The Present Situation by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1912

The Present Situation

By Editor

We have received the first copy of Church and State, a monthly publication issued in Boston, advocating the separation of church and state. The editorial staff is a strong one, and includes the names of L. S. Metcalf, LL. D., former editor of the North American Review; Rev. O. P. Gifford, D. D., a leading Baptist pastor of Boston; and Prof. Luther T. Townsend, D. D., of the Boston University, who has made some valuable contributions to the literature opposing the new theology.

In its leading article, setting forth the reasons for its existence, Church and State gives a view of the present situation, which is well worth reprinting. We quote a portion of this article:—

“It must be apparent to every thoughtful American that our country is facing one of the most momentous questions in its history. In the past eighteen months a series of significant events have forced upon the mind of the public the conclusion that the time has at last arrived when the Roman Catholic Church is to demand, and make every effort to secure, public money for the support of its parochial schools and other institutions. There can be no doubt that this purpose has been in the minds of certain Roman prelates for years past, but they have been retarded somewhat in carrying out their plans by the passive resistance of a more liberal element in their own ranks.

“Unfortunately, however, the ultramontane, or reactionary, element in the Church of Rome is now in the ascendancy, as evidenced by the type of American cardinals recently appointed; and the issue of whether public money shall be appropriated for sectarian purposes is squarely upon us.

“On Jan. 29, 1911, the Federation of Church Societies of the Archdiocese of Boston (the archdiocese of Cardinal O’Connell) passed resolutions demanding state support for parochial schools. The same body passed similar resolutions in 1912. The National Federation of Roman Catholic Societies, meeting in Columbus, Ohio, August of last year, took the same position. Many of the speeches on the matter were extremely

violent, one speaker going so far as to threaten that there would be no political peace in the nation until such appropriations were made. November 5 last, Monsignor Teeling, of Lynn, Mass., one of the leading prelates of the ultramontane wing of the Roman Church, in a public address, stated that the time had come not only to demand but to work for state support of parochial schools. Determined efforts are being made to secure national support for Roman schools among the Indians, and also to control absolutely the government’s own schools. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Valentine last spring issued an order that teachers in government schools should not teach in religious garb. So powerful were ecclesiastical influences in Washington that the President of the United States immediately revoked this order.

“The silence of the American press on this question has been well-nigh criminal. No daily paper of any prominence has even mildly criticized, much less rebuked, the church’s demand for public support of its institutions. Not only this, but these papers have refused to print, or have printed in garbled or extremely abbreviated form, the addresses of eminent clergymen and others who have criticized or opposed such demands of the Roman Church. Several anti-Romanist publications have, it is true, spoken in no uncertain tone on the matter, but their extreme violence and intolerance on the whole matter of Romanism has been such as to limit their influence to the comparatively small number of their own subscribers. The Protestant religious press of the country has not hesitated to speak fearlessly and openly concerning the matter, and deserves the thanks of every patriotic American for its timely utterances. But the religious press necessarily finds itself with limitations when it comes to discussing political matters. It can maintain and advocate right principles on this grave matter, but it can not well lead a propaganda that can accomplish results only by concerted political action.

“Hence it is evident that if our citizens are to be informed upon this important matter, it must be by means of a publication independent of other issues and wholly devoted to this one. This is why we are publishing Church and State. It will maintain the entire separation of church and state. It will oppose all appropriations of public money or public property for sectarian institutions or purposes. It will strongly advocate the passage of laws making such appropriations forever impossible. It will keep its readers and the public thoroughly informed on all matters pertaining to the above questions.”