L. A. S by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 1, 1903

L. A. S

By L. A. S.

Writing from Rome, Italy, the Rev. William Burt, D. D., says, with reference to the demise of the late pope, that “no one here can understand the telegrams of Emperor William and President Roosevelt. They have outdone all the rulers of Roman Catholic nations, so that the cardinals are now quite discontented because of the very indifferent telegrams received from Catholic powers.” “All liberal-minded and patriotic Italians” are astonished, he says, at the “adulation and praise that has come in the form of condolence from Protestant countries.” Mr. Burt also quotes these words spoken to him by “a distinguished Jew, a statesman of renown in Europe:” “It seems to me that Protestantism is going into bankruptcy. It is reduced to mere sentimentalism which erects a monument to Luther one day, and sends gifts and telegrams of congratulation or condolence to the papacy the next.” The fact to which these and similar words testify, that Protestantism is going into bankruptcy, shows the necessity at this time of the third angel’s message, with its warning against the worship of the “beast” and his “image.” It is in this message that the voice of true Protestantism speaks to-day.

A Protestant Episcopal pope is called for by a leading Episcopal organ in this country, the New York Churchman. “A chief executive is as necessary for the church,” says the Churchman, “as for the nation.” “The past few weeks,” it says further, “have shown how wide the interest is in the Roman effort to unify the voice of Christendom by giving it expression in a personal head. Christendom should be unified, and it could have a head, not only without damage to itself, but to its incalculable help, provided that head should be a constitutional and representative one. As a national church we have no such representative, though the history of Christianity justifies it, and the experience of every organization demonstrates its necessity.” “The history of the papacy,” it says, “furnishes the most masterful testimony in history to the power of organization.” “Some additional and more effective form of organization . . . with an executive head for the national church, has become a necessity.”

With this sentiment the Living Church, another prominent Episcopal organ, expresses “cordial agreement,” saying: “We even go so far as to believe that the progress of the church will remain almost at a standstill until such an organization shall be effected.”

Unquestionably there is a demand for a pope in other church bodies than the Roman Catholic. Indeed, such a demand is felt in every church body except that of which Jesus Christ is truly the head. Having him for its head, the Christian church feels no need of any other or earthly head. It feels no lack of power, because unto its Head is given “all power . . . in heaven and in earth,” and this power is exercised by the Head through the church. But where Christ is the head of the church in theory only, it must needs be that the need of greater power will be felt; and conversely, where such need is felt, there is evidence that the union of the church with its divine Head has been broken off. A pope in the church is what the king is in the state, but the church of Christ is not organized like a political organization, but has a system altogether different, even as the wisdom of God is a different wisdom from the wisdom of man. The power of the Christian church is not that of organization alone, but the power of God himself unto salvation. The one and only thing necessary to secure just the power that the church needs, and all the power that it needs, is connection with the divine Source of power; and without this connection, the best organization and head that can be provided by the exercise of any possible human wisdom will amount to nothing. It will be popery, and nothing more.