The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-10
CATHOLIC DOGMAS
REV. DIR. WILLIAMS SPOKE ON
DOCTRINES OF CATHOLIC CHURCH.
COMMENDED AND CRITICISED.
SAID ITS DOGMAS DO NOT APPEAL
TO HIS REASON.

Declared That He Needed no Man of
minister AbsOIutiOn-SaId That
the Sinner should Go Direct to
GOd-Principles of Catholicism
which should BE Adopted by
PrOtestants - Among These He
Named CharitabIeness aud OppO-
sitiOn 10 Divorces.
The Protestant should regard
Catholicism with gratitude. Dis
believe in their dognas and prac-
tees as much as we please, discount
their influence as whole on nations
as you feel obliged, the general eff
feet of this great church in promoting
law and order, in supervising dan
gerous elements in America, in reach
ing out after the lost and fallen, in
converting the heather, in preserving
through the dark ages the germs of
learning, the world woves Catholicism
debt of gratitude that can never be
measured" said Rev. A. NJ. Williams in
his sermon on Catholicism in the Eye
of the World" at Trinity Methodist
Church last night.
Il never could be a Catholic and
those who understand my preaching
from time to time will never misun-
derstand me. The Catholic dogmas do
not appeal to my reason and its cere-
monies would not help my religion"
Il believe in personal responsibility
to God, therefore l cannot turn over
my right to read and interpret the BIZ
BILE for myself. believe in the perfect
and perfected work of Christ, therefore
Catholic view of mass. l believe in
the right of the sinner to go direct to
God in confession and receive his alb
solution direct from the Holy Ghost.
therefore l need no Virgin Mother, no
patron saint, no priest to hear my con-
fession, no man of like passions to
myself to pronounce absolution upon
me. 1 fear the diversion of visible
sacraments into the mere perfunctory
services. the bodily exercise that
proflteth little"
In discussing his subject DIR. VIII
liams had much to say in commenda-
ton of Roman Catholicism. At the
outset of his sermon he spoke in high
est praise of the grandeur and the in.
spiration there is in Catholic 0bserV.
ances, and said that every Protestant
is obliged to admire so wonderful ar
institution. He spoke of the great good
which the Roman Catholic Church il
accomplishing, and said that there are
many things which 1t does which il
would be well for Professionals to en-
ulate. After expressing himself IA.
vorably to the church in many re-
spects, he then took occasion to ex'
press his disfavor.
The supreme demand of morality
and true religion is the essential unitN
of all followers of Christ" said he al
the beginning of his discourse. The
prayer of every good man should bt
the bringing together on proper foun
dations, Of all good people to over,
come the common evils of human so
ciety.
The PRpaI Election.
ION such a principle every person
must be a sympathetic observer of tn
dramatic scenes connected with tn
transmission of supreme authority II
that body that exercises control owe
at least one half of the protested fol
events connected with the death an
burial of Leo XIII and tn
election and coronation of Piu
X are of the most dramatic ma
ture and appeal forcibly to the imag
nation. The power lodged in thei
hands, the character and responsible
ity Of the men, the ritualistic observ
ances, the popular enthusiasm. mar
the episode a striking and picturesqu
in the history of the century.
These events naturally cause tn
Catholic Church to pass under the re
view of Christendom. One practica
thought of the Christian is how ough
l to think of this chureh-how ough
l to feel toward this great body q
Christians2 In my own way l wi
give answer tonight
I'VE are obliged to admire this won
derful institution. Grand objects al
ways excite the emotions. Niagara
stupendous fall and ma jestic thunde
old oceans vastness and ceaseles
roar-awaken the feeling OF submit
in the mind. How much more grea
bodies OF humanity dedicated to tn
good Of the race ought TO excite ad
miraton. There are many features Q
this church to excite admiration. II
power has hold on vast multitudes q
the most intelligent human being
While II is an absolute arietocracy, II
government IS the most democratic r
on churches-wealth. position, person.
have no advantage over the hun
best"
Or. williams then discussed Nh
manner Of securing the succession |
tho papacy saying that the fact thi