When the Apostles of Christ were killed and their immediate successors
appointed, the disciples were tortured and slain, and gradually
darkness came over the world and pagan institutions were mingled with
the rites and order of the Church, until the apostolic authority and
the true Christian spirit and doctrine were entirely subverted. Reforms
that were subsequently introduced merely lopped off some evils and made
some improvements; but did not and could not restore the authority and
power of the primitive Christian Church and Priesthood.