The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-29

not studied. even by those who were
able to read. Their value for instruc-
ton was considered at an end. because
the theory in the meantime had sprung
up that the living bishops were the rep
resentatives Of the Apostolic office and
inspirations The people. therefore.
unable to read. asked not. What say
the Apostles? but received their the,
illogical instructions from the bishops,
whom they believed to be the living
Apostles.
When we reflect that very few min
listers in one city, even of one demon
ination, are today fully agreed as re-
spects Divine Truth. we must not be
surprised that during the two centuries
following the death Of the Apostles,
these supposed SUCCESSORS got into
all kinds Of false doctrine each lead
ing a company of believers and hold
ing the pre-eminence Of his own views.
few thinking to measure their presen-
tations by those of The Twelve. Divine
ly appointed.
Apostolic Councils" Next.
The doctrinal strife between the bish-
ops grew. Gradually the people Of
God. about A. D. $50. began to be
separated into two classes-the clergy
and the laity. The bishops. instead
Of being chosen by the vote Of the
people. publicly claimed the Divine
right. as the superlors In the Church.
to ordain for them their clerical teach
ers. The clergy. under the lead OF the
bishops as supposed successors to the
Apostles. lorded 1t over Gods heritage
Later, in the Sixth century. the Bish-
op of Rome began to be considered SUI
perior to all other bishops, and finally
was declared to be the chief father. or
papa. or Pope.
About the Fourth Century creed-mak-
Ing began. The Nicene Greed. the Ath-
anasian Greed and the Apostles Creed
all were formulated in the Fourth Cen
fury 1t was discovered that more than
thousand bishops psuedo-apostles
were teaching very contrary doctrines
on many subjects The Emperor Con
stantine accepted Christianity and was
perplexed by the variety of teaching
He convened the Apostolic Council"
Of Nice But although he provided ex-
pense money for all bishops attending
only about 0ne-third obeyed the COM
mand.
These bishops disputed and wran-
gled over differences for days and
weeks and months. Finally they reach
ed conclusion satisfactory to the en-
peror. 1t was promulgated with gov
ernmental sanction and with the dec
laration that any persons or teachings
to the contrary were to be expelled
Thus small minority Of men who mis-
takenly thought themselves inspired.
under the lending Of an Emperor who
had not even been baptized. set up a
theological standard which since has
served well to fetter religious thought
In many. and to make others believe
that there is nothing in religion but
superstition
Greed making along these lines pro
crossed for twelve hundred years.
while the Bible was neglected 1t was
not even thought necessary for instruc
don In theological seminaries Luther.
then deyOut Catholic. had taught and
preached for years without ever see
ing a Bible. The explanati ton is that
the bishops esteemed to be living ap0s-
ties III full authority. were thought to
have more np-to-date knowledge than
the original Twelve. and in Apostolic
Councils had formulated creeds which
they declared were alone necessary to
be believed Can we wonder that IN
all those fifteen centuries the real mug
gets of Truth which had been deliv
cred by jesus and the Apostles. and tn;
Prophets became sadly lncrusted witt,
human tradition. superstition. misun
derstanding etc :
Cropping For the Light.
Our Catholic friends do not agref
that great Reformation movement
started In the sixteenth Century Non,
Of MS will claim that Luther and hi
friends were infallible. and that In on
step they passed from the contusin
OF Fifteen Centuries into the full blus
of religious knowledge. All. howev.i
Catholics and lrotestants. can sure
agree that some kind Of creed impeti
to righteousness came to the Protect
movement of the Sixteenth Century
We have the proof OF it all about us.
No longer are Protestants and Cath
olics warning with each other. burning
each other at the stake. etc Each