The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-11

1.-THE Sacrament of Mass" was the
subject upon which Rev. w. A. Nc
Kinney delivered an eloquent sermon
last night at the Penn avenue Baptist
church. Rev. Mckinney commended the
| doctrine of the mass, but found various
points to criticize in the method of its
| performance.
He prefaced his sermon with a de-
scription of the interior of a Catholic
church and a detailed picturing Of the
sacrament of mass, and explained the
ceremonies Of conservation, elevation.
! breaking and communion. 1.-The wafer
and wine form, in the Roman church,
u spiritual presence" said Rev. Nc
Kinney "a presence as of the spirit in
the body. Christ is supposed to exist
in the bread and wine.
| 'There are two supreme ideas in the
mass. the idea Of sacrifice and Of COM
munion. When the elements of the
communion are offered by the priest to
God, the congregation believes that the
sacrifice of Jesus is actually being held,
that it is propitiatory sacrifice. 1t is
| not redeeming sacrifice. The cross
did that. but this applies the redemption
to the heart. This whole ceremony is
in direct contradiction to that para
graph in the epistle to the Hebrews
which says "A sacrifice shall be made.
once for ALL
II wish you would try to imagine
the thoughts Of the communicate as he
goes to the altar rail. after having
confessed his sins, and then comes back
to his seat, after partaking of the host
and chalice. He believes he has par
taken of the flesh and blood of Christ.
Can you imagine his feelings, as he
thinks he encases the body of Christ?
How superior to mundane matters he
must feel, how far above the sordid
things of life.
But though this doctrine is to be
commended, one must say that the sac
rament Of mass not only violates our
reason, but violates all the rules Of
logic and thought. If the body and
blood of Christ are really present, the
priest has made them so. He has
worked miracle, which is constantly
them, not ALL disreputable men. Just
think of it, a man has created god.
1T is not my purpose, however, to
tear down doctrine, but rather to try
to teach the love of Christ. Think of
injunctions which teach us that Jesus
is within. Christian life is sacred
thing, and throughout it. we should
alwoys carry Christ with us. Every
action we do, is the result Of impulse
every word we speak comes through
mouth possessed by Christ.
How often we are more profane.
more sacreligious than the devout Cath
olc. How often we degrade the Lord,
by mixing thoughts of Him. with i'm
pure and base IDEAS A spirit of light
ness and frivolity has come into the
church, and makes little of our union
with Jesus.
BATTLE GROWING TENDENCY.
'If Christ is in us, it behooves men to
lift themselves up, and battle the grow
ing tendency to belittle initiatory rites.
Too many persons, nowadays, join
churches, with no religious purposes,
but merely for social congeniality or
social advancement, as their highest
and most urgent motives.
"Our bodies are the temples of the
Holy Ghost, and there is in US that
most precious thing, the life of Jesus
Christ entrusted to our care. Let us
come to realization Of the real, vital,
spiritual truth Of the reunion Of Christ
with human life. Let us cherish it, as
our greater privilege now and forever
to be truly called His own"