Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-03-30
PRETTY FAIR BIBLICAL
REFERENCES QUOTED
Editor of the News.

Editor OF the News.
Men and women could worship Cos
without ceremony but that would b
contrary to the teaching OF both tbs
old and new Testament. Some people
consider ceremony as silly and meaning
less, but / think the trou BILE is witt
them and not with the christians
Some of their symbols are very bsAuti
full and every single symbol and act bal
its meaning. You see societies have
rules and regulations, and IL you will
carefully read the Bible, God gave his
people signs and symbols. Our Savior
used ceremonies in his wonderful cures
Mark: 1894. think the cross erected
over the altar of the ch urch is one oil
the finest symbols in the whole cAtalo-
que. The cross, where ever seen, di-
reefs the mind and thought to a suffer
ing Christ Mary. the mother Of Jesus,
is honored by all christian Catholics,
but not worshiped, as some charge.
There is no idolatry In any OF the
Catholic services, as charged by their
enemies. Oh, we'll, they pray TO Mary
instead of God. Is not microscopy
| prayer taught in the Bible? think
so. Read Gen. 10 l; 4S: 10, Matthews
IS: 10, and apply it as yau please, also
| Rev. 1874. 1t seems the prayers Of
saints avail much. We are told in Cor.
| /; 40 that the angels know our actions.
| We are told in Matthews Is: 10 The
angles of these little ones do always be-
| hold the face of my father which is in
heaven" Why then deny the same
knowledge to the saints, especially
when our Lord declared that the child
rem of the resurrection shall be as the
| angels of God in heaven? Matt. 30: 80;
Luke 30:36. the Scripture states this
fact but not the mode of their knowl-
edge. Both John and St Paul declare
that 1t was by the one spirit. All agree
that Christ is the one mediator but be-
cause Of unbelief, we reject the saints
Christ declares that in his name they
shall cast out devils. Read the 16 and
IL verses of the 10th chapter OF Mark,
also John IA: IL. Is it not strange that
men will absolu tely reject microscopy
prayer and not teach it to dying
world. No, Catholics worship nothing
save God and his Christ. The crucifix-
es of the church are not idols. Neither
is any other image, but they do have
a certain yower or influence to help the
worsbiper. | frankly admit that we
like to honor the pictures and statutes
of our great men and why not allow the
christians to honor the saints? What
is wrong about it? Can't we honor the
great apostles, Paul and Peter, whose
shadow healed the sick, and those
troubled with unelean spirits? Are
they to be denied veneration while you |
unveil statutes to warriors aud states |
men? Hasn't the church the same
privilege to honor Msrys and Msrthas?
am writing this way because ! have
heard the charge made that Catholics
were idolators. OF course in the news |
paper article, we cannot be rs lengthy |
concerning the Church is her worst foe. |
absolutely false. which have found out |
lately. You object to them praying or
asking microscopy prayers from the |
saints. How do you read Rev. 5:S, or
8: 3.4? These prayers,were microscopy |
prayers. Does not James tell US that
the prayers Of the saints availest much?
What about Abraham, Moses and Job?
Was Job not com$pded to pray for his
three frienes9 Whsa,ssout the brothers
OF Paul? Did Paul ask them to pray
for them? SoE---4sa-.lrs~A.au-s4L belieXRi
there is no myISsae.f 5000: the Gospel T
would do we'll to read Eph. o: 1919.
Why did not Paul 60 to God directly
instead Of calling on his brothers to
pray for him? Did not he say. brethren
pray for US? l am one of those who
believe that the saints know what hap
pens on earth. / believe there Is COM
of saints. How can there be a
between Christ aud His saints?
Christ certainly hears microscopy pray
er. Let our faith in God be strong.
AS to the images and relics of the saints
no Bible reader can repute them with
put casting overheard the mantle of
Elijah, the rod of Moses, the bones OF
the prophet, Eliseus, the hem of our
Lords garment, the handkerchief of
st. Peter. Why reject and repudiate
he Catholic church because she veneer
ties the relics of the saints of God.
None claim there is any divinity in
hem. No more than lock of hair cut !
rom the head of some mothers dar-
ing baby as it lie cold in death.
hank God that we have church and I
people that venerate the saints of God ,
Why not honor and venerate these holy /
nen and women and love the church
or which many gave their lives? Is it ,
dolatry to honor such? Then Protes- g
ants should not be to hasty In charge
ng Catholic christians as idolators.
l would like to say word ON purga- c
DRY or the mediate state of the
oul. True the word is not found in =
he Bible but the doctrine of purgatory i
, in the Bible and therefore merits :
In 3 Mach. IL: 4S-46 is !
hown the belief Of the Jews in mid
le state where the dead can profit by
he good works and prayers of the liv- =
ng. see nothing wrong in praying
Or the dead. The old Jewish Prayer
looks are witnesses to the fact of such u
rayers, but what are the proofs of the =
octrins in the New Testament. In Il
iatt. ~: 80 we have declaration from y
ur Lord declaring certain sins shall be 1
,rgiven and certain sins that shall not Q.
. forgiven in this world nor the world
come. st. Paul in first Cor. 8: 1915
s.ers to a fire that shall try every
Ian's work, and through which he him
,lf shall be saved. st. Peter tells us
! his first Epistle 3: 1920 how the Saw
'r went and preached to those spirits
no we're in prison. Read Matt. and L
). can not easily understand how in q
le face of such testimony men will re-
ct the doctrine and still claim moth
a deHled can inter Heaven. Read
poe. jl and % and Hsbocene I: 8. -
,all moi nnrsue tho All biect furthar Init OF