The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-02-03


it.<T duty implied In
bis text. declaring
NJ that he would far
rather speak only
e smooth. pleasant
-1 Things 30 every
lfHSN)Q 6llSSflffIbody, and con-
~ -2 - ssssss.-------Jcsrning everybody.
The Pastor certainly has the happy
faculty Of stating punKsnt truths In
sympathetic language well sup
ported by kindly tones. lie speaks
from the heart and carries convic-
ton ne respects his sincerity. He
sAid in part;
Bible surely will agree that our
ttedeemer and His disciples mani
tested great humility. ia contrast
with the clergy ~ our day ana OF
centuries past None were H"ver-
ends. Right Reverends. They knew
nothing whatever about The dirtinc-
tian between clergy and lnity which
subsequently developed. Jesus In
deed received the title OF Lord. or
Master. Teacher. but with great hu-
mility lie pointed out that His
teaching was the Message OF the
rsissr n Similarly . a.. "a Ap ,s.,s
selves men OF like passions with
yourseives" Jesus taught His dis
ciples that they should not be self
seeking. should not seek the honor
which cometh from men. but only
that which corneth down from Above.
~One is your Master. even Christ:
and ali ye are brethren" was HIS
way OF forewarning US against the
error which subsequently, divided
the Lords people into clergy and
laity.
shsekies of Igssrssee aud SUPER
sttstsn
1t IL but reasonable TO assume
that many Christian ministers have
neither studied deeply nor thought
carefully on this subject. but have
merely followed the beaten path Of
their various denominations without
inauirinx for the Divine authority
Of their ordination. titles and hon
But our sympathy should not hinder
US from freeing our tninds OF the
nhRckicn Of tgnorancs and supersti-
tions, nor from helping others TO
the liberty whsrewith Christ makes
free.
The prosecutions Of the Second
and Third Centuries undoubtedly
tended 20 keep the Church humble
and free from hypocrites, but the
prosperity dating from the begin
ming OF thc Fourth Century had a
bad effect Many Of the bishops.
according 10 Church history. neg
ieetod 10 follow the example OF the
Lord and the Apostles. and became
| lords. dignitariss. In the Church.
seeking to impress the worldly, and
especially the rulers. with their i'm
portsnce.
In the year sac A d. under the
patronage Of tho Emperor constan-
tine. all Christians who acknowl-
edged the Nicene Greed were not
only protected. but honored. the
Emperor seeking 20 strengthen his
political power thereby. BY him the
Bishop Of Rome was granted special
honor as n chief amongst the Rish-
ops. In the century following. the
power Of the Bishops was greatly
Increased by various false doc
trineH. which gradually crept In.
The doctrine Of fiery Hell OF tor
ture was one OF these. followed later
by n theory that members of the
true Church would never be sent to
~. but would instead be sent to Pur-
gatory. the tortnres OF which would
furnish them a second chance for
publication and preparation for
Heaven.
The clergy gradually grasped
more and more OF power and money
| for services in this world and be-
yond. Bvery marriage not per-
formed by them would not be valid
Those married otherwise would be
living in sin. The theory OF infant
dmmnation made the ministers ad-
iditionally necessary to sprinkle the
babies. to preserve them from etcr-
/ nal torture. Then followed classi-
ficatlon OF sins and the fixing Of
penalties and arranging for masses
| for the sooner deliveranoe OF tho
lcuiprit from Purgatory- Rites and
ceremonies connected with the dead
were also declared necessary. All
of these served to bind the people to
the clergy. and more and more sep
aratcd them from the simplicity OF
the Gospel and the example Of
Jesus and the Apostles. TO which We
are seeking TO return, but are
fought at every step by Ignorance
and superstition within and without
A Point Not Generally Known
| Favored by conditions prevailing.
the Bishop OF Rome became more
and more prominent. while the
pieces, The Bishop OF Rome took
TO himself the title Pontifex Maxi
mus. a title previously held by the
| Caesars Another step In the wrong
direction, which thoroughly seper-
ated tho clergy from the laity, was
the doctrine still held by tho Church
of Rome; namely, that the clergy
aionc constitute the Church. and
that the common people are the
children OF the Church. Many Cath
oiics 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
unordained students by the title
Brother. all tho ordained number
must be recognized as Father.
Tho year 500 found Pope Leo III.
I'm great honor. and the Church
| flourishing and making higher
claims than ever before namely,
that the church became at that time
| the Kingdom OF God. Catholics still
Mold that lie Millennium. or Christ's
! thoussnd-yes Reign, began that
year. They claim that the Popes.
each in turn. represent Christ on His
| Throne; hence the declaration that
the poper are Chrirt's Viceregent---
reiEning instead OF Him.
when the ropes represented
Christ the Cardinals represented
| the highest order OF the Church In
glory; then Archhishops. Bishops
and tho lower clergy. all separated
| from the people by n great gulf
the clergy, the Elect of God. hold
ing the power and the destinies of
| the laity in their control: the iaity
dependent upon the clergy for hap
tiam. marriages. funerals. holy can
dies, holy water. consecrated bury
Ing ground. and finally. an en-
trance into Purgatory instead OF
into eternal torment, with the ulti-
mate hope OF rescue TO glory and
with assistance by the way obtain
able through the office of tho Mass
am discussing the Church OF
Rome only because for time there
was no other Indeed. for time
it was dangerous to even suggest
,another. The Pope and tho College