The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-03
WHAT IS PURGATORY?

Inc above was the SUBJECT IndC
Father Bresnahan discussed last night
at the court house to a good sized au-
dience. Among them was noticed
number of Episcopalians. Before he
announced his text, he answered the
following questions out of the question
box:
Why do Catholics call their priest
father? Because he is to their COM
municants q spiritual father and ad-
wiser.
Why do Catholics observe certain
fasting days? Because each member of
the church has an account with God
and because Christ commanded forty
days of fasting.
Why are Catholics opposed to Mas
onry and exclude them from the
church? Because of the decree of the
church in 174S. He said only the state
and the church were recognized as
those empowered to take an oath. That
Masonry was only human organiZa-
tion and the church was opposed and
condemned a natural religion. That
the order in it's ritual does not men =
ton Christ the head of the church..
and that many of the members insist
the lodge possesses enough religion
for them. Because of the death oath
taken BY Masons it is immoral and
places all religions on the same level,
which causes Indifference among the
people. Not only was the ban of the
Catholic church held against the Ma
sonic order, but against ALI secret or
ders Of whatever name. Because a
Mason is forbid to tell the secrets of
his lodge to his wife. He touched on
the fact that Masons who rose no
higher in the order than the thirds de-
gree, didn't know anything of 1.-The acts
and doings Of those who belonged to
orders higher up. such as Shriners and
Knights Templar. He read extracts
from utterances of Daniel Webster,
made in 1885. against Masonry, who
in word said they were enemies alike
against the government and the
church and society, and the govern
ment should not only condemn, but
wipe them from the face of the earth.
John Quincy Adams was also quoted,
who also advocated even stronger
measures against the order, saying it
should be abolished by law. In this
notice we merely touch the outlines of
the fathers condemnation of Mason
ry, as viewed by his church and the
opinion was given from information
given him by a Mason. We desire to
say the father has very erroneous
impression Of Masonry. and other seq
ret societies. Their rituals, beliefs
and practices are founded on the
words OF holy writ. No more loyal
humane and beneficient organization
exists in this land for the ameloration
Of suffering and distress and the
teaching of civic and patriotic duties
of the man towards his fellow man
and the government of which he is a
component part.
The father took his text from the
words of ST Luke. 18th chapter and
the 10Th verse. The story OF Lazarus
He said hope and fear were the most
potent forces of the human heart and
through fear men We're restrained and
turned from their natural weaknesses
vivid picture of hell would make the
most hardened sinner quail at the
thought of everlastingly enduring the
torments of the damned.
He did not mince words in discrib
ing the punishment of the wicked anC
those who ruthlessly trampled or
Gods words that if holy writ sale
any one thing and said it in unequiv'
ical words, it was that there was
place of everlasting torment for the
wicked. His picture of eternity. for
ever and ever was intensely interest
ing, thrilling and dramtic. A griev.
Gus sin was a direct insult to God
for which reparation and heartfelt r."
pentence must be made TO the Omnip
otent. There are degrees of sin. anC
for these there are degrees of punish
ment and therefore tonight he viii
discuss purgatory and prayers for TIL
dead