The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-11-07

perate efforts to annihilate
Tom Watson the noted Geor-
gian, by disputing his claim that the
Roman Catholic church is the dead
lest enemy to our liberties and civil
Iization In the course Of his vitu-
peration, he has ignored his promise
of fair play and impartiality which
a fair discussion of the case will re-
veal. First, Mr.. Windle, who claims
to be neither Protestant nor Catho-
lie, is evidently also not student
of Romanism. He merely repeats
the argument Of the Jesuits, old and
time worn, instead of investigating
for himself. In order to prop up
weak defense of the Roman church
cepting Jesuit claims as facts, re-
quiring no argument but to one
whose mother was a Catholic and
whose uncle was a Priest, close in
Spection will reveal many misstate-
ments which will not bear the light
of facts.
Perhaps the widest claim of
Catholicism, and that which is made
much of, is that Saint Peter was the
first head of the Roman church. 1t
is quite probable that st. Peter was
the head of the first Roman Chris
tan church, but the distinction be-
tween Roman Catholic and Roman
Christian is very marked, as anyone
may easily find out by comparing
the original Greek New Testament
with the Latin version written by
Jerome, which is the standard scrip
ture of the Roman Catholic church.
Many Catholic writer's also contend
that St. Peter was the first Pope, but
they forget that St. Peter was a mar
ried man, therefore not a Priest and
likewise not Pope. The Roman
church lays great stress on the
power received directly from Christ
when he said to St. Peter, ''Thou art
Peter, and upon this rock | will
build my Church. Just preceding
this statement (Matthew 1910 Pc
ter had made his confession that
Jesus was the Christ, and then fol-
lows upon this meaning the con-
fession and not upon Thee" which
would have referred to st. Peter in
dividually. Whosoever shall believe
in his heart and shall confess with
his mouth, shall be saved. Some say
Elias, ETC., but whom say We that
am? Chou art the Christ belief
and confession, had both been ex-
pressed by Peter. Neither is there
salvation in any other. No Roman
church, no Virgin Mary, nor even
Pope mentioned.
Probably the greatest presump-
ton displayed in Romanist claims
however lies in the absurdity of as
sumed auth GRITTY to forgive sins,
based on Christ's saying to Peter,
81 will give thee the keys Of the
Kingdom of Heaven, (notice the
word 'keysD and whatsoever thou
bindest on Earth shall be bound in
Heaven" Now Keys" are only
symbolic of enlightenment of open
ing, but Rome has long since substi-
tuted "Scepter," which is symbolic
of authority. For the sake of argu-
ment, assuming that the Roman
church has exclusive right to ST. Pc
ter, and all authority given him, by
what reasoning does Rome draw it's
conclusion from the passage quoted?
Peter was given the keys, therefore
Peter was made janitor of the house
of the Lord, a position of trust and
confidence, and by no means a posi-
ton of authority. Whatsoever
a janitor locks is bound, and what
soever he unlocks is loosed. Assum-
ing again that Peter had entire con-
troll of Heaven, and belonged eXclu-
SiVelV to the church of Rome where