The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-23

DR.. BENJAMIN +. De Costa, who cre-
ated somewhat OF a stir in theological
circles recently be renouncing his min
istry In the Episcopal church and en-
braclng the Roman Catholic faith
gave his lecture on "The Place OF the
holy Scripture in the Catholic Church"
at st. Thomas College hall last night
as the third OF the series under the
auspices Of the newly organized Cath
olic Young Women club. He had q
large audience, which included Bishop
Hoban and many OF the priests OF the
city and neighborlng towns.
DR.. De Costa Is es years OF age, Of
commanding appearance and a grace
full, easy talker. While not nowery,
his language Is choice and strong and
his delivery, as might be expected,
that Of the veteran pulpiter rather
than lecturer. He was introduced by
Rev. D. j. MacGoldrick as one who
was to be greeted not as a living CEN
sure OF doctrines left behind or an ad-
vertisement for doctrines approached,
but as man who had the moral cour-
age to follow the light of his con-
science.
DR.. De Costa was warmly greeted
when he bowed his acknowledgement
OF the introduction and proceeded with
an hour and half's discussion OF his
interesting subject.
After brief treatise Of the Bible
in general way, he took up the mat
| ter Of the inspiration Of the holy scrip
| ture. The Catholic church, he sail,
| was not left in doubt on this subject.
| It's declaration on this matter was
clear and unqualified. Leo XIII, in his
| encyclical OF 1898, declared that, while
recognizing the trifling verbal iiscrer-
ancies in the text, it is absolutely
wrong and forbidden to narrow its if.-
spiration to parts or to hold that the
sacred writer has erred. Nowhere
does Leo say it is fallble when rightly
interpreted. On the contrary, he de-
clares positively that 1t Is infalllble
| truth.
HIGHER CRITICISM.
Dealing with the so-called "higher
criticism" the speaker referred to how
Pope Leo had pointed out the danger
of rationalism threatened by this typ;
Of criticism and then went on to say:
Higher criticism finds in the Bible
every kind of error. The Catholic
church says that, when properly un
derstood, there is nothing in the Bibl,
to be held in error.
THAT the Catholic church should b.
accused of discouraging the study o
the Bible is Illogical" DR.. De Costi
said. There can be no serious arpre
hension Of danger to Catholics by {
study of the Scripture because specu
lation is limited and their church say,
the Bible is infallible.
at has been said educated Catho
lies are not expected to read the Eibl
by the old rule and are privileged t
regard the story of the fall as a myth
When a man like the father Of thi
utterance. George inward, the cele
brated English Catholic, speaks an alb
surdity of this kind ten years afte
he has ceased to think Alright, tn
world ought only to remember that h
was once great. Educated Catholics
they say, do not believe in the Bible
viii they say Leo is not an educateu
man?
THE Catholic church is solely cap
able OF defending the Bible. The re
ligious bodies OF the Reformation
church, in the main, have no aefens
to the Pible. Professionalism has r.
plan OF campaign for the protection O
Gods word. Being unable TO agree o
what constitutes the Bible, it is lili
a general with no idea of the fortifica
tions he is expected to protect and n