Year: 1870

Lecture by tho Rev. ThOmns 3. Preston on


Indugences.


st. Anns Catholic church was crowded last even
ing by attentive congregation, who were present
for the purpose Of hearing Father Prestons promised
lecture on Indulgences.


The reverend gentleman made his appearance at
ten minutes to eight O'Clock and spoke for an hour
and a quarter on the subject with earnestness,
ability and cloqucncc. Before entering, however, on
the matter set down for discourse nc stated that the
collection TO be taken up in the evening would be for
the benent OF the new church, and he hoped those
present would give large contributions He assured
them that they would have larger accommodations
in the new edifoe than they had in the old church,
where they had so often prayed and worshipped.
The new church would be dedicated on the lst OF
January. The Archbishop will 0nlciate on that
occasion, and also preach the delicatory Sermon at
half-past ten O'clock In the morning and Ia the
evening, at vespers, the Bishop of Brooklyn Is to
address the congregation He Father Preston)
hoped to give his next of lectures In the new
church, where he would give them larger accommo-
dat0ns, and he therefore hoped they would assist
him, IN making their contributions accordingly.


BLESSING THE BELLS FOR THE NEW CHURCH.


Father Preston also announced that on Wednes-
Archbishop would onlcate in this. church at the
blessing Of the bells for the new church.


SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.


The first mass VIII be ut six O'Clock, and there
will also be masses at seven, eight, nine and half
past ten O'clock the last being a high mass. There
VIII be no vespers on Christmas Day, but last mass
is to close with benedctlon OF the H0ly Sacrament.


Father Preston then entered upon the subject Of
the evenings lecture. He read from the sixteenth
chapter OF 1t. Matthew, nineteenth verse-''W hat5o
ever thou shalt bind on earth shall also be bound in
Heaven, and whatsoever thou shall loose on eartn
snail also be loosed in Heaven. The subject



one that was much misunderstood by those who did
not belong to the Catholic Church, and even there
Catholics who did not fully appreciate that
most consoling doctrine on which he was now 10
address them. II he were to attempt to remove the
misunderstanding OF Protestants on tnis doctrine
the doctrine Of indulgences-it would be labor In
vain. They had heard II said from childhood That the
Catholic Church granted induigences to comnit sin,
though they might not have thought II worth while
to reply to such caunlnles. There were men in the


INTELLIGENT CITY OF NEW YORK


who believed that. gentleman In New York had
said TO hun. ''YOur Church grants indulgences 10
commit SIM" He (Father Prestonl looked at him
II he not in earnest, he did not like TO IN
suit him by letting him suppose that ne con-
sdered him in earnest Du he found that the gentle.
man was really in earnest in stating that
the Catholic Church granted indulgences on
the payment OF u certain price. lie was told
by Protestant clergyman that he had seen Q brief
in which the power OF committing sin was given for
the sum of nifty dollars, (Thls statement caused
Ir there any one person so lar deceived that
any religious demon nation clalming morality

who thought that the Catholic Church
granted indulgences to commit sin all he could say
was that such persons were neXcusabc for their tg
norance. He would show what induigences were
that the Church nad power to grant tlem--and he
would answer objections against the doctrine. lie
would begin by telling them what indulgcnces were
not and what they were. They were nos q pernils
sion to commit sin. He need not say that to any
Catholic, and he ought not be Obliged to say Il to
any Protestant. Cod had not the power to


COMMIT SIN,


will a TJa
could not will for moment that any one should
disobey His law. lndnlgences were not liberty
with the remission OF sins. Sins TO be remitted
according to the Word, which said Whose sins you
remit, tney are remltted." GOD himself could
Indulgences could not remit the slightest venia sin.
1t was not in their scope to touch The slgtesr venai
sin. They could only deal With sins that were for
given. An indulgence was the removal or the
punishment due to sins forgiven in the sa-
Almighty GOD without having rendered him the
greatest satisfaction for the Sins committed since his
baptism. An indulgence was the remission, wholly
part, OF the temporal punishment due to sin
after 1t was forgiven, and the Church had power TO
remit that temporal punishment certain cond-
to the sin forgiven.


IN THE EARLY CHURCH


there severe and exact discipline, which
then necessary, the Church consisted OF con-
verts from paganism and idolatry. Under The
ments and explations for sins; aud so under
the new law. The Church demanded That
and suffer punishment for their sins. There
then public confession and public penance for
tain sins, which obliged persons to be absent from
mass and PROSTATE themselves at tile doors OF the
church, 70 fast and put sacke!oth and ashes for
u number OF days.


The reverend gentleman then went on to show
how the temporal punishment due to forgiven Sins
could be remtttcd. They were


RENTED BY PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD
fasting, aims deeds and other good works. lie
quoted various texts OF Scripture in support his
views he could also, he SAID, quote
the writings OF the fathers III 1avor OF the doc
trnes OF indulgences as aid down 10y the Catholic
Church, and, In conclusion, ably answered those
who said that indulgences nterfered with the direct
merits OF Christ. II could not be an Interference
with the merits OF Christ when the priesthood of the
Catholic Church sought TO apply the graceS of Christ
to the heahng and salvation Of mems souls.