11‘,

he simply shows either his bad faith or his ignorance. Here is a Bible which comes from Mr. Roussy himself. Well, in the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the ‘Phessalonians, listen to what the Holy Apostle writes (chap. ii. 15) : “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by 100ml or our epistle.” Here St. Paul tells us that what comes to us by vnleans of the ztnzvrittmz 1001-11., that is to say, by tradition, has the same author- ity as what he wrote in his epistle. Is it not then, something more than effrontery on Mr. lloussy's part to dare tell us to our face that tradition is not spoken of in the Holy Scriptures.

Again, in chap. iii. 6, of the same Epistle, St. Paul says : “ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that xvalketh dis- orderly and not after the tradition. which he received of us.”

In the Second Epistle to St. Timothy (chap. ii. 1, 2), St. Paul contradicts, in advance, the absurd assertion of Mr. Roussy which maintains that all the truths and doctrines of Jesus Christ are written, and that there are none which reach us by tradition. His words are clear and precise: “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in “ the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast “ heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faith- " ful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

' Really, Mr. Chairman, when Mr. Roussy told us that everything was written in the sacred books, and that they have nothing to say about tradition, he had either lost his memory or supposed us so ignorant as to be incapable of reading the Epistles of St. Paul.

‘ Mr. Roussy has been truly unhappy in the choice he has made of his texts, for the purpose ofproving that each individual is obliged to read Sacred Scripture, and has a right to interpret it in his own way. He has cited the text in which Moses directs that we should observe the law of God, And that is precisely what we wish all to do. Yes, would that all the world meditated on the law of God—— now one of His laws, one of His Commandments the most absolute is this: “Hear the Church, and he that will not hear the Church must be regarded as a heathen and a publican.” (Mat. xviii. 17.)

He next cited Joshua. Now, Joshua. was the leader, the great chieftain of his people ; he was a man visibly chosen and inspired by God to conduct his brethren into the promised land ; nothing could be more natural than the obligation that he should read and meditate on the Sacred \Vritings, in order to instruct himself and teach others. And exactly in the same manner the Catholic Church obliges all those whom God has chosen as leaders of His people. She commands them to study and to frequently read the Sacred Scriptures. '

The good Mr. Ronssy has cited against us the Book of Nehemiah ; but I believe it must have been absence of mind on his part. For the text which he has quoted proves exactly the opposite of ivhat he had promised us. Mr. lloussy had promised us, you all know, to show that each individual person ought to have his Bible and read it for himself. To do so, he quotes a text which informs us that not one single man or woman had a Bible, except the priests. “ And Ezra the priest broughtthe law . . . . and he read therein before all people.” You see,Mr.Chairman,that this Ezra was no better than a Popish priest. Instead of distributing Bibles around by thousands to everybody, as