The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-01
THE PRIVACY OF PETER.
This the Theme Of Or. McKim's Address Last
Night.

In his address at ST. Paul's Church yes
,erdav evening Dr. McIlim took for ms
subject the pri1nacy of the Apostle fetei
and the doctrine of Papal infallpliily.
He said:
Four or five years ego the reSereu
pontifr Pope Leo Mi. addressed 10 ail
of the peoples Of the Christian Worid an
appcal for Christian unity. Whlch was ~
he accomplished by all Christians SUD
,,i,tino 10 Tho authority OF the Pope, and
maj the Pope had based the claim upon
tho words of Christ, Thou ict Peter, ana
,,non this rock will I build my church:
Dr NcISim said there was no evidence IN
the New Testament that St fetef mao
ever. exercised the supreme powers sii'"
DrerogatiVcS which II MIS- SiaiihS'' w."
conferred upon him.
Dr NcIjm declared that the Roman
Interpretation of this passage was not
sustained by the writings of the ancient
Fathers and quoted numerous passages
from St Chrysostom. st. Ansust!ie 'i'iu
others he quoted also a speech delivered
at the Vatican Council by Archplshop
Kendrick, of ST. Louis, showing,
f'irst-That if we are bound 10 iolio"
the greater number OF the falt'el5 I - ne
Interpretation of this passage, then we
are bound to hold it certain that by the
rock we ought to understand, not Peter
but the faith professed by Peter; and
Second-That no argument at all, or at
least no probable argument, can pc De
rived in support Of the prlmacE Oh fetet
from the words Upon this rock Will
build my church. Archbishop hehui!cf
showed that forty-four out of cightS-hve
Fathers examined, among them one OF
thu Popes-Ieo the Great-deny that re
ter was the rock. while only seventeen
hold that he was the rock. ana llnallS
that since Roman Catholics are bound T.
accept no Interpretation OF scripture lha'
is not supported by the unanimous con
sent of the Fathers. they cannot con
sistentlv build the primacy of Peter upon
this passage
DR.. Mc>im argued that if it could b'
shown that Peter was the rock on Which
Christ built his church. the Roman cialH
would not be established until it had also
been proved: that in building his church
upon Peter. Christ made him the supreH'
head and ruler OF the church; that theS'
powers of jurisdiction and government
we're transmitted to the successors NJ :
Peter. and that ST. Peter was the Bishop
of Rome, and the Popes We're his success
Sors; bat the speaker denied that these
propositions could be established. either
from the Scriptures or from the writings
of the Fathers of the first four centuries
1t was not denied. however. that Peter
had a certain primacy among the Apos-
man and representative. to whom was
given the great privilege of first opening
the doors Of the Christian Church to the
Jews on the Day of Penticost and to the
Gentiles in the case of Cornelius and his
friends.
Dr.. McIzim then said that in the early
church the prinlacv of honor was yielded
TO the Bishop OF Rome. not because he
was the successor of st. Peter. but be-
cause of the imperial dignity of the city
OF Rome But that this supremacy did
not carry with it any concession of uni
versal jurisdiction or supreme authority,
much less of papal intallibilty. This was
supported by quotations from ancient
Councils and from several of the ancient
Fathers.
Discussing the dogma of papal infalli-
bility Dr.. McKim stated that it was
strenuousiy opposed by many of the most
iIlustrious and learned prelates and
scholars of the Roman Communion.
among whom was John Henry Newman,
who thought it would be most difficult
to maintain logically in the face Of his
torical facts" It was pointed out that
in regard to rapal infalIibility there is
no authority TO decide when the Pope
speaks eX-cathedra. The uncertainty as
TO where infalliblity reposed has simply
given place to uncertainty in a new form.
viz: When is this infallible voice heard
and how may 1t be recognized:
1t results. said DR. McKim. that the
Roman Catholic is no better off than lis
Protestant neighbour WHO builds his faith
on the infailible voice which speaks from
the Holy Scriptures. Cardinal Manning
held one view. Cardinal Newman held a
diametricaily opposite view as to whether
Plus IN was speaking infallibly when he
put forth the famous Syllabus in 1864
How vain. said Dr. Mckm, is the hone
that in submitting 10 it men secure abso-
lite certainty of belief.