Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-18
EXTREME JUNCTION..

The departure Of the great church OF
the world from the original pattern
given by our Lord, Is suikngly Illus
trated IN tie so.called yacrament OF
extrcme JUNCTION, which was adminls-
tered few days ago to the dying pom
tin. 1. may not be without interest.
at this time. 10 consider what that
Roman rite Is
From the Scriptures It Is known
that tho act Of amounting with oil was
performed when q person vas TO be
dedicated to the service Of The Almighty;
and also in cases Of sickness lis any
sick among YOU, let him call for the
Elders Of the Church; and lci them
pray over him. amounting him with OH IN
the name OF The Lord and the prayer
Of faith shall save the sick and the
Lord shall raise him up and If he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him" These are the well known words
Of the Apostle James that embody the
sciptural doctrine OF amounting with oil
IN cases OF sickness The ordinance.
including prayer, amounting faith, was
given FOR the restoration OF health ana
the forgiveness Of sins This is the
Scrlptual pattern.
In the Roman church extreme une-
tlou" IS not administered for the pur-
pose OF restoring health, but as an aid
to the passage through the valley OF
death Il Is au ordinance reserved for
very Pick persons, or those who are
dying. It IS ONE OF the seven sacra-
menis OF that church, and II is especial
~ the sacrament OF the dying. one
who is 90 be properly prepared for
death, first confesses his sins and Sig
ninea his Willingness 10 repent. Then
he partakes OF the Lords supper. there
by accepting Chrlsts sacrifice for sins.
and lastly, lli sin stains are removed.
aud the penitent Ii dedicated to God by
the extreme unctlon, or last amounting.
SO different ia Specification is this Ro-
man rite from the ordinance referred
TO By The Apostle James.
Extromc JUNCTION Is described as fol-
lows
IN performing this service. the on
clatng priest reCltes q number Of lit
urslcal prayers and then proceeds 70
ihp amounting with the holy OIL Dip
ping his thumb IN the consecrated YES
sell be makes the sign OF the cross upon
The eyes, the ears the nose. the mouth.
the hands and the feet. As he touches
the eyes he says Through this holy
unclion ana His most tender mercy.
may the Lord pardon thee whatever
sins thou hast committed BY seeing
Amen Making the same sign upon the
ears, The nositllsl the mouth the hands
and The feet he repeats the formula
respecting the hearing. the smelling.
the tasting the touching and the walk
iug The Oh used In extreme unctior
must be- blessed and consecrated by a
bishop, ceremony which Is annually
performed with the assistance " many
priests. ana when ls attended with
great solcmnity"
The question Of the origin " this rite
Is one Of interest II IS clear that Il
has no Scrlpilral foundation lrenWus
81 authority Tor the statement that
among the Gnostlcs Il was common TO
anoint the DYING with a mixture Of OH
or opobalsam and water, 10 render their
souls invisible 60 their spiritual enemies
In The other world, and proof against
their Vaccinations II would, there
fore. aprear az Il Rome had adopted
this sacrament from the Gnostics. Ger
tain il Is that Guos,icism exercised a
tremendous Influence upon the early
chnstlans. and that TO It's mystic prn-
slplcs can be- traced much Of the doc
iriaJl aud practical apostasy that took