The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-05-16
STATEMENTS VERIFIED.
Editor Of Midland Journal:

In his article Mistakes Correct
ed" Rev. Arnd of Elkton has left
the impression that my statements
in the journal of Feb. 81 were false,
and that they were made either from
ignorance or prejudice. 1t is my
duty, therefore, to prove my words
true.
In his answer to my article
Popery Exemplified, Mr.. Arnd has
taken his own work and dealings in
Cecil County to defend his church.
About his personal work and reputa-
tion / know nothing, nor have heard
anything the least disparaging.
With the proper respect to Mr.. Arnd
for his good work which he men
lions, it is with deep regret that ]
had to include him in my statement
concerning the clergy of the Cath
clio Church.
With regard to Purgatory l
,sither mentioned nor insinuated
that a soul had to burn" there If a
sum of money were not paid. | did
ay, however, that soul could gain
Heaven only by the payment OF Al
specified sum of money. Mr.. Arnd
says no fool ever believed such stuff,
but say that supposedly intelligent
people have believed and do believe
such stuff. The story of Purgatory
told an inquisitive non-Catnolic is
far different from that taught the
strict adherents of the Catholic be-
lief. Quoting Catholic Belief,
with which Mr.. Arnd presented me,
we find "Purgatory is a state of suf-
fering after this life; in which those.
souls are for time detained VINO
depart this life after their deadly
sins have been RENTED as to the
stain and guilt, and as to the ever
lasting pain that was due them; but
who have on account of those sins
still some debt Of temporal punish
ment to pay; as also those souls
which leave this world guilty only
of venial sins. In Purgatory these
souls are purified and rendered fit
to enter into Heaven, where nothing
defiled enters,'' Catholics also be-
Iieve that the souls in Purgatory
continue to be members OF the
Church of Christ and that they are
relieved by the sacrifice of the Mass,
by prayer, and pious works, and
almsdeeds.' This is the doctrine
told a non-Catholic or a skeptic.
Let us look, however, at the doctrine
taught in parochial schools and to
Catholic children. Quoting Re-
ouiescant in Pace" by Richard
Clarke S. j., we find "The one con-
tinual occupation Of the holy souls
in Purgatory will be to suffer. There
will be the dull monotony of con-
slant suffering, no light from
Heaven to cheer them in their an
guish, no pleasant sights to see,
no sweet sounds to hear, nothing
but the passive endurance OF TN
ceasing pain. How tediously will
the hours and days pass away!
Nothing makes time seem so long
as the gnawing of ceaseless pain, the
absence Of all that cheers and
makes existence bright" Here is
taste of future misery. Quoting
further "Will the souls in Purga-
tory be able to pray? Yes, insofar
as prayer is the expression of
longing desire for that which we
have not. But they will not gain
any merit from their prayers; there
will be none of the consultations,
nothing of the happiness of prayer.
Their entreaties to be relieved will
receive no answer from their God
save that which is conveyed in our
Lords words; II tell thee, thou
canst not go out thence TIL thou
hast paid the very last farthing.
How foolish shall l be if l neglect
prayer here, and so have to pray for
long years the fruitless prayer OF
Purgatory!"
Here is Purgatory as pictured to
Catholic children. BY that twist OF
a text about the payment of the last
farthing, and since they are the only
ones who can relieve a sufferer in
Purgatory, priests are~able to, and
do, wiring money from their mem
bers. If they do not, what was the
cause of the scandal at Rising sum-
Taught from childhood of such a.
place as this Purgatory, where is the
person who would not pay mis- last
farthing to relieve the soul OF a.
loved one from the terrors of such a.
gloomy state? No person with a.
human heart would refuse, hence my
statement that the clergy of the
Roman Catholic church are allied
together only for the purpose of
extorting money from innocent
victims under the cloak of religion.
Mr.. Arnd says the Catholic church
ob,xah Tho Cath