The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-14

guards His church against any error Of
doctrine on faith or morals is the conclu-
sion that we reached last Sunday evening.
But this security comes to her through her
chief. the pope.
I'VE might expect as much from the fact
that during almost 1900 years this teacher
has without mistake ctually taught the
Christian world the fullness of revealed
truth. To be sure, speaking in all strict
ness. this record of 1900 years WITHOUT a
mistake does not prove that within another
hundred years, or at some time in the re-
mote future, he will not fall into error.
1t is proof positive that he is a very safe
guide-safer by fir than any other that the
world has ever known.
Twill it be said that the power is too
tremendous to be entrusted to the hands of
man: that he might any day bind the
consciences of millions of Christians with
obligations either too heavy to bear or con-
trary to the law of Christ?
Il say no power Is too great that is given
for the good of mankind. and of all the i'm
perative needs of the human mind guidance
Is the first and greatest. The pope's in'
falible teaching authority has been given
him by God in order that he may guide the
feet Of men in the path of right and truth.
The dread power of life and death: that
power which, If any, would seem to belong
OF right to the Creator alone. we give not
merely to one man, venerable by reason of
his age. and distinguished for his wisdom
and probity, but to every one Of the hun
dreds of judges in our district courts
throughout the land nor are we tempted to
revoke 1t. We gave this power for the
common good.
1--WE entrust to few hundred delegates
the power to tax $50 900, 900 in few
hours. and they are we'll aware that that
sum is not the limit Of the power that we
have endowed them wthal; the same men
who voted that sum out of our national
treasury and placed it at the discretion of
one man, might have laid upon us debt
many times greater if they thought the
need Of the hour demanded it, and with the
same unanimity with which we applauded
their action but few days ago, every son
of free Columbia would pronounce one
grand we'll done!
The second difficulty, though specious.
is not serious; it may with equal force be
brought against every country in Christen-
dom, yet it never is so urged. In case of
the pope alone is it said to be a danger.
The queen of England, we are told, might
give away tomorrow her good town of Lon
don. or the entire English navy; either is
within her right. The one would be an ir-
reparable loss; the other would reduce that
mighty realm to level with Switzerland;
yet no Englishman fears that he may awake
tomorrow and find his country without
capitol, or a navy; it is simply impossible.
1.-The same is true in our own country.
Tremendous power is entrusted to our pres
ident and national legislature. They have
the right to grant fabulous appropriations
for causes of whose merits they must be the
judges, to refuse those that the people
may deem necessary; but no man among us
thinks for moment that such action will
ever be taken.
I'm like manner, the supreme pontiff has
by divine appointment the right to decide
when a moot question arises what is, and
what is not, of Catholic faith, in conformity
with the teaching given from the beginning.
But we-know with certainty that passeth
human understanding, that his decision will
in every case be just what our Lord Him
self, were He here in person, would pro-
nounce This is the purpose of His gift of
infallibilitY.
'In all thankfulness, then, for the care
which God takes Of His church, we should
so demean ourselves always by word and
example, to strengthen the faith of our
fellow citizens. We share in the benefits
of this Godlike gift; they do not. This may
be no fault of theirs; of this. God alone
shall judge; yet we ought to pray without
ceasing that they too may be brought to
the unity of faith by obeying the teaching
of Gods infallike victor on earth"