The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-06-19
Takes Issue With
Last Weeks Article
On PentecostalS


1901 Hartford Rd.
Baltimore Ia, Md.
June 10 1858
The Editor
The Republican
Oakland, Md.
Dear Sir;
| would like to reply to all article
The Pentecostals among us"
which appeared in the Republican,
June IL, 1858.
am a Priest of The Episcopal
Church and one who strongly be-
lieves in Orthodox Christianity.
To the author of the article let me
first of all state that some of the
things set forth are very true. 1t is
too bad that the Christian Church
is not more jealous in many of its
undertakings, due, no doubt, to
the fact that we do not know the
full power of the Holy Ghost and
its effect on our personal lives and
in the world.
Secondly, let me assure the
author that the three main branches
of the Catholic Church ORTHODOX,
Roman, & Anglican) agree with him
that the gifts of the Holy Ghost
are bestowed upon the believer
after he becomes a Christian, as is
plainly taught in Holy Scripture.
This is commonly called Confirma-
ton or the Laying on of Hands. This
however, does not deny the fact
that the Holy Ghost works in the
Christian before this happens. For
no one could become a Christian
unless he is led to Christ by the
Holy Ghost.
However, there are some def
mite difficulties stated in this
article.
In the article the question is
asked: "Were the apostles and
disciples sinners at this time?" The
answer given is: mol l don't be-
lieve So. But the Scripture plainly
states that no one is perfect and
that all men are sinners. Even
after a person becomes a Chris
tian, he is still human, and since
he has not yet reached the stage of
perfection he is still capable of
disobedience to God and sin. Only
Jesus Christ was perfect.
With reference to the experience
on the day of Pentecost acts 2:1-4),
the most extraordinary gift was
the gift of tongues. We cannot say
exactly what this was, but Scrip
ture tells us at least what it is not.
It was not intended for preaching
of the Gospel. When the Apostles
spoke in tongues they did not adj
dress the people; they magnified the
wonderful works of God in the
various languages of those present,
so they could understand. When
st. Peter had to address the multi
tude Acts 2:14) he speaks in the
name of all, and being able to
speak only one language at a time,
naturally speaks his own. AS soon
as the preaching began, the tongues
ceased. The other instances where
speaking in tongues is mentioned
is Acts t10:44-46 and Acts 1861 In
the first passage the Centurion
Cornelius and his family, after
their baptism, spoke with tongues
and magnified God. 1t was the same
with the twelve disciples of
Ephesus Acts 1856 who spoke
with tongues and prophesied. None
of these people had to preach.
Finally, the man who spoke with
tongues was not understood by
those present unless an interpre-
ter was present. These great mani
festations proved visibly the con-
tinued presence of the Holy Ghost
in the church and symbolized the
great Catholic unity and univer-
salty of the Gospel, which was
destined to speak all languages
and to gather together all men in
the profession of the same faith.
The specific role of the Christian
is to "edify, exhort, and console"
Il Cor. AID. Prophecy is better
because it has the advantage of
being understood by the hearers
and being profitable to the unbe-
levers. Everybody understands the
prophet and can acquire benefit
from his instructions; God alone
understands the speaker with
tongues. While the prophet edifies
the Church, the speaker with
tongues edifies only himself. For
what is the Use of a 1anpIIape that