The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-10-24

AIS wv AllSIA bAAANAA-
talities to introduce false doctrines.
u By the Second Century the min
listers began to be recognized as sepa-
rate from the congregations, and in
stead Of being elected their servants.
they established themselves as a cleri-
cal class and began to lord it over
the household Of faith, themselves ap-
pointing the ministers over the congre-
cations, instead of their being chosen
by election, as in the days of the
Apostles.
~ At the same time the chief ones
of the clergy. having the title Of
bishops. were claimed to be the sue
cessors of the Apostles. with the same
right to teach and to be considered in
fallible messengers of Christ. The
doctrine of Apostolic ouccesslon Was
formulated. They pointed out that
when Judas lost his place amongst
The Twelve. the eleven met and chose
one to fill his place.
The speaker called attention to the
fact that the eleven Apostles. in elect
ing Matthias TO their numher in the
place of Judas, did II without DIvne
authority and sanction. The one they
chose the Lord ignored. and we hear
nothing further of him. In His own
due time the Lord brought forward
the one Re purposed should take the
place of Judas-St. Paul.
Jesus assured these Twelve that they
should ''sit on twelve thrones, judg-
ing the twelve tribes of Israel" in the
Times Of Restitution" and "Regenera-
ton" Matthew xix. %; Acts iii, 49,
21) These Twelve were again pictured
symbolically in Revelation as the
crown of twelve stars. on the head of
the symboical Woman. who represent
ed the Church Of Christ. Again The
Twelve are pictured in the symbolic
New Jerusalem. which portrays the
Church beyond the veil in Heavenly
glory. as twelve foundation stones.-
Revelation xxi. II.
False or Pseudo Apostles.
OF these Twelve alone Jesus said.
"WhatSoever things We bind on earth
shall be bound in Heaven. AMI " nat-
soever things We shall declare loosed,"
or non essential, ON earth shall be de-
clared "looscd in Heaven"-so carefully
would the Great Head supervise the
words of those who we're His mouth
pieces to the Church.
With st. Paul we can then agree that
The Word of God is sufficient that
the man of God may be thoroughly fur
nished." UI Timothy iii, 1910
The Emperor Constantine. Il convert
to Christianity. noted that the teach
ings Of the various bishops were quite
contradictory. Although not baptized,
he recognized that if these teachers
were Divinely guided their testimony
would be harmonious.
Constantine in A. D. 325, convened
the Council Of Nice-called an Apes
tolic Council because the bishops
were thought to be living apostles.
Although Emperor Constantine prof
fered transportation free, only about
one third of the bishops attended-3S5.
For days, weeks and months dis
putes prevailed; and finally the En-
peror gave the decision respecting the
wording of the Creed. Aud that Nj
Gene Creed was promulgated rs the
Christian Faith; and the edict went
forth that all who would not accept it
should be banished. Thus uniformity
Of Faith was effected by a worldly
prince.
For twelve centuries after this. Apos-
tolic Succession continued, operating
through Apostolic Councils" and
creeds. Is it any wonder that in all
those fifteen centuries the Truth itself
was buried under a mass of supersti-
ton, error, false doctrine?
Bible the Torch of Progress.
For four centuries the Bible has been
coming back to the people. Proportion
ately liberty has been enlighteninG the
world Ignorance, superstition and
persecution have been yielding to noa
bility and justice. We all praise God
that we live in a day when it is no
longer considered Godlike ChriStlike,
to prosecute others,
But, alas! for the past fifty years the
influence of the Bible is on the wane!
lnfideity, styled Higher Criticism. is
rapidly undermining faith in the Bible.
The present Pope realizing the situa-
ton. has banned Higher Criticism in
all Catholic institutions and has issued
an order that the faith of all Catholic
ecclesiastics and teachers be tested by
oath. He sees, too, that faith in Apos-
tolic Succession is gone from the mass
es and that to preserve religious faith
the masses must be directed back to the
words Of Jesus. the Twelve Apostles
and the Prophets, as the only inspired
authority on religion We commend
his course and rejoice iu 1t.