The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-19

And SO in this country. a movement
has bean made and approved by quite q
number of the clergy including some
| Bishops, to do away with. or break the
obligation OF, the articles. And th- danger
| lurking In this movement = greatly en-
htnced by reason Of the fact that the
promoters ard favorcrs Of such action
plead and appeal to q growing sentiment
pleased 10 call greater CatholIC!ty and
! broader liberty. The Catholir Church
must, they say. be moro inclusive. and not
exclusive. ! say tAGt this Increases great
v the danger. because such plea *
speclor!s and fair-soundinS, and neCe>sari-
, y attractive to all who Do not realize
That t:'u" citho!iCity. real liberty. must
! not cannot. he attained at the price of
the Sacrifice nt essential truth
' The sSicr!iice OF essential truth An,
lust her. IS where the real controversy
hinges No essential truth vii. be sacri-
| need Icy the abrogatio- Of the Articles of
Religion. say the enemies Of I'll. rpforma-
tion. while the friends and approveTs of
the reformation see In :hesC formulartes
the very citadel and essence Of the Chris
tian religion.
And these known facts. not to men
tion others. in my opinion fully Justify,
nay. require. the conclusion that tn.
for.nulares cont" n:Iaatrd by the pastora!
letter are non" other than, or N least ir-
CIud". these very articles 0f religion And
| almost. if not equally. irresistible is the
conclusion that the obnoxious feature in
these articles is that one which sets forth
llle N+t'Llll'' !f'JElU" OF IuStsf cation
through faith. presenting IS it does the
vital and essential question as to how sin
sight 80 ''''U
Upon what shall you and depend.
now and in the last day. for salvation.
me attainment TO eternal happiness and
the escape from everlasting perdition
| What shall our plea be" Shall II ha thar
! OF the Roman branch of the church, or
| that OF tho reformed branch. that OF
trent or that Of the reformation. mine
! own imperfect and insufficient righteous
! ness, or the perfect. all-sufTiCiert righteous
| ness OF my Savior Christ. imputed IN
me and reckonoi as mine?
| Jhis. as ] have so frequently arC:
SO earnestly pointed out TO YOU. was the
| grand point in controversy between Rome
! and the ReformeIs. Il was the ont, grand
! iolil on which the controversy hinged.
! ana surely no rejecting person will or
| can HenE that any and ali other 1tios-
! iohS SINK into utter inSiCui-icanrs in
, coiIll lariSon with this, Unless sinful.
sullty man finds some plea that will avail
nun IN the last great day Of Judgment il
must De evident Of what little consequence
are ",d al other @ questions and concerns.
! ana thls Is why l feel constrained TO
| make the comments I have mon NE
pastoral letter. Did It deal with some
( ulfns OK less moment I should certainly
, refrain from any criticism Of il no mat
! yer nc" obnoxious to criticism 1t might
ne; out striking. as l am forced to he
aiske II Goes, NJ the one most vital point
-, - queStion OF the Christian religion. a
! point ana question affecting and derer--1ir-
NE your and my eternal salvation. a
/ clear sense OF duty ir1rels mo m sorr1
| tHe warning. II It be needed, we'll and
| II not, then bear me witness thar baY..
| zone what l could to avert disaster.''