The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-07

lYA2lSlk kQ22lllV would FAR rather
speak only smooth,
pleasant things to everybody and con-
corning everybody. The Pastor GER
tainly has the happy faculty of stating
pungent truths in sympathetic IAN
guage well supported by kindly tones.
He speaks from the heart and carries
conviction as respects his sincerity. He
said in part:
Every unbiased student # the Bible
surely will agree that our Redeemer
and His disciples manifested great hu-
mility, in contrast with the clergy or
our day and of centuries past None
were Reverends, Right Reverends.
distinction between clergy and latty
which subsequently developed. Jesus
indeed received the title of Lord, or
Master, Teacher: but with great hu-
mility He pointed out that His teach
ing was the Message OF the Father.
Similarly the Apostles glorihed God.
and declared themselves "men OF like
passions with yourselves" Jesus taught
His disciples that they should not be
self-seeking, should not seek the honor
which cometh from men, but only that
which cometh down from Above. "One
is your Master, even Christ; and all We
are brethren" was His way Of fore
warning US against the error which
subsequently divided the Lords people
into clergy and laity.
Shackles of Ignorance and Superstition.
1t Is but reasonable to assume that
many Christian ministers have neither
studied deeply nor thought carefully
on this subject. but have merely fol-
lowed the beaten path of their various
denominations without inquiring for
the Divine authority Of their ordina-
ton titles and honors of men as titled
ccclesiastics. But our sympathy should
not hinder US from freeing our minds
of the shaclIles of ignorance and super
stitions, nor from helping others to the
liberty wherewith Christ makes free.
The prosecutions of the Second and
Third Centuries undoubtedly tended to
keep the Church humble and free from
hypocrites, but the prosperity dating
from the beginning Of the Fourth Cen
fury had bad effect. Many of the
bishops. according to Church history.
neglected to follow the example of the
Lord and the Apostles. and became
lords. dignitaries, in the Church, seek
ing to impress the worldly, and espe-
cially the rulers, with their Importance.
In the year go A. D., under the
patronage of the Emperor Constantine
all Christians who acknowledged the
Nicene Greed were not only protected
but honored. the Emperor seeking TO
strengthen his political power thereby.
BY Kim the Bishop of Rome was
granted special honor as chief
amongst the Bishops. In the century
following. the power of the Bishops
was greatly increased by various false
doctrines which gradually crept in.
The doctrine of a fiery Hell Of torture
vas one OF these, followed later by a
theory that members of the true
Church would never be sent 10 I. but
the fortunes of which would furnish
them second chance for publication
and preparation for Heaven.
The clergy gradually grasped more
and more Of power and money for serv-
ices in this world and beyond. Every
marriage not performed by them would
not be valid. Those married otherwise
would be living in sin. The theory of
infant damnation made the ministers
additionally necessary to sprinkle the
babies. TO preserve them from eternal
torture. Then followed ella ssification
Of sins and the fixing of penalties and
arranging for masses for the sooner
deliverance Of the culprit from PurCa-
tory. Rites and ceremonies connected
with the dead were also declared neccs-
sary. All of these served to bind the
people TO the clergy, and more end
itv Of the Gospel and the example Of
Jesus and the Apostles. to which We
are seeking to return. but arc fought At
every step by ignorance and sunnrsti-
ton within and without.
A Point Not Generally known.
Favored bly, conditions prevailing, the
bishop Of Rome became more and more
prominent. while the Roman Empire
Rome took to himself the title Pontifex
Maximus, a title previously held by
the Caesars. Another step in the wrong
direction. which thoroughly separated
the clergy from the laIety. was the
doctrine still held by the Church of
Rome, namely, that the clersy alone
constitute the Church. and that the
common people are the children OF the
Church Many Catholics are not aware
of this fact, but think that they are
members of the Catholic Church. They
forget that while they are privileged to
call the unordaincd students BY the
title Of Brother. all the ordained number
must be recognized as Father.
The wear so found Pope Leo III in
great honor, and the Church flourish
inc and making higher claims than
ever before: namely, that the Church
became a. that time the Kingdom OF
God. Catholics still hold that the Mil
Iennium, or Christs thousand-year
Reign. began that year. They claim
that the Popes. each In turn. represent
Christ on His Throne: hence the dec
laration that the Popes are Christ's
accommodating instead of Him.
" hen the Pope represented Christ,
the Cardinals represented the highest
order of the Church in glory; then
Archblshops. Bishops, and the lower
clergy. ali separated from the people
by a great gulf-the clergy. the Elect
OF God holding the power and the
destinies OF the laity in their control;
the laity dependent upon the clergy
for baptism. marriages, funerals, holy
candles, holy water, consecrated bury
ing-ground. and. finally. an entrance
into Purgatory instead of into eternal
torment, with the ultimate hope or
rescue TO glory and with assistance by
the way obtainable through the office
of the Mass
! am discussing the Church OF Rome
onl.- because for a time there was no
other. Indeed, for a time IL was dan
gerous TO even suggest another. The