When about to dismiss his Apostles on their errands of mercy, Christ said to them--'Peace be with you; as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you;' and when he had breathed upon them, he said unto them--'Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.' Now, Mary, do you not plainly perceive that the power of forgiving sin was conferred upon the Apostles ?" "Most assuredly I do; and avow my belief that they were enabled to forgive sin, and at the same time other miraculous powers were conferred on the 'Twelve.' 'Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.' We know that they cast out devils, restored the blind, and raised the dead.

Power to forgive sin was one among many wonderful gifts conferred upon them.

Yet you do not believe that the power of raising the dead was transmitted to posterity.

How, then, can you say the gift of absolution was ?" "But, Mary, Christ says in another place--'Thou art Peter: and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'" "I perfectly agree with you, Florry, in believing that St.Peter had miraculous powers bestowed on him by our Saviour; but it seems absurd to suppose that these powers were perpetuated in the ministers of the Roman Catholic Church.