The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-03-28
o.
AZ Tile ST CES
OF the Mission in the Catho-
lie Church for
Women.

me cnurch was again crowded to the
door. Many non-Cathotlcs are fol-
lowing the exercises with real inter-
ast. The following are a few Of the
questions answered last evening.
The Pope.
Question-PIease explain the in
fallibility Of the Pope,
Anewer- The word infalIbIIity, as
applied by Catholics to the pope is a
technical term and has, therefore.
not the ordinary dictionary meaning.
To give you a correst idea Of wha.
we mean by infallibility, let me tell
you first what we do not mean. BY
infaliibility we do not mean fmpec-
cabillty; we do not mean that the
pope cannot sin. The pope can sin
the same as any other man. Every
pope acknowledges that he can sin
by the fact of his going to confession.
Some few popes unfortunately have
Istnned very previously.
BY infallibility we do not mean in
spiration, or that any special reveIa-
ton is made to the pope.
BY infaliibility we mean that the
pope, when, acting in his official
capacity as head Of christ's church
on earth, pfonounces or decreas in
matters OF faith or morals, he IS
prevented by the Holy Ghost from
teaching error. Infallibility, then,
applies to the pope only in his capa-
city OF teacher; and as teacher it
applies only when he is teaching in
matters OF reIigton-religious truths
which we must believe, or questions
of right or wrong. On merely scien-
tIfc questions he may be as fallible
9Is anyone else.
Our doctrine Of papal infallibility
follows necessarily from the position
the pope holds as the successor of
st. Peter, whom Christ constituted
chief ruler and teacher in His
Church. The supreme teacher in
Chrtst's Church, whether an indivuai
of body Of men, must be infailfble
Otherwise the purity of Christ's
teaching would not be safeguarded.
Our chief direct Scripture proofs are
taken from Luke 22-S2 and from John
PILLS to is.
But you may say to me: How eau
any man be infallible? The infalll-
bility which we attribute to the pope,
on the best Of Scripture evidence.
Protestants, on the fundamental
principle of their religion, give to
everyone. The fundamental principle
of orthodox Professionalism is that
anyone who reads the Bible in
spirit of prayer and with sincere
heart will be led by the Holy Ghost
to the truth. What is that but in
fallibility? 1t is more than infall
bility. For with us infallibility IS
merely a preventive power-"the
Holy Ghost will prevent him from
teaching error" There is no positive
guidance to the truth.
Secret Societies.
Question-why can't Mason or !,
Knight OF Pythias be Catholic?
Answer-The Catholic church or
general principles is opposed to Sec
ret societies, that is to secret soc!et-
les in the true sense. A society in
which all that is secret is the initia-
tton ceremonies and the passwords
is not real secret society. We our
selves have those kinds of secret
societies. There is no objection 10
having these things secret. To reveal
them would be to spoil all the fun.
A real secret society is one that
keeps secret it's ultimate aim and
purpose as society and the means
It wishes to employ to attain that
end. We love the light and are ever
distrustful of whatever shuns the
light. If the aim of these societies
is 4audible, II the secret teaching IS
the great boon of humanity, as some
of them claim, why hide their light
under bushel? Why not preach
those principles openly to the world2
There are many reasons why we
are opposed to secret societies N
general and to several in particular
which Catholics. are not allowed to
join under pain of accommodation. |
These latter are the Masons, Knights /,
Of Pythias and the Odd Fellows.
The chief reasons are that these /
societies are not merely fraternal or
CARNATIONS, but also religious, with
their we'll defined doctrines and NOR |
al codes. Did they not NEEDLE in |
religion we would scarcely have a
word to say against them.
Secondly they associate Catholics
in imately with men Of all kinds Of
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