Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1911

Editorial

By Editor

THE pioneers in this advent movement saw clearly, from prophecy, that this new country of Protestantism would be the scene of the making of an image, or likeness, to the Papacy; that religionists would lay hold of power to enforce religious observances, particularly the Sunday institution.

THEY were met, however, with the assertion on every hand that no such movement as they talked of could ever come. But there stood the prophecy, and the pioneers preached it with all assurance. In the first volume of the REVIEW (May 19, 1851), Elder J. N. Andrews wrote on the developments to be expected in fulfilment of Rev. 13: 11-17. He showed that the United States, in the time of its rise “out of the earth,” in this new world, and in its championship of the principles of civil and religious liberty, met the opening specifications of the prophecy. “Was there ever a development of civil power so lamblike before?”

BUT this lamblike development was to witness a change; and in place of religious liberty there was to spring up a movement making an image to the Papacy. Of this, Elder J. N. Andrews wrote:—

An image to the beast that received the deadly wound must be made. That beast was, in truth, a church clothed with civil power and authority, by which it put to death the saints of God. Rev. 13: 5-8; Dan. 7: 23-26. An image to the beast, then, must be another church clothed with civil power and authority. . . . This can be nothing else but the corrupt and fallen Protestant church. . . . Should it be objected that this world is too much enlightened to submit to such deception, or to unite in such a work of persecution, we answer that the Word of God gives us this prophecy in clear language; and it is with reference to this sign of danger that the third angel addresses his solemn warning.

So our brethren preached the warning message. In the meeting that inaugurated the definite National Reform movement held in Xenia, Ohio, in 1863, our brethren saw events definitely shaping for the rise of ecclesiastical combinations aiming to force their way upon the government. Other conventions followed, the movement growing in strength.

Concerning a convention held in Cincinnati, in 1872, urging a religious amendment to the constitution, Elder J. V. Himes, the First-day Adventist, wrote in the Advent Christian Times (Feb. 27, 1872):—

The whole movement is absurd and uncalled for, and will amount to nothing. Our seventh-day friends fondly hope it is the beginning of a movement which is to culminate in a Protestant ecclesiastical despotism. But we assure them there is no rain in this cloud. However, they will do well to make the most of it.

WE take this from the REVIEW of March 12, 1872. The REVIEW then held that Mr. Himes and the multitudes who believed with him were the ones mistaken as to the meaning of that movement. And time has proved it to the full. That evil work has gone on with increasing power, and societies and federations are hoping very soon to secure the control of governmental power to carry out their aims. That which our pioneers saw in the prophecy, and which objectors said would never come, we see swiftly working out before our eyes to-day.