The menace., 1914-11-28
n5ss;@2s'sf 3

"Whv ar. CsthoIics forbidden 20 eat mcat
on Frldayf That b.. what is thc reason gwen
by tic priests, and what Il the real MASON
Nj. y. 7.
The reason given by the priests and
literature Of their church Is that meat a
ALsta,nod from IN observance on the
day upon which Jesus was crucihed.
The probable origin u the custom Is
that Il was a concession TO ancient pa
yans who believed that there was some
hing essentially evil in all flesh.
There has always been a vegetarian
sentiment, and that sentiment was in
corporated into many religions Of the
ancient and medieval world. IL is
therefore likely that the prohibition Of
meat eating on one day of the week was
one Of the many adaptations Of Romish
rite and dogma 10 the practices and pre-
iudices Of pagans as an indueement 10
bring them under the papal sway.
Abstinence from the use of meat on
one day out Of seven is probably good
thing In itself on the same principle
that total abstinence from nourishment
at times may be beneficial. Nature often
enforces 1t through loss Of appetite in
tunes Of sickness, and bodily derauge'
ments might be avoided at times by ju.
diciOus abstinence.
These undcniable facts indicate that
the practice originated in sanitary meas
ures for the health and physical welfare
Of the people, and was subsequently
made part Of the prevailing religion 20
be inherited by the church Of Rome
when il spread over the vast territory
ruled by the Roman emperors.
- - Il II Il
practice that seems 20 be honored now
about as much in the breach as in the
Observance. The average Roman Cath
ollie eats meat when he feels like II and
can get IL; and those who are con.
scientious can easily get special permis.
sion setting the rule aside. II seems TO
be merely one Of the remnants Of ancient
practice handed down through Rome
like the veneration Of images, burning
Of candles, and other customs that ap.
peal more or less to the animal and
sensual nature.
."why DO you refer to the church Of Rome
AZ pagan and idolatrvusi have always sup.
NJ L.
The answer to the preceding question
answers your query in part. The Is.
sential difference between Christianity
and paganism is that Christianity is
spiritual kingdom set up in the hearts
of mankind, while paganism was wholly
external and demanded penance and
personal effort as the material means Of
plaeating deity.
Christianity recognizes but one Ne
diator between man and God, while
Rome has a host Of mediators, including
the Virgin Mary, numerous saints, and
another media between these and man
consisting Of images, relies, scapulars,
medals and other items ali having a
pagan origin and more or less idolatrous
In their nature and use.
Romish theOlogiahs tell ne that they
do not kneel to their images with the
expectation Of the image responding 70
their petitions, while the pagan wor.
shiper really relied upon the stock and
stone 70 answer his prayers This is an
injustice TO the pagan whose real rela.
tion 70 his idols or images was prae.
tieally identical with that Of the Roman.
ist. As matter Of fact both used and use
the image As a symbol Of the person or
principle worshipPed. None but the most
ignorant ever thought a piece OF stat.
uary would hear OF answer their peti.
tionS These bone-worshipping. relic.
relying, superstition-soake remnants Of
paeanism hnd their proper consolation
in the temples Of Rome Whare they ind
their images and idols; and that is
really what the images are there for.
Whatever the more Intelligent com.
munieants Of Rome may think IN regard
70 theology, the shinbones and idols are
provided for the ignorant and that i