The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-22

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! but he has attended similar missions
The addresses of the priests are
couched in carefully selected Ian
guage, and the positions taken are
exceedingly plausible 10 those who arc
not in the habit of analyzing such
statements. All the arguments in ia
vor Of the doctrines under discussion
are strongly emphasized aud the great
objections to them arr ignored. The
great abuses which naturally inSere
/ in the doctrines. and which finally
resulted in the vicious living and the
evil practices of many, both the priests
and of the people, just before the
Protestant Reformation. are not dis
cussed. II is not insisted that there is
anything Intentionally unfair in this
But 1t is insisted that no Protestant
should think for one moment OF ac-
cepting the statements made without
hearing the other side.
Vital Doctrines Discussed.
If the reports In the secular press
are 10 he accepted, the priest who Is
holding the Mission a ibis time in
Richmond has discussed or presented
the most CHARACTERISED and vital doc
ttines Of the Romish Church \ few
quotations are given to show what IS
being preached TO those Protestants
W fit ma ne teftSlt'iifIS TIC +'AfF7a'iNb%'
Peters Supremacy.
In one tl'ng Peter stands pre-
eminent among tho twelve. and that
Is in the choice our SAVIOUR made OF
him To be His vicar ana representative
on earth"
"Papal. supremacy has been exer.
cised in every period Of the church $
history"
4 Where was Peters supremacy when
Paul withstood him to the face be-
cause he was 10 be blamed. and that
on n question of doctrine? Where was
/ Peters supremacy at the Council Of
Jerusalem when James and not Peter
gave the decision or the Council?
Where In either OF Peters episties dots
he claim any sort o. supremacy or
speak rex cathedra," or talk about
his infallibiiity. AS the Popes of Rome
do today?
porc's Character Not Essential
Again: 1T makes $40 difference
whether the head OF the church is an
Italian, a Frenchman. an Englishman.
a saint. a sinner. or "a scholar When
ne speaks ex catl1edra 90 the universal
church on a matter pertaining TO doc
| trine or morals. the millions OF his
! spiritual (?) children give implicit
adherence to his doctrine, because he
stands in Christ's place. and speaks
with tho in fallible certainty of the
Master"
This mission preacher In Richmond
even declares that "men have some
times occupied the papaI chair who
were unworthy. That admission docs
not destroy the claim that the lawful
successor of ST. Peter was an infalli-
bic teacher
What an amazing doctrine this Isl!
Some of the popes are known to have
been unspeakably vile. openly hcenti-
Gus and fathers Of children. while pre-
tending to be celihates
! Vile Vehicles for Holy Spirit
And vet this Pailist father assures
us that these ahoniuanle wretcbes
stood To the world and 10 the church
lin ChriSt's place and spoke with the
infalIible certainly Of his MASTER"
What q horrible theory it IS which so
degrades the Lord of Wisdom Love
and Holiness. as to compel Him TO
accept cnrfsSscdiy abomtnablc sinners
as His Vicar and representative upon
earth Such a conception OF Christ's
plan for the development aud govern
ment of His Church is little short of
hlasphemy, although those VINO hold
it may have no such thought. The
/ Master declared. when he left his ris-
i ciples that the Holy Spirit would
come. and would guide the church into
all truth And according TO the COO
trine proclaimed at this Mission this
4 Holy Spirit viii act equally a g Gers
tainly though sinner as though he
were a, saiut The only reason for
such doctrine is that II is not pos
sih1e to make out j list or popes from
the very beginning DOWN 10 the pres
ent time without Including mon who
are notorious In history for their
proflfgate licentious. standalaus lives.
Holy Spirit or Pope
4 And Professionals arc asked to give
up the doctrine Of the guidance Of the
Holy Spirit IN the hearts Of believers.
teaching them. and leading them INTO
, all truth for this doctrine that the Holy
Spirit viii give forth an infallible Mt
terance to guide the church through
, the medium OF one individual, the
Bishop Of Rome, regardless OF t'le
character OF that individual, or his
personal relation 70 the Holy Spirit
whom he IS to represent.
How Obtain Eternal Life.
4 Again: God in His abundant mer-
); cy has provided two remedies fer the
sins of men They may gain eternal
! life not only NV the grace Of baptism
but also by the remedy Of penance.
4 Those who have violated the VOWS of
their baptism may obtain remission
Of their sins ny Condemntug them
selves: the divine goodness has so de-
4 creed that the pardon of God can only
he obtained by sinners through the
prayers of the priests. Jesus Christ
the Mediator between God and man,
has conferred upon the rulers of the
church the power of imposing canon
!, icaI penance upon sinners who con-
fess their sins
John $40. the heart of the Bible,
says: For God SO loved the world
!, that he gave his only begotten son
that whatsoever beiieveth on him should
not perish. but have everlasting life,
Il In the same chapter we are told
4 The that beiieveth on the Son hath
everlasting life, but he that believetf
not the Son shall not see life. bat the
wrath OF God abideth on him.
Faith in Jesus Christ, as the LIANT
slain once for all for our sins Is the
great doctrine of Gods Word But
this Pauiist father tells It's that the