The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-16

spreading of the Gospel and requested that the entire congregation rise and repeat the Lords Prayer Then he suggested that everybody join in a grand old hymn known to Catholics and non- -Catholice alike-''Nearer, My God to Thee" Promptly the organist play ed few measures of the familiar mu- sic. and, the entire assemblage stand ing, the beautiful words of the hymn carried aloft to heaven a message of confidence and love.
 When the hymn was finished Father Sutton opened his remarks by stat ing the purpose of the course. He took the broad and high ground that all Christians should be brothers. He demonstrated that his church has ever been the subject of misrepresentation. he said. From the cradle to the grave wrong ideas have been instilled into the minds of many Protestants. It was not to be wondered at that they had an unreasoning prejudice concern ing the church. They have been told, he said. that all convents were pris- ons and all priests immoral. and some even believe that secret passages and trap doors enter into the construction or Catholic edifices to catch the un- wary Protestant.
 It Is charged, declared Father Sut- ton. that truth Is withheld and appeal made to the senses. This is false. The works of art that adorn the Catholic church are as nothing without the spir- itual life within. They are merely symbols to supplement, to give out ward expression to the love of God. 1t is said Catholics are not allowed to read the Bible. There Is a Bible in every true Catholic home, which the people are urged to read It Is charged that the church degrades God by having other gods. This is utter ly false. The Catholic worships God alone. But because of the high attri- butes God bestowed upon the saints and the Virgin they are gIorified in .order that God may be still more glorified They are not worshipped as God. One cannot degrade God by praisinR His handiwork. The Catholic church de- mands more of her children than the Protestant church, declared Father sutton. Not only must the sinner be truly repentant, guided by his own con- science and asking forgiveness of God. but he must make confession of his sorrow to the priest The priest with power from Christ pronounces power over the sinner in Christ's name. He merely goes further along the hard path than does his Protestant brother. It IS one of the base allegations made against the church to say that the err ing have merely to ask the priest to declare that their sins are forgiven,
 Inese and other queer notions were touched upon in humorous fashion bv rather Sutton. Again he would be- come eloquent in reciting the wrongs tu tts church had suffered. In spite of the fact, said Father Sutton, that 3OO. = oVo'Ooo of people are members of this church. which has also had the devo- tion of minds positively sublime in sneir intellectual capacity; in spite of aeI a, grand history, the glory of her art ana music. the sacrifices her follow CTS have made for benighted and low people, her splendid charity that ebmoraces tb1s the world--in spite of all now absurd, illogical or cruel would tlnu ma believers everywhere, so sys- .ematic had been the effort to malign the Catholic church.
 now could these charges be refuted? s mith direct evidence could be met, but no, nOw could a vague, general charge be .eoinoatted? Let a man Gay thai thA