Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1914

“A Foolish Proposal”

This is the designation which the editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, in that paper for July 15, 1914, gives to the resolution recently passed by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America regarding President Wilson and the Thanksgiving service. The Advocate quotes the resolution as follows:—

Resolved, That the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, acting on the overtures of the particular synod of Chicago in reference to the attendance of the President at the Roman Catholic service on Thanksgiving Day, petition the executive committee of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, and hereby does petition such council, to organize in Washington, D. C., a Thanksgiving service on Thanksgiving Day, 1914, under the auspices of the bodies which the Federal Council represents in that city, and that the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet staff, and usual men of official position in Washington, be invited to attend the service.

Says the editor in commenting upon the matter:—

The point is missed altogether. However proper the presence of our President may be upon any public function of the church—either Protestant or Roman Catholic—like the late opening of our American University, it is wholly improper and quite reprehensible for him as President, and his Cabinet as Cabinet, to present themselves at a spectacular Pan-American Thanksgiving service held upon a national holiday and by any particular church, especially since his people have been asked to attend their usual places of worship to offer thanks to Almighty God.

We recognize the right of President Wilson in his personal relationship to attend any church that he pleases, either Catholic or Protestant. This same right belongs to every official of the government, whatever office he fills. The whole difficulty in President Wilson’s attending the Catholic Thanksgiving mass was the fact that, whatever his design in the matter may have been, it was made to appear that he did this in his official capacity. It was heralded to the world as an official mass, and very naturally officials attending it were regarded as doing so in their official relationship.

No one has a right to criticize any man for attending any church that he may choose. It is, however, to be deplored that any professed Protestant should so far forget his Lord and Master, and so lightly and slightly appreciate his divine sacrifice and his priestly ministry which is now going forward, as to bow in adoration before a priest-made god, as is worshiped in the Catholic mass service.

Let us bow the knee to the God of heaven. Let us take off our hats in deference to his house and to the services of his house wherever we worship; but let us not fall down before the golden calf which an apostate priesthood may establish, as did Aaron of old, nor before any man-made representation of our blessed Lord and his divine sacrifice.