The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

S24THE EUCHARIST, TRANSUBSTANTIATION, THE MASS.the worshippers permitted to partake. Attendance, however,on such occasions, is earnestly enjoined ; and the peoplearetaught that their benefit is the same whether they partakeor no.It isalso a frequent practice of the priests of Rome tocelebrate mass in their own closets, where not a single spectatoris present. This custom is directly at variance withone leading end of the institution of the Supper, which, asa public memorial, was designed to commemorate a greatpublic event.The priest, in this case, can apply the benefitof the mass to whomsoever he will ; that is, he can apply itto any one who chooses to hire him with his money. Theghostly necromancer, shut up in his own closet, can operateby his spells upon the soul of the person he intends to benefit,with equal effect, whether he is in the next room ora thousand miles off". Nay, though he should be beyond" this visible diurnal sphere," in the gloomy regions of purgatory,the mysterious and potent rites of the priest canbenefit him even there. No magician in his cave everwrought with spells and incantations half so powerful asthose wielded by the priests of Home. The mysteries ofancient sorcery and the wonders of modern science are hereleft far behind. The electric telegraph can transmit intelligencewith the speed of lightning across a continent, butthe Romish priest can convey instantaneously the virtue ofhis spiritual divinations across the gulf that divides worlds.But we might write volumes on the mass, and not exhaustits marvels.How all this goes to enrich, and almost to deify, the Romishpriesthood, will be seen when we come to speak of thegenius of Popery,