The Federation of Catholic Societies by Milton Charles Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

The Federation of Catholic Societies

By Milton Charles Wilcox

The writer was present at several of the meetings of the Federation of Catholic Societies in Boston, August 9-11, and he feels that some of his impressions should be given to our people through the REVIEW.

1. It was a tremendous meeting. Representatives from most of the Catholic societies were present, but not from all. But those who were present were bright men and women, of the very cream of intellect and brilliancy among the younger Catholics. They are earnest, energetic, and enthusiastic; and they number among them able ecclesiastics.

2. The movement is not left to lay members; it is guided by the clergy, whose strong influence molds its principles and shapes its policies. It is not left to be molded by the age or the sport of circumstances; it is an organization to be used by the Roman hierarchy for the furtherance of the aims of the church; for the active propaganda of the faith, whenever the organization can be used, and for the conservation of Catholic rights, and the promotion of Catholic interests in politics and state. They so declare it. They are enthusiastic in their declarations.

3. Just now their chief effort is to unite all Catholic societies. This they have not yet done. For instance, one of the strongest Catholic organizations in the country—not the most numerous, but the strongest—is the Knights of Columbus. We talked with one of its members, a newspaper man. He was in Boston when the great meeting was in session, but did not attend. He said the great fear among the Knights of Columbus was that their organization would lose its individuality. Its personality, so to speak, would be absorbed; and they were not yet prepared to lose their power and influence as they would if it were merged into the larger organization.

The first object, then, of the Federation will be to secure the co-operation of all Catholic organizations. That accomplished, we see the beginning of the end. The whole great mass will be swung by the hierarchy.

5. They see, or many of them do, the corruption, the disintegration, the threatening ruin of society and the state. This was set forth in a truly masterful sermon by Archbishop O’Connell, of Boston, and echoed by others. He pointed out that the element now threatening the wrecking of society and the ruin of the country was departure from God’s law, resulting in the New Theology, anarchy, and socialism. Of course at the door of Protestantism the archbishop laid it all. He did not say, for doubtless he did not see, that back of all this was the greatest sinner of them all,—the Roman Catholic Church,—which for hundreds of years has set aside God’s law for tradition, and has thereby said to the world that its sacredness is a matter of human expediency and convenience. It is a late day for a Roman Catholic prelate to charge Protestantism with the infidelity of the world in the lurid light of the French Revolution, and all the lawlessness and trouble which permeates the Latin countries, among races and peoples over which Roman Catholicism has had full control for centuries, full supervision of education, full management of all spiritual teaching. Yet it is true that God called Protestantism to bring back the world to the pure Word and gospel of Christ, and to her charge, as well as to the mother in apostasy, must be laid much of the later-day lawlessness and anarchy.

Equally mistaken was the eloquent and earnest archbishop regarding the means of cure. He holds the Catholic Church to be the only remedy, the only hope, in these days of trouble, and this federation

of all Catholic forces is the prime agent by which the “reformation” is to be effected. With the hierarchy in control, with the societies answerable to their direction, the great mass of Catholics, their millions and millions, will act as a unit in all crises where Catholic interests are affected.

6. One of the sad things is that poor, blinded Protestants do not see that the outcome of all this will be the re-establishment of papal rule, the awful shadow once more of the Dark Ages, the funeral pall of civil and religious liberty. Statesmen do not see it because they do not know God’s Word. Politicians, whether they know it or not, are working for present power, prominence, and emolument. They will trim their sails to catch any breeze which will waft them to power.

All this was shown in the welcome given to the Federation in what was once Protestant Boston. A judge of the municipal court acted as chairman; the Protestant mayor welcomed them in flattering words to the city; and the Protestant lieutenant-governor (acting governor at the time) extended in equally flattering words the hospitality of the great commonwealth of Massachusetts. With so-called Protestantism blind to what all this means, what force can withstand this on-marching enthusiastic Babylonian army, which boasts of its conflicts and victories?

7. There is but one power in all the earth that can meet it, and that is the great threefold message of God’s everlasting gospel. Mighty are the forces arraying and combining against those who bear it. It calls for humility of heart in every believer. Like Hezekiah and Judah of old, there should be an earnest pleading with God for power from on high. There should be a new consecration to his work, new earnestness, new zeal, more prayer. All old plans and methods should be laid on God’s altar, and our people should stand with hearts so attuned with the Infinite that we could hear his words, see his clearer light shining through the fog, know his plans. All elaborate, expensive, or human schemes should be put away; and the great, simple way which should enlist all hearts and employ every agency given of God, should be used as never before. All differences, all enmities, all bitterness and strifes, should be forever banished, and every energy should be bent to the promulgation of the great positive message of our King. And that message should be given with all charity for those in error, and pity for our enemies, but given strong and clear as truth, and as kind as God is kind.

These are some of the impressions that the writer obtained. May the times stir our souls, and may the message of God fill the hearts of old and young.

M. C. WILCOX.

London, England.