Origins of the Roman Catholic church

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Origins of the Roman Catholic church
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 9 (Issue No. 9) September 1929
Year: 1929
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Fulltext: oeptember, 1929 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 19 From the entrance to the cave opposite the large tree where all had congregated finally came the sound of sharp hissing. Bayawak, the mon ster monitor lizard; and captain of Her Majesty’s bodyguard, was announcing the arrival of the Queen. At this signal sudden silence descended on the multitude. The huge lizard slowly Origins of the Roman Catholic Church GIBBON—(Continued from August) V. But the human character, however it may be exalted or depressed by a temporary enthusiasm, will return by degrees to its proper and natural level, and will resume those passions that seem the most adapted to its present con dition. The primitive Christians were dead to the business and pleasures of the world; but their love of action, which could never be entirely extinguished, soon revived, and found a new occupation in the government of the church. A separate society, which attacked the established religion of the empire, was obliged to adopt some SHIPMENTS FOR PORT OF MAUBAN NOTICE is hereby given that beginning September 1, 1929, the Manila Railroad will ac cept for billing at all stations freight, express and C.O.D. ship ments consigned to the Port of Mauban, Tayabas. Only Express and C.O.D. shipments for this port may be accepted for billing at Downtown Office, 517-519 Dasmarifias. During the month of September, the M. S. “Alabat” will call at Mauban on the 10th and 27th Manila Railroad Company 943 Azcarraga Manila Phone 4-98-61 emerged from the cave, followed by six other enormous monitor lizards of the Queen’s body guard, and then came Saua herself, surrounded by thousands of smaller lizards, snakes and frogs. A rearguard of six large, saw-crested, green iguanas, under the command of their chief, Ibid, brought up the rear of the procession. (Please turn to page 22, col. 1) form of internal policy, and to appoint a suffi cient number of ministers, intrusted not only with the spiritual functions, but even with the temporal direction of the Christian common wealth. The safety of that society, its honor, its aggrandizement, were productive, even in the most pious minds, of a spirit of patriotism, such as the first of the Romans had felt^for the repub lic, and sometimes of a similar indifference in the use of whatever means might probably con duce to so desirable an end. The ambition of raising themselves or their friends to the honors and offices of the church was disguised by the laudable intention of devoting to the public benefit the power and consideration which, for that purpose only, it became their duty to solicit. In the exercise of their functions they were fre quently called upon to detect the errors of heresy or the arts of faction, to oppose the designs of perfidious brethren, to stigmatize their characters with deserved infamy, and to expel them from the bosom of a society whose peace and happi ness they had attempted to disturb. The eccle siastical governors of the Christians were taught to unite the wisdom of the serpent with the in nocence of the dove; but as the former was re fined, so the latter was insensibly corrupted, by the habits of government. In the church as well as in the world, the persons who were placed in any public station rendered themselves con siderable by their eloquence and firmness, by their knowledge of mankind, and by their dexterity in business; and while they concealed from others, and perhaps from themselves, the secret motives of their conduct, they too frequently relapsed into all the turbulent passions of active life, which were tinctured with an additional degree of bitterness and obstinacy from the infusion of spiritual zeal. The government of the church has often beeii' the subject, as well as the prize, of religious con tention. The hostile disputants of Rome, of Paris, of Oxford, and of Geneva, have alike struggled to reduce the primitive and apostolic model to the respective standards of their own policy. The few who have pursued this inquiry with more candor and impartiality are of opinion that the apostles declined the office of legislation, and rather chose to endure some partial scandals and divisions, than to exclude the Christians of a future age from the liberty of varying their forms of ecclesiastical government according to the changes of times and circumstances. The scheme of policy which, under their approbation, was adopted for the use of the first century, may be discovered from the practice of Jerusalem, of Ephesus, or of Corinth. The societies which were instituted in the cities of the Roman empire were united only by the ties of faith and charity. Independence and equality formed the basis of their internal constitution. The want of di cipline and human learning was supplied by the occasional assistance of the prophets, who were called to that function without distinction of age, of sex, or of natural abilities, and who, as often as they felt the divine impulse, poured forth the effusions of the Spirit in the assembly of the faithful. But these extraordinary gifts were frequently abused or misapplied by the pro phetic teachers. They displayed them at an iir J proper season, presumptuously disturbed the service of the assembly, and, by their pride or mistaken zeal, they introduced, particularly into the apostolic church of Corinth, a long and melancholy train of disorders. As the institu tion of prophets became useless, and even perni cious, their powers were withdrawn, and their office abolished. The public functions of reli gion were solely intrusted to the established ministers of the church, the bishops and the presbyters; two appellations which, in their first origin, appear to have distinguished the same office and the same order of persons. The name of Presbyter was expressive of their age, or rather of their gravity and wisdom. The title of Bi shop denoted their inspection over the faith and manners of the Christians who were com mitted to their pastoral care. In proportion to the respective numbers of the faithful, a larger or smaller number of these episcopal presbyters guided each infant congregation with equal authority and with united counsels. But the most perfect equality of freedom requires the directing hand of a superior magis trate: and the order of public deliberations soon introduces the office of a president, invested at least with the authority of collecting the senti ments, and of executing the resolutions, of the assembly. A regard for the public tranquility, which would so frequently have been interrupted by annual or by occasional elections, induced the primitive Christians to constitute an honorable and perpetual magistracy, and to choose one of the wisest and most holy among their presbyters to execute, during his life, the duties of their ecclesiastical governor. It was under these circumstances that the lofty title of Bishop IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 20 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL September, 1929 began to raise itself above the humble appella tion of Presbyter; and while the latter remained the most natural distinction for the members of every Christian senate, the former was appro priated to the dignity of its new president. The advantages of this episcopal form of govern ment, which appears to have been introduced before the end of the first century, were so ob vious and so important for the future greatness, as well as the present peace, of Christianity, that it was adopted without delay by all the societies which were already scattered over the empire, had acquired in a very early period the sanction of antiquity, and is still revered by the most powerful churches, both of the East and of the West, as a primitive and even as a divine estab lishment. It is needless to observe that the pious and humble presbyters who were first dignified with the episcopal title could not pos sess, and would probably have rejected, the power and pomp which now encircles the tiara of the Roman Pontiff, or the mitre of a German prelate. But we may define, in a few words, the narrow limits of their original jurisdiction, Pacific Commercial Company Distributor which was chiefly of a spiritual, though in some instances of a temporal nature. It consisted in the administration of the sacraments and discipline of the church, the superintendency of religious ceremonies, which imperceptibly in creased in number and variety, the consecration of ecclesiastical ministers, to whom the bishop assigned their respective functions, the manage ment of the public fund, and the determination of all such differences as the faithful were un willing to expose before the tribunal of an idola trous judge. These powers, during a short period, were exercised according to the advice of the presbyteral college, and with the consent and approbation of the assembly of Christians. The primitive bishops were considered only as the first of their equals, and the honorable serv ants of a free people. Whenever the episcopal chair became vacant by death, a new president was chosen among the presbyters by the suffrage of the whole congregation, every member of which supposed himself invested with a sacred and sacerdotal character. Such was the mild and equal constitution by which the Christians were governed more than a hundred years after the death of the apostles. Every society formed within itself a separate and independent republic; and although the most distant of these little states maintained a mutual as well as friendly intercourse of letters and deputations, the Christian world was not yet connected by any supreme authority or legisla tive assembly. As the numbers of the faithful were gradually multiplied, they discovered the advantages that might result from a closer union of their interest and designs. Towards the end of the second century, the churches of Greece and Asia adopted the useful institutions of pro vincial synods, and they may justly be supposed to have borrowed the model of a representative council from the celebrated examples of their own country, the Amphictyons, the Achaean league, or the assemblies of the Ionian cities. It was soon established as a custom and as a law, that the bishops of the independent churches should meet in the capital of the province at the stated periods of spring and autumn. Their deliberations were assisted by the advice of a few distinguished presbyters, and moderated by the presence of a listening multitude. Their decrees, which were styled Canons, regulated every important controversy of faith and dis cipline; and it was natural to believe that a liberal effusion of the Holy Spirit would be poured on the united assembly of the delegates of the Christian people. The institution of synods was so well suited to private ambition, and to public interest, that in the space of a few years it was received throughout the whole empire. A regular correspondence was establish ed between the provincial councils, which mutually communicated and approved their respective proceedings; and the catholic church soon assumed the form, and acquired the strength, of a great foederative republic. As the legislative authority of the particular churches was insensibly superseded by the use of councils, the bishops obtained by their alliance a much larger share of executive and arbitrary power; and as soon as they were connected by a sense of their common interest, they were enabled to attack, with united vigor, the original rights of their clergy and people. The prelates of the third century imperceptibly changed the language of exhortation into that of command, scattered the seeds of future usurpations, and supplied, by Scripture allegories and declama tory rhetoric, their deficiency of force and of reason. They exalted the unity and power of the church, as it was represented in the EPIS COPAL OFFICE, of which every bishop enjoyed an equal and undivided portion. Princes and magis trates, it was often repeated, might boast an earthly claim to a transitory dominion; it was the episcopal authority alone which was derived from the Deity, and extended itself over this and over another world. The bishops were the vice gerents of Christ, the successors of the apostles, and the mystic substitutes of the high priest of the Mosaic law. Their exclusive privilege of conferring the sacerdotal character invaded the freedom both of clerical and of popular elections; and if, in the administration of the church, they still consulted the judgment of the presbyters, or the inclination of the people, they most care fully inculcated the merit of such a voluntary condescension. The bishops acknowledged the supreme authority which resided in the assembly of their brethren; but in the government of his peculiar diocese, each of them exacted from his flock the same implicit obedience as if that favorite metaphor had been literally just, and as is the shepherd had been of a more exalted nature than that of his sheep. This obedience, how ever, was not imposed without some efforts on one side, and some resistance on the other. The democratical part of the constitution was, in many places, very warmly supported by the zealous or interested opposition of the inferior clergy. But their patriotism received the igno minious epithets of faction and schism; and the episcopal cause was indebted for its rapid prog ress to the labors of many active prelates, who, like Cyprian of Carthage, could reconcile the arts of the most ambitious statesmen with the Christian virtues which seem adapted to the character of a saint and martyr. The same causes which at first had destroyed the equality of the presbyters introduced among IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL September, 1929 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 21. the bishops a preeminence of rank, and from thence a superiority of jurisdiction. As often as in the spring and autumn they met in provin cial synod, the difference of personal merit and reputation was very sensibly felt among the members of the assembly, and the multitude was governed by the wisdom and eloquence of the few. But the order of public proceedings re quired a more regular and less invidious distinc tion; the office of perpetual presidents in the councils of each province was conferred on the bishops of the principal city; and these aspiring prelates, who soon acquired the lofty titles of Metropolitans and Primates, secretly prepared themselves to usurp over their episcopal brethren the same authority which the bishops had so lately assumed above the college of presbyters. Nor was it long before an emulation of preemin ence and power prevailed among the Metropoli tans themselves, each of them affecting to dis play, in the most pompous terms, the temporal honors and advantages of the city over which he presided; the numbers and opulence of the Chris tians who were subject to their pastoral care; the saints and martyrs who had arisen among them; and the purity with which they preserved the tradition of the faith, as it had been transmitted through a series of orthodox bishops from the apostle or the apostolic disciple to whom the foundation of their church was ascribed. From every cause, either of a civil or of an ecclesias tical nature, it was easy to foresee that Rome must enjoy the respect, and would soon claim the obedience, of the provinces. The society of the faithful bore a just proportion to the capital of the empire; and the Roman church was the greatest, the most numerous, and, in regard to the West, the most ancient of all the Christian establishments, many of which had received their religion from the pious labors of her missionaries. Instead of one apostolic founder, the utmost boast of Antioch, of Ephesus, or of Corinth, the banks of the Tiber were supposed to have been honored with the preaching and martyrdom of the two most eminent among the apostles; and the bishops of Rome very prudently claimed the (Continued on paée 28) Haphazard Studies in the English Language The University Dictionary which is sold by the Manila Daily Bulletin at two pesos the copy, contains an essay on Common Errors in English by Dr. Farquson Johnson that will be run in installments in this department, commencing with this issue. For it is at once interesting and instructive; indeed, the editor of the Journal, benefited by it greatly in his own diction, has seen nothing comparable to it any where. For this essay alone, he would not part with his own copy of this convenient English vocabulary at any price—unless he might, for the pittance at which it sells, obtain another. Dr. Johnson’s pages fairly glow with linguistic erudition, as the student will observe. But the original was proof-read carelessly, and the errors which therefore appear in it have here been corrected. Where there are references to the main vocabulary, etc., any standard English dictionary may be consulted.—Ed. {Continued) at auction. In England they say “by auc tion,” but in America we say “at private sale” and “at auction.” Johnson says/“the verb auction means to sell by auction,” that is, by offering to the highest bidder. “At an auction” and “at a private sale” are common and correct expressions. at length, at last. The difference in meaning between these two phrases often escapes all but the most careful speakers. “At last” . implies difficulties overcome, impediments causing unforeseen delay, or disappointment by having had to wait longer for an object than we expected. “At length” is not neces sarily final, but implies long continuance of effort, mental or physical, for a definite end, or long continued hope, expectation, suspense or suffering. “At length his wishes were realized and he went to Europe.” “At last he died.” at you. Not “mad at you,” but “angry with you,” will correct two common errors. attache. Although this is purely a French word, we have adopted it for want of a better one. Pronounced a-ta-shay, with the first two a’s short, and last a long; only slight ac cent on last syllable. auxiliary. Pronounced aug-zil'yari, not auks'il-ary. avenue. Often mispronounced av'noo or av'enoo; should be av'e-new. avocation. To be distinguished from voca tion, which should be used of a man’s daily business or calling in life, while his avocation is his recreative employment, or, it may be, his hobby. Thus we say correctly, “The law is his vocation, politics his avocation”; “Her vocation is teaching, her avocation pyrography.” As Alfred Ayres clearly puts it, “Our avocations are the things we do for the love of doing them; our vocations are the things we do for gain.” The two words are frequently confounded, but careful speakers will avoid the error. awful, awfully. Colloquialisms that grate upon the ear in such phrases as “awfully good,” “an awful headache,” and “Thanks awfully!” Their use, even when regarded as slang, is always in poor taste, and generally betokens a limited vocabulary. The common misuse of such strong words as “awful” results unfortunately in lessening their strength and value for legitimate use. There is surely nothing awe-inspiring about the ordinary social bore, but he is flippantly and frequently called “an awful bore,” which robs the word “awful” of its significance when properly applied to a truly awe-inspiring spect Bring your plans to us. Let us counsel with you about building with APO Cement, an enduring material lending itself to the beauties of permanent architecture. Strive for Permanence and Beauty in Building Consider the Facts of True Economy! No one has studied the conditions surrounding real estate in Manila and environs more than the judges of our courts; and they find the topography of the city such that, combined with the peculiar ownership of extensive urban areas, values are even higher than the growing population of the city would alone bring about. It is false economy to build on such land save with the most permanent material—CONCRETE, A home product— “APO” CEBU PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY CHINA BANK BUILDING MANILA, P. I. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 28 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL September, 1929 AUGUST SUGAR REVIEW By George h. Fairchild New York Market: —Contrary to expecta tions, the circulation in New York of the news regarding Cuba’s “sin gle seller” arrangement was followed by a de cline in sugar values and during the latter part of the week end ing August 2, business was at a standstill with a quotation for Cubas at 2-1/16 cents c. and f., equivalent to 3.83 cents 1. t. Holders’ anxieties to dispose of their stocks before the 31st of the month, on which the single selling agency was rumored to take effect, materially contributed to the decline in prices. Cuban holders however were reluctant sellers at prices below 2-1/16 cents c. and f. and there were no pressure from that quarter. Two clouds appeared in the horizon of the New York market, namely the proposal to intro duce a sliding scale of sugar duties in the U. S. Tariff, and the opposition of certain New York bankers interested in the Cuban sugar industry to the proposed central sales’ control. Although there were no sellers of Cuban sugar at less than 2-1/16 cents c. and f. 3.83 cents 1. t.) Porto Ricans reduced their prices to 3.77 cents 1. t. On the other hand, September shipment Philip pine sugars were nominally worth 3.90 cents 1. t. In the third week, the market became firmer and on the 15th there were buyers of Cubas at 2-1/16 cents c. and f. The abandonment of the sliding scale proposal was officially announced and the Finance Com mittee recommended to the Senate a full duty rate of 2.75 cents per pound, or 2.20 cents per pound for Cuban 96°. The market in the fourth week opened and closed at 2-1/16 cents c. and f. (3.83 cents 1. t.), intervening prices being 2.00 cents c. and f. without fluctuations. In the last week, the market, being over shadowed by the imminent prospect of the Cuban single selling agency coming into force, was unsettled and irregular. At the opening of the week, present shipment Porto Ricos were sold at 3.77 cents 1.1. Sales to refiners of Cubas for late September and October shipments were effected at 2-1/16 cents c. and f. (3.83 cents 1. t.) The visible stocks in the U. K., U. S., Cuba and European statistical countries are 3,407,000 tons as compared with 3,136,000 tons at the same time last year and 2,926,000 tons at the same time in 1927. Futures. Quotations on the New York Ex change during August fluctuated as follows: High Low Latest -September.... .. 2.17 1.97 2.06 December.. .. .. 2.25 2.09 2.17 -January......... .. 2.26 2.13 2.18 March........... . . 2.30 2.20 2.23 May.............. .. 2.36 2.27 2.29 July............... .. 2.42 2.34 2.36 Philippine Sales. During the month of Aug ust, sales of Philippine centrifugals in the At lantic Coast—afloats,— amounted to 5,500 tons at a price of 3.77 cents 1. t. as compared with sales amounting to 10,000 tons at prices ranging from 4.05 cents to 4.27 cents 1. t. Local Market:—Small transactions in cen trifugals were effected at P9.50 in the second week. Exporters were quoting P9.00 to P9.35, at which prices, holders were indisposed to sell their small present-crop stock. In the last week, exporters’ quotations ranged from P9.00 to P9.25, at which they were unable to attract any of the small stocks of sugar, as Chinese dealers would pay P9.35. There were little or no tran sactions in the muscovado market during the month. Crop Prospects. According to the reports of the Research Bureau of the Philippine Sugar Association, prospects for next year’s crop are not as bright as last year’s due to the unfavor able weather conditions during the month under review both on Luzon and Negros. In all parts of Negros, rainfall was excessive in August, the rains not only being rather conti nuous but on some days torrential. As an ex ample, in one period of 24 hours Bacolod received 9.6 inches of rain and on the same day HawaiianPhilippine received 7. 4 inches of rain. TalisaySilay on one day received 8.5 inches, while La Carlota received 7.00 inches of rain. This was greatly in contrast to last year when many planters were complaining of drouth. Unless very fine weather prevails in September, October and November, it is considered probable that the crop on Negros will be considerably below that of last year. It is hoped, however, that this may be partially compensated for by an improvement in weather conditions between now and harvesting. The cane in the Laguna-Batangas districts is Here’s how to get Manilas! Genuine Manila Hand Made Long Filler Cigars are obtainable in your city or nearby! List of Distributors furnished upon request to— C. A. BOND Philippine Tobacco Agent: 15 Williams St. New York City or Collector of Internal Revenue Manila, P. I. Manilas will satisfy your taste! somewhat behind this time from that of a year ago, so that there is a slight decrease in estimates as compared with last year’s production. Up north, in Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac the stand of cane is uniform and looks as good as last year’s. The superiority of the newly intro duced varieties, particularly B-147, N. G. 24A and M-1900, over the native varieties, is notice able in the stand of the foreign cane which is far advanced. In places where the native cane is very much affected by rust, it can be seen that the foreign varieties standing side by side with the native, have remained free from the disease. Philippine Exports. Exports of sugar from the Philippines for 1928-1929 crop, from Nov ember 1, 1928, to August 31, 1929, amounted to 639,937 tons, segregated as follows: Metric Tons Centrifugals.......................... 609,752 Muscovados.......................... 22,945 Refined................................ 7,240 Total.............................. 639,937 Java Market:—The Javan market was re ported as steady at more or less unchanged quo tations which were as follows: Per P. I. picul f. o. b. Superiors—Spot..................Gs. 12-5/8— P6.83 September...... “ 12-3/4— 6.89 Oct.-Nov.-Dec................. “ 13-1/8— 7.09 Jan.-Feb.-March............. “ 13-1/2— 7.28 Origins of the Roman Catholic Church (GIBBON—Continued from page 21) inheritance of whatsoever prerogatives were attributed either to the person or to the office of St. Peter. The bishops of Italy and of the prov inces were disposed to allow them a primacy of order and association (such was their very ac curate expression) in the Christian aristocracy. But the power of a monarch was rejected with abhorrence, and the aspiring genius of Rome experienced from the nations of Asia and Africa a more vigorous resistance to her spiritual, than she had formerly done to her temporal, dominion. The patriotic Cyprian, who ruled with the most absolute sway the church of Carthage and the provincial synods, opposed with resolution and success the ambition of the Roman Pontiff, artfully connected his own cause with that of the eastern bishops, and, like Hannibal, sought out new allies in the heart of Asia. If this Punic war was carried on without any effusion of blood, it was owing much less to the modera tion than to the weakness of the contending prelates. Invectives and excommunications were their only weapons; and these, during the progress of the whole controversy, they hurled against each other with equal fury and devotion. (Continued in October) The Philippine Guaranty Company, Incorporated (Accepted by all the Bureaus of the Insular Government) Executes bonds of all kinds for Customs, Immigration and Internal Revenue. DOCUMENTS SURETYSHIPS For Executors, Administrators, .Receivers, Guardians, etc. We also write Fire and Marine Insurance Low rates iberal conditions ocal investments oans on real estate repayable by monthly or quarterly instal ments at low interest Call or write for particulars Room 403, Filipinas Bldg. P. O. Box 128 Manila, P. I. IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL