Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-28

ing two instrument
ealit1es TO Introduce false doctrines.
(D By the Second Century the min
listers began TO DO recognized as sepa.
rate from the congregations. and In
stead Of being elected their servants.
they established themselves as q cleri-
ccl class and began IL lord It over
the household oil faith. themselves aD-
pointing the ministers over the congre-
| cations, instead Of their being chosen
by election, as In the days Of the
Apostles.
q, At the same time the chief ones
| of the clergy. having the title Of
| bishops, were claimed 70 be the Sue
cassors q! the Apostles. with the same
right 70 teach and to be considered IN
| falliblc messengers OF Christ. The
doctrine OF Apostolic Succession WAS
formulated They pointed out THAI
when Judas lost HIS place amongst
| Tho Twelve. the eleven met and chose
one to fiji his place.
The speaker called attention to tie
fact that the eleven Apostles in elect
ina Matthias to their number IN the
place Of Judas. Gid X without Divine
authority and sanction. The one thar
chose tho Lord ignored. and we bear
nothing further OF him. In Ills o"n
due time the Lord brought forwn"d
the ono !Io purposed should take the
place of Judas--St PAIL.
Jesus assured these Twelve that they
should ~s!t on twelve thrones. judg-
ing the twelve tribes Of Israel IN the
.~Timcs OF Restitution and "RegenelA-
ton" NIntthew XIX. %: Acts III. 10
21) These Twelve were again pictured
sy1nbolicaily IN Revelation rs the
crown Of twelve stars. on the head OF
tho sv,nl,olIcal 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 poatIss.
OF these Twelve alone Jesus said.
whatsoever things y2 bind on earih
shall he bound in Heaven, aud whit
soeyer things 80 shall declare looscd."
or non essential. on earth shall BIO &"
clared "loosed IN ueaven"-so carefully
would the Great Head supervise tie
words of those who wero His mouth
pieces 70 tho Church.
With st. Paul we Gun then agree th:it
'sThe Word of Gcd Is sufficient, tli"t
the man OF God may be thoroughly fur
nlshed" Oh Timothy i'll, l3-17l
The Emperor Constantine. convert
10 Christianity, noted that the tench-
ings OF the various bishops were quite
contradictory. Although not baptized.
De recognized that If these teachers
were nivinely guided their testimony
would lie harmonious.
Constantine. In y. d. 332j. convened
the Council Of Nice--callcd an "Ap@i-
tollc Council" because the bishops
were thought to be living APOSTLE
Although Emperor Constantine prof
oue-third of the bishops attrnd"d-:%S>.'
For days. weeks aud months Dis
putes prevailed: and finally TIE Ell
pcror gave the decision respecting 81"
wordin: of the Creed And that III
Gene Creed WAS promulgated rs tie
Christian Faith: and the edlrt writ
forth that nli who would not accept Il
should he banished Thus uniformity
of Faith was effected by worldly
prince
For twelve centuries after this, Ap'S
tolic Succession continued. operating
through Apostolic Councils" AID
crecds. Is it any wonder that in III
those fifteen centuries the Truth Itself
was buried under 4 mass Of superS:i
ton error, false doctrine?
Bible the Torch of Progress.
For four centuries the Bible has been
coming bac!; TO the people. Proportion
ately liberty has been enlightening tie
world. Ignorance. superstition ard
persecution have been yielding to na'
bility and justice. We all praise I"h
that we live in day when it is ~
longer considered Godlike. Christlilr.
to persecute others!
But. alas. for the past fifty years tie
influence OF the Bible is on the ware!
Infidelity, styled Higher Criticism. is
RAPIDLY undermining faith in the Bihr.
The present Pope. realizing the sitnl'
ton. has banned Higher Criticism in
all Catholic institutions and has issued
an order that the faith Of all Catholic
ecclesastics and teachers be tested Ry
oath. He sees. too. that faith in Apos-
tolic Succession is gone from the mass. 1
es. and that TO preserve religious faith
the masses must be directed back to the
words of Jesus. the Twelve Apostles
ard the Prophets, as the only inspired
authority on religion. We commend
rainico IL, II