Religious Liberty Department by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1914

Religious Liberty Department

By K. C. Russell

C. S. LONGACRE — N. Am. Div. Secretary

“Remember You Are a Man”

For nearly a week there was held in Albany, N. Y., recently, the golden jubilee of Bishop Thomas M. A. Burke. The occasion was the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Sunday, June 28, thirty-two thousand of the “faithful” paraded the streets of Albany in honor of the occasion. The clergy presented him with the magnificent sum of nearly $20,000, and the laity gave him what they denominate “the wonderful ostensorium of gold and jewels.” He also received what the Catholics consider the most priceless gift, the Pope’s blessing.

In his address, Bishop Burke referred to the great demonstration in his honor as follows:—

“It is not hard to remember, even after the grand and glorious demonstration, that I am a man. After Sunday’s demonstration by the clergy and the people, in which many non-Catholics as well as some of the Hebrew friends took part, . . . I say to myself, Bishop, remember you are a man.”

It would seem from these words that even the bishop himself was conscious that such demonstrations tend to pride and self-exaltation, and therefore he must not forget that he is only “a man.” Such words should serve as a rebuke to so-called “non-Catholics” (Protestants?) who have so far departed from the principles of genuine Protestantism that they would dare participate in a demonstration that every true Protestant should know is antichristian.

Bishop Colton, of Buffalo, N. Y., in referring to Pope Pius X, said:—

“We all love the Holy Father. Every bishop is an auxiliary to the Holy Father, and every priest an assistant. The Holy Father is the connecting link between mankind and heaven. “Our great desire is to have the Holy Father come to America and visit us all. But his position forbids that; and if he cannot come to us, let us go to him and tell him that American people desire to be second to none in their love and their reverence and their cooperation.”

It is clearly evident that one of the chief objects of the rapidly increasing spectacular functions of the Roman Catholic Church, not only in Albany, but in nearly every city of prominence in this country, is to capture this nation for “the church.”

In the midst of the dazzle and the gorgeously robed prelates of the Roman Catholic Church, the tread of the thousands of its devotees as they march in their great parades, the enchanting music, the eloquent addresses by their distinguished representatives, besides the bold, attractive headlines and full-page illustrations that are daily appearing in the public press, the people of this country are becoming charmed and overawed by this mighty system of error that the seer of Patmos has declared the whole world would wonder after.

The true Christian will ever seek to be under the control of the Spirit of Christ, who taught his followers to avoid display, and “made himself of no reputation, and . . . humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

K. C. RUSSELL.