p. 15 | A Throne of Gold

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 15, 1910

A Throne of Gold

A ROMAN CATHOLIC newspaper of New York describes as follows the presentation to the Pope of a party of American pilgrims who visited Rome a few days ago:—

Calmly the holy father passed through the lines of Americans, ladies and gentlemen, who fervently kissed the ring which he wore on his right hand, and took his seat on the pontifical throne, covered with gold, which his beloved Venetians presented to him on the golden jubilee of his priesthood last year.

All these trappings of royalty proclaim to the world that the Papacy is indeed that apostate “little horn” that grew up among the kingdoms of divided Rome, asserting for itself a kingdom of this world. With his jeweled crown and golden throne, the Pope advertises that the whole Romish system is thoroughly of this world and altogether antichristian. The report says that the Pope, after a few introductory remarks, “drew down a touchy topic:” —

He spoke of the ingratitude shown by certain parts of Europe that were called to the faith so long before others, and which were now beginning to show such ingratitude. Providence has showered favors on them; but they have showed themselves callous and unappreciative. Let them take care, continued the pontiff, lest Heaven should, in the words of the gospel, take away its favors, and give them to those who will know how to appreciate and use them better.

The Pope was, of course, speaking especially of Spain and Portugal, which have recently been following the lead of France and Italy in repudiating the pretensions of the Papacy to interfere in governmental affairs. By speaking of the favor which has been shown those countries, he, of course, refers to the centuries during which the papal church has been supreme among the people, doing absolutely as it listed, and making the government a subject of ecclesiastical domination. As the sure fruitage of such a system, those countries have been thrown down in the race of civilization, and are recognized generally as a hundred years behind the countries of northern Europe. It is in very desperation that the worm has at last turned, much to the chagrin of the Papacy, which would like to boast only of its conquests. As a matter of fact, the conquests of the Papacy are due mainly to the apostasy of Protestantism itself.