The Washington herald., 1909-04-26


This was the import OF one Of the Gues-
tons from the question box Of st. Pat
Iick's Church. TO which Rev. Dr.. VII
liam T Russell made answer last night.
at the services Of the League OF the Good
Shepherd The church was crowded TO
its capacity by those who came to hear
the eloquent priest.
The intention governs the act was
DR.. RusselTs reply. If I take OF my
hat TO lady. It does not mean that
hold her IN reverence. That IS not the in
tention behind my act On the other
hand. II take OF my hat az the men
ton OF the Saviour. 1 take It or in WOr-
ship and reverence
1T is the same with the images Of the
Catholic Church We venerate them. We
respect them, but We co not worship
thera."
Another question read by the pastor
asked how the doctrine that Christ was
actually present in the Eucharist could
be reconciled with reason.
a thing may be beyond reason" an
swered Dr. Russell. and still not %
contrary 20 reason. To say a thing Is
contrary TO reason. all the terms en-
ployed IN stating II must have a definite
and exact meaning There IS much IN
the Scriptures that IS BEYOND reason. be-
cause We cannot understand or conceivs
It's full import. IN the same way The ac-
tual presence Os Christ In the Eucharist
Is beyond the reason Of men. but Il Is not
contrary 20 reason"
Respect and Revere Scriptures.
How DO Catholics regard the Scrip
tures?'' was another question. Dr. Rus
sell replied:
Just as the early Christians did They
respect. honor, and revere the Holy
Scriptures as the word OF God. The
early Christians did not consider that the
Scriptures contained the whole teachings
OF Jesus Christ. est. John, xxi:2s) This
is also the belief OF Catholics to-day. The
early Christians accepted the interpreta-
ton or the Scriptures given By the
apostles and their successors: Catholics
do likewise to-day. The Scriptures bear
the same relation 10 the belief. laws. and
gOvernm4lt OF Christianity as the Con-
sJitUtion OF the United States bears 20 the
belief, laws. and government OF our coun-
try. The Constitution IS interpreted BY
the Supreme Court. established by the
founders OF our country. the Scriptures
are interpreted by the Supreme Court
established by Jesus Christ. when be
said 10 the apostles. Go and teach all
nations
The decisions OF the Supreme Court
are Ike the traditions OF a church. Il
the founders OF our country had been
able 10 make the Supreme Court infaIil-
bic. doubtless they would have done
so. Jesus Christ was able 70 make His
supreme court. the apostles and their
successors. infallible: that He did so
We know from His words promising that
He would always be with the church.
and that the gates OF he'll should not
prevail against her The lives OF the
Supreme Court justices may not be
blameless. but that fact would not IN
validate their decisions. Catholics so re-
gard the decisions made by The justices
OF Christs supreme court, the Pope
and bishops Of the church.
Not Opposed 10 secret Societies.
To a query as to why the Catholic
church was opposed 10 secret societies
the pastor replied:
The Catholic Church IS not opposed 70
secret societies. The Knights of Co
lumbus are a secret society. The Cath
ole Benevolent Legion IS a secret So
ciety You might say the home Is a
secret society. What tie Questioner prob
ably means IS. Why is the Catholic
Church opposed 10 FreemaSonryZ The
question. put even in that form. gives
false impression, for the reason that the
Catholic Church stands Ike a rock. I'm
movable among the forces outside its
requirements FreemssOnry holds that
Il IS all-sufficient, without other form og
religion The Church OF Christ commands
that her children shall not join any So
ciety that eliminates other forms OF re-
ligiOn- So far as ! know. the ritual o.
FreemasOny does not deny the divinity
OF Christ"
Another question was: why DO Catho-
lies believe that Protsstants viii be lost2
They don't" said Father Russell 'On
the contrary. Catholics believe that a
Protestant who is sincere and undoubt-
ing IN his faith and lives honestly ac-
cording 20 the lights that Gcd gives him.
viii be saved: whereas. e bad Catholic.
unless he repents. viii surely be lost
Among other questions answered were
the following: What are induigences?''
why do Catholics pray 10 the Virgin -
Where and how was the Episcopal
Church estabiishedg'