The Jeffersonian (Jefferson, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 5, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 1, 1950 Page: 4 of 8
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PAGE FOUR
THE JEFFERSONIAN
JANUARY 1J50
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PAPACY THE TURNING POINT, LIKES CONFESSION
BIBLE COLLEGE STUDENTS SETS OUT TO
PROVE CHURCH IS WRONG; FINDS IT'S NOT
(Editor's Note: In this, the
18th of a series of articles writ-
ten by converts telling why they
joined the Catholic Church, Mrs.
Seymour McIJaniel, Jr. of Hughes
Springs, a young mother and
wife of an American soldier, re-
lates that she' sat out to prove
the Catholic Church was wrong
and ended up in it. Mrs. Mcl)an-
iel's Interesting story follows:)
Ever since I 'was in high school
1 was interested in the Catholic
Church. You know that sort of
curious and half-critical way
that most people are. This in-
terest, of course, prompted me
to ask many questions of my
Catholic friends.
My good parents, still mem-
bers of a sect which fights Catho-
lics, of course tried to discour-
age tliis curious interest. There-
by, they encouraged it.
A lady I kept children for buck
in my hanie town in Illinois was
a Catholic. Her Catholic papers
I read regularly.
FIRST COURSE BY MAIL
It's been 4 years now since
this friend gave me the address
uf the Home Confraternity Study
Courses in St. Louis and suggest-
ed that I take the course in
Christian Doctrine, which I im-
mediately did with the purpose-
You jsuessed it-of proving that
those Roman Catholics were all
wrong. Because of this, belief
did not come easily.
1 had very much trouble with
certain doctrines, especially, in-
fallibility of the Pope and the
fact that St. Peter was appointed
leader of the Church, Christ es-
tablished with the Popes as suc-
Papacy The Turning con next g.
cessors to him. All of this too>k
much time and patience on the
part of my instructor, a student
for the Priesthood.
SENT FAMOUS BOOK
By mail 1 debated arainst PeT-
er' Papacy and zealously sent the
"Romanist" student a copy ot the
famous Alexander Campbe|l-B'is-
hqp Purcell debates.
tl myself at the time was in the
middle of 2 years at a Cincinnati
Bl'ble seminary, preparing to be
a church worker by taking minis-
terial courses. My sect was one
that speolalizes in developing de-
baters, and it 'Was a debater who
set down to a battle by mail with
the Church of Rome's seminary
student.
'Whether Peter was appointed
Pope or luit, of course, was the
pivotal point of the discussion.
I said he wasn't no such thing,
and in the course ef milking my
opponent prove it to me, I made
him dig a little into his ancient
Greek and Aremaic.
CATHOLICS LITERAL
Catholics, of course, you know
take Our Lord's word literally in
His significent words to Peter:
"Thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build My Chiurch."
Catholics, with the history of
tlie recognized! \Papul fine tand
the tradition of martyrs who died
believing the Papaoy, of course
Interpret "rock" to mean Peter,
because the word "Peter" itself
means rock.
But my sect said: "No. lock
means Peter's confession, i.e.
Peter's expression of loyalty to
Christ which lie lmd Just made."
FOR ME - THE BIBLE ONLY
And since I.' like other adher-
ents of this sect, had no-'Use for
history in a religious argument I
wasn't interested in Encyclopedia
Brltannlca's list of 2fi2 Popes,
the Ronian Church's 160(1 year
old church ibuildings j-oing back
to the time of the martyrs, the
testimony of the eary Fathers or
leaders of the Church, etc. For
me, like the rest, it was the Bible
only. If you couldn't prove it by
the Bible, you Just couldn't prove
it, that's all.
Of course, that may seem like
a sulijectiviat attitude, and Cath-
olics could and did say, "Well,
the fact that something isn't in
tlie Hible, does that make it false,
like for instance, Napoleon's exis-
tence, the French Revolution, etc-"
They would also asu how we
knew tile Bible was inspired and
who preseiTed it for the world,
etc. all the centuries before the
Protestant Revolt. But for us
we just accepted the Scripture
as the iWord of God on the basis
of opinion and sort of on the
tradition passed down that other
rr.en long ago said it was too. In
this we had some respect for
tradition that we frowned on
when Catholics quoted martyrs
to us, showing that they believed
Catholic doctrines.
ON THE BIBLE ARE ELSE
But any way since I was not
interested in history or tradition,
only the Bible, for 'me the Cath-
olic Church was going to prove
her case on the Bible or else.
And she did.
My instructor finally convinced
me that the meaning of the
original Greek word did refer to
Peter and that Our Lord, not a
man who talked just to be talk-
ing, wouldn't have used such an
expression in singling out Peter
if he didn't want him to keep the
Church in order after His death.
By imai! I took several courses
Cont. on page 5, col. 1.
iSt. Joseph's iRectory
Marshall, Texas
January 3, 19.'0
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: a„nreciation
I wish to take this opportunity to express my i'J P o(
to all who srtit me greetings and remembrances oi
Our Lord's birtfhday. ,
Last year the Christinas offerings which were g'wn to me
deposited entirely in my missionary Hind to -any n s
advertizing the Church, But this year 1 have applied Uiem (
other cause, that of the Holy Year pilgrimage, which soon, please
God, I will undertake.
On the 28th of Feb. I have reservations to leave New Yolk by
plane for the dear land of my grandparents, Ireland. From tlieie
after paying a special pilgrimge to the tomb ot St. Patrick nm
journey on to Our Lady's shrine at Lourdes and thence on to Rome,
the "Eternal City", the home of the historic heads of the Church
and center of so many shrines sacred to Ciistiunity.
While in the city of the Hopes I hope to have an audience with
our Holy Father. From him I hope to bring back a special Papal
blessing, for my parents anil family. Beautifully published on an
artistic scroll, the document proclaims that the Holy rather has
graciously responded to the request to confer his blessing 011^ t ie
family. If any of my friends would like to have a similar Papa
benediction, 1 will be happy to petition the Holy See for it. Just
indicate the desire to me on or before Feb. 19.
For my trip His Excellency, Bishop Lyiu-ii, has been very kind
to grant me canonical permission to be absent from the diocese,
and Father Meyer, my pastor, has also graciously given his approval
(ot all my arrangements.
From reading magazines lately,, you, of course, know the reason
for the Holy Year. Hence you are aware that the Holy l<ather has
urged that this journey must be one of prayer and sacrifice. I con-
sider then that I could choose no better time to go than during the
uoly season of Lent.
For me making this pilgrimage will certainly involve a great
acrifice. My journey is not sponsored by the parish nor by the
paper, which is in its own right fast approaching bankruptcy. Rath-
er this pilgrimage is entirely on oiy own.
For it I have saved hard on my small curates salary. Also 1
have arranged to borrow the sum of some $700 or $200 in excess of
next year's salary.
But I have an Irishman's confidence in the Blessed Mother to
get me back safely so that I can pay all my just debts.
While away be assured that I will remember all, particularly
all my own beloved flock and all our non-Catholic friends, as 1 offei
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Patrick's tomb, Mary's shrine at
Lourdes, Peter's tom<b at Rome, Fatima and other sacred spots.
In turn lafft: all to pray for me that I may undertake tbiB pil-
grimage in the spirit of prayer and penance that the Church directs.
Praying God to bless you, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Q'Rourke
AN INVITA TION
In order that our friends in Jefferson may read the editor's annual Christmas message to
the community we have extended all of last year's gift subscriptions to include this issue.
It is our hope that, beginning with our Feb. Issue, many ot our friends will continue
among our readers. The subscription is
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
In Jefferson any staff member listed in our masthead will ibe glad to receive your subscrip-
tion or you may mail it to Box Drawer 705, Jefferson.
M anyone fears adverse comment over his subscription to a paper put out by n Catholic
priest, let it be known that communication^ ad dressed to Box 705 are kept strictly confidential,
as is our mailing list. For the sake of suppor ting a ..oveiment calculated to promote under-
standing and the charity of Christ subscribe today to THE JEFFERISONJAN. You do not
have to be a 'Catholic to support its general ipolicy—the best in religious news—attacks on
no one.
Our next issue will be dedicated to a man who symbolizes the vital need of union of the
forces of good which this paper promotes:
JOSEF CARDINAL MINDS/MY
In tribute to a voice silenced by the enemies of God and all religion in our next issue we
will carry the full text of Cardinal Miodszenty's last message to his people. (We know you will
look forward to reeding it. So subscribe today.
USE THIS COUPON
Please send
THE JEFFERSONIAN to
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It Surely
Is The Truth
—An ,Article—
THE BAPTIST STANDARD
*!! !
As Christmas is the birthday of 1
Jesus, it would seem that lie 1
should lie at the center of the
celebration. Such is too rarely
the case. The common practice j
of celebrating Christmas is by
beautifully - decorated Christmas I
trees and the exchanging o[ J
presents within the taniily circle ]
and among friends.
Now we are not at all against
Christmas trees and the exchange
of presents, but we should re- I
inetrber that Christmas is some- |
body's birthday, and that that
somebody should DOME FIRST in
our celebration of the dav.
Christ's Man—
Cont. from page 3.
will lead to Rome would see the
return of many to the Church of
their fathers.
"With good reason," says the
Pope, "men are anxious about
the effrontery with which the
united front of militant atheism
advances. And the old question
i? now voiced aloud: "WHY
ARE THERE STILL SEPARA-
TIONS? WHY ARE THERE
STILL SCHISMS?"
In the face of a militant war
on religion, symbolized "by the
imprisonment a yefcr ago to-
morrow of the great Josef Cardi-
nal Mlndszenty, the Holy Father
ask!s that all ALL BELIEVERS in
JESUS CHRIISIT RETURN TO
THE ONE TRITE CHURCH OF
THE BABE OF BETHLEHBM.
UNION IS IMPERATIVE
This appeal of His Holiness
takes on tragic Importance in this
hour when organized irrellglon
*>akes it imperative that the
forces of good be united instead
of quarrelling among themselves.
So it is then that we are hapw
to join our own humble appeal to
that of the Holy Father as we
address ourselves once again In
this Christmas message to the
good people of Jefferson anil
Hughes Springs. As your spiritual
father in Christ and the repre-
sentative in your midst of the
Historic Church of the Christian
ages, we avail ourselves of this
opportunity to invite all to ie-
turn to the house of their fathers
and to share with1 us its greatest
treasure-Christ's 'Mass.
INTENTION OF THE MASS
And as we celebrate Christ s
Mass here tonight we are asking
our Infant Lord to hear t t
(prayers of His servant, P°Pe
Pius, that 'through the intercess-
ion of the Immaculate Virgin
Mother of Christ, many here a™
throughout the world will in J'"
return to the historic. Church o
which their fathers belonged
when they coined their greeting,
"Merry Christmas."
Great indeed is our desire
sfhare with all the citizens of our
•mission territory, black n
wtoite, rich and poor, the t'®8
ure of the Mass; anil the otne
teachings which the Babe of
lehern said that we must '
lieve in order to be saved.
For that intention we otter
this Midnight Mas® and make
bwn this beautiful prayer wW
we will sing in Latin at the e
of Mass: n
"Grant, we be«eflrih Tii*®'
Lord, our God, that we who r
Joice in celebrating the birth
our Lord Jesus Christ, may ^
serve by worthy conduct to
admitted through His eomP"
Who with Thee and the
Ghost reigns one God (°re
ahd ever: Ataen." ,
In the name of the "j
of the 'Son and of the Holy Gn
Amen.
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O'Rourke, John G. The Jeffersonian (Jefferson, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 5, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 1, 1950, newspaper, January 1, 1950; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth293176/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.