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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 1, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 18.

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Canada

By J. Vuilleumier

MONTREAL.— Two young men who have embraced the message have sent to their parish priest, a canon or adviser to the archbishop, the following letter:—
“MY DEAR CURÉ: We the undersigned, members of your parish, beg leave to inform you that we entertain serious doubts on several articles of our religion. Before leaving it, however, we think it a duty on our part to ask you to give us an interview in which we should like you to prove to us from the Holy Scriptures the following dogmas:— “1. The worship of images. “2. The invocation of the virgin and of saints. “3. Purgatory. “4. Sacrifice of the mass. “5. Auricular confession. “6. The infallibility of the Pope. “7. The change from the Sabbath to Sunday. “Seeing that we are still ignorant on these matters, we shall take the liberty of bringing a few friends with us, leaving you free to do the same. “If you accept this request, please state the date and place of meeting. “Very respectfully yours.”
The priest told a relative of one of these young men that he would be quite pleased to see them and their friends at the parsonage. The young man stepped in and asked the priest when he could receive them.
“Who are these friends whom you intend to bring with you?”
“One of them is the Adventist pastor.”
“Well, I want you to know that I do not lower myself to a discussion with your false pastor.”
“Would you, then, feel like proving to me alone the doctrines mentioned in our letter?”
“Why, most assuredly. I have a pile of volumes out there by which I can prove to you that our teaching goes back hundreds, yea, thousands, of years.”
“Pardon me, M. le curé, but I can admit no proofs except such as come from the Holy Scriptures.”
“Then you reject tradition, do you?”
“I accept no other rule of faith than the Bible.”
“Why, then you are a Protestant!”
“If that is what you call being a Protestant, I am one of them.”
“Exactly! and as I have told you, I do not discuss with Protestants. I do not lower myself to that, no, no, I—
“Bon jour, M. le curé.”
Thus again the Bible alone is shown to be a match for Rome. Like Goliath before David, a powerful priest beats a retreat at the simple sight of the Bible presented by an unlearned young man.
Lent is over, with its so-called fasting, its Lenten sermons, and its retreats. The priests who had charge of the retreat sermons took pains to warn their people against Protestants. Here are some of their expressions heard in two different churches: “Protestants are the furnishers of hell and the grandsons of Lucifer.” “Protestants are immoral and irreligious people; beware of them.” “Blasphemy against God is a bad thing to be sure, but blasphemy against the holy virgin is a frightful thing, a mortal sin, which God will scarcely pardon.” Will you not pray earnestly for this benighted people who must sit under this false preaching unless we give them the light?
J. VUILLEUMIER.