to consult
the Bible. It is to be TO US the only rule of
faith. In ii and in ii alone can we learn the
conditions of eternal life; and we are permit
ted to interpret it without the aid of an exter-
nal authority, either by the supernatural aid
OF the Holy Ghost or by the natural light of
our own finite and erring reason.
This is the principle which. in theory at
least, Is admitted to be the vital principle of
the Protestant system. And if in practice
Protestants court the alliance OF an external
authority it is done in direct contradiction to