Significant Items

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 26, 1871

Significant Items.

ROMANISM AT WORK AND WE IDLE.

There was a time when Romanism showed no particular pretensions, and consequently awakened no fears in the United States, but that time has now gone by. After creeping silently, it has learned to walk with its head up, and we are confident that its aims are much more comprehensive than is generally imagined.

As a religious system, popery is putting forth active and energetic efforts to establish itself in the various States of the American Union; and, as a political engine, it has secured a power much greater than that of any other denomination; in fact, the Romish priests are the only clergy that attempt to exert a political influence in an official capacity.

It is alarming to know that now, instead of there being one Romanist for every sixty Protestants, as was the case fifty years ago, there is one Romanist for every six Protestants; and if this continue, we can easily predict the doom of this country.—Watchman and Reflector.

FREE CHURCHES A FAILURE.

Many years ago Mr. Lennox, one of our wealthiest citizens, undertook to meet the then growing necessities of New York, by building a series of moderate sized churches. He placed them in eligible localities, provided eminent ministers, prepared a complete outfit, and only asked the congregations to pay the running expenses. This the societies were never able, or never willing, to do. The societies were a perpetual expense, and one by one the churches were sold, and, while they existed, were always feeble. The masses will not go into our costly churches, because the pew-rents are so high, and they will not attend free churches, because they are not paupers. The remaining church was settled over by Dr. Alexander. The house was sold a short time since, and the experiment of free churches will not probably be revived.—Burleigh, in Boston Journal.

SINGULAR TRADITION.

It is a tradition of the German Jews, that at the time when the Empire of Germany shall be re-established (the empire ceased several hundred years ago), this will be the omen of the anxiously expected Messiah.—The Israelite.

IMPURE LITERATURE.

The N. Y. Observer has a two-column article from the pen of “Irenæus” (Dr. J. S. Prince), drawing attention to the prevailing impurity of our literature in novels and newspapers.—Boston Journal.

“THEY BUILDED,” &c.

1200 churches built in the United States in 1870.

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

Three thousand ladies, in Brooklyn, have petitioned the Board of Aldermen for the better observance of the Sabbath(?).—(New Bedford) Republican.