True to the Past by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 21, 1910

True to the Past

By F. M. W.

Has the system represented by the Roman Catholic hierarchy experienced a change of heart? If we were to believe the representations made by many so-called Protestants, it would be necessary to reach this conclusion. They would have us believe that Rome regrets her past policies, her record of bygone centuries, her active opposition to the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, and is only awaiting an invitation from Protestant churches to count them all brethren, sheep of the same fold. Such reasoners, however, fondly deceive themselves in this conclusion.

True, Romanism and Protestantism seem nearer together to-day than for several decades; but this is because Protestants have truckled to Rome, and courted her favor, rather than because the Papacy has changed one iota of its past belief. Protestantism to-day is ceasing to protest. This is a sad fact, which is patent to every observer of these times. It is unpopular to dissent. Papal influence is too strongly felt in the councils of the nations, in the business and social worlds. It requires strong souls, fortified by the conviction of truth, to stand unmoved and unbent against the advances of this great system of error.

As indicating the present-day attitude of the Catholic system toward the Protestantism of Luther and Melanchthon, the utterance of Pope Pius X in his recent encyclical on the memory of St. Charles Borromeo, of Milan, is to the point. These words stirred up much criticism in Germany, which during the last decade has been showing a growing deference to the Papal See. The words of the encyclical causing offense, as given in the Catholic weekly, Rome, published in Rome, Italy, and quoted by the Literary Digest of July 2, are as follows:—

This wonderful influx of divine providence in the work of restoration promoted by the church shines forth with splendor in that century which, for the comfort of the good, saw the appearance of St. Charles Borromeo. In those days passions ran riot, and the knowledge of the truth was almost completely perverted and obscured; there was a continual struggle with errors, and human society, going from bad to worse, seemed to be rushing toward the abyss. In the midst of these errors rose up proud and rebellious men, enemies of the cross of Christ, . . . men of earthly sentiments, whose god is their belly. These, bent not on correcting morals, but on denying the dogmas, multiplied the

disorders, loosening for themselves and for others the bridle of licentiousness; and condemning the authoritative guidance of the church to pander to the passions of the most corrupt princes and peoples, with a virtual tyranny overturned its doctrine, constitution, discipline.

Then, imitating these sinners to whom was addressed the menace, Woe to you who call evil good and good evil, that tumult of rebellion and that perversion of faith and morals they called Reformation and themselves Reformers. But, in truth, they were corrupters; for, undermining with dissensions and wars the forces of Europe, they paved the way for the rebellions and the apostasy of modern times, in which were united and renewed in one onslaught those three kinds of conflict, hitherto separated, from which the church had always issued victorious,—the bloody conflicts of the first ages, then the internal pest of heresies, and finally, under the name of evangelical liberty, a vicious corruption and a perversion of discipline unknown perhaps in medieval times.

A public protest was made against this part of the encyclical in the Prussian Landtag. Chancellor von Bethmann-Holweg voiced the sentiments of many in saying:—

The contents of the encyclical reflect upon German Reformers, on reform, and on the princes and peoples of the Reformed faith in a manner likely to wound deeply their religious convictions. Their political and moral sentiments are equally affronted.

Professor Kahl, of the Berlin University, declared that the encyclical—

certainly breathes the spirit of the Spanish Inquisition, and some passages smack of the old delight in burning heretics. The popes change, but the Roman system remains. We demand from the state guaranties against a repetition of such assaults.

Strong protests were telegraphed the Vatican through the German ambassador at Rome. Papal representatives in Germany also urged upon the papal secretary of state the modification of the encyclical, or at least of its use in German Catholic churches. In consequence the priests throughout the German empire were excused from reading publicly that part of the encyclical.

Commenting on the incident, the Northwestern Christian Advocate in a recent issue says:—

Of the bitter oppression of Rome, its rapacity, cruelty, and relentlessness, under which Europe has been cursed for centuries and is still being cursed, neither England nor the United States knows anything. It is that the United States may be spared from ever knowing such oppression, that Protestantism opposes Vaticanism. It is to be hoped at least that this encyclical may be an eye-opener to a large number of Protestants in the German empire who of late have welcomed the advances of the papal hierarchy, and that it may lead Protestants throughout the world to reflect upon the results which must attend Protestantism upon a union with the mother church. It means a surrender of all for which their church fathers contended. It says that the Reformation of the sixteenth century was a fatal mistake, and that Luther, Melanchthon, and Zwingle, and their collaborators, instead of being men moved by the Spirit of God, actuated by a love of the truth, were defamers of those that were good, and seducers of the principles of truth. There can be no compromise between truth and error; and so long as Protestantism shall remain true to its high calling, and to the principles for which it nobly suffered, there can be no compromise between it and a system of error from which it has sought, and should continue to seek, to free the minds of men. Rome is true to her past record; let Protestants be true to those principles of truth which called it into existence. F. M. W.