The Church of the Ages

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 3

The Church of the Ages

A despatch from Los Angeles to the New York 'Freeman's Journal,' under date April 6, says :—: — ' The Catholic Church is the grandest organisation in the ■world,' asserted the Rev. J. S. Thomson yesterU>rday morning at the services of the Independent Church of Christ, of which he is pastor. Dr. Thomson has been preaching a series of sermons on ' The Providential Purpose of the Various Denominations,' and yesterday morning's discussion was devoted to ' The Providential Purpose of the Roman Catholic Denomination.' He said, in part :—: — ' The providential purpose of the Roman Catholic denomination is unity and continuity. The Catholic Church is the grandest organisation in the world. It has a place ol consecrated duty for all types or groups of mind. It is an imperialistic Church. The Pope is a real monarch on a powerful throne, holding in his hands a sceptre of wondrous influence over the souls and destinies of men. The present Pope glorifies the papal ciown ; for he is a scholar, a thinker, a poet, a genuine philanthropist, a true friend of every wise measure fbr tho benefit of the race, a skiliul and practical manager of vast and complicated affairs, a member of a noble lamily, a gentleman and a saint ; and vet the Catholic Church is thoroughly democratic in its aims, policies, and efforts. ' The poor, the common, and the -rich people meet together in that Church, as children of the common Father The poor, hard-working man and woman are found in that Church. It is an ancient Church. It was an ancient Church before the birth of Protestantism. It has cohesion and unity and continuity. The very fact of its great age is a proof of its providential purpose. It traces its descent to the founder of our common Christianity. The gates of hades have not been able to destroy it. It stands to-day a victor over the opposition of centuries. It is the strongest religious force in Christendom. Many reasons might be given for the success and power of this wonderful organisation. That Church believes sincerely and profoundly in the necessity for the salvation and happiness of men and women in this world and the next. It preaches this necessity and it acts accordingly. It does not neglect the religious education of its children, expecting them to grow up some way or other to be religious members of society. The keys of knowledge which that Church possesses are wisely used to admit the worthy into the kingdom of heaven, and to prepare them to seek that kingdom, with consecrated hearts Religious knowledge frees and strengthens the soul ; but a religion that cannot command loyalty and consecration is worthless. ' Tn the Dark, Ages it was the monks who kept th© fire burning upon the altar of literature. Our divine and glorious Bible was guarded and saved by the Catholic Church for us. In England and in many other places the priest made the dying slave-ownet emancipate his slaves. Its priests are consecrated workers. They sao rifice many things in order to minister at the altar. The Catholic Church has always favored education. Before the Reformation that Church had established colleges and other institutions of learning. Was not Luther educated in a Catholic college ? The Catholic Church ia tho mother of all Protestant denominations. Why should not these children give gratitude, respect, and honor to that mother, who has done and is doing so much good for the world ? It will not hurt our Protestantism to be grateful.' __^_______^_^__