TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1793, 19 March 1888, Page 2

TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Beforriug to an editorial " Notice to a Correspondent," which appeared m a recent issue of your papor, permit me to point out that you are m error m writing of the doctrine of Tranßubßtantiation aB having been a subject of controveray for eighteen centuries. The word " Traneubatantiation " waß never used until about A.D. 1113, and it was never defined by any Council until A.D. 1215, m the 4th Lateran Council by Pope Innocent 111. The first to introduce the controversy was Paschasins Radbert, m the year 845, and the controvarey arose on the occasion of a book written by him being presented to Charles the Bald. The emperor commanded two distinguished men of learning, one of whom was John Scotus, to give a trua exposition of the doctrine which Radbfcrt was Bupposad to have corrupted. The controveray was occasionally revived up to 1215, whioh brings us wonderfully near to Reformation times. The pious and learned Berengarius warmly contested the new doctrine, and it was openly denounced by Wickliffe. There is a good deal more that could bo said, bat if men cannot reason calmly on the subject it had better be dropped. lam, etc., One of Your Headers, March 17th, 1888.