Catholicism and Protestantism—Will they Unite?
By F. A. Buzzell
For more than two score years, Seventh-day Adventists have been proclaiming that the United States government was prominently noticed in Revelation; and that, according to that revelation, this government would, contrary to the declaration of its independence and its constitution, unite church and State. Other voices than those of Seventh-day Adventists have been, and are, warning the people of this government that evidences, plain and conclusive, are tending toward such a result. Although they did not apparently base their faith upon the infallible word of God, but merely upon the prominent evidences before the eyes of all. “Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Rev. 13: 14. We understand that the expression, “Make an image to the beast,” implies an action on the part of the two-horned beast that will be pleasing—satisfactory to “the beast.” (Rev. 13: 2). An author dedicates a book to some particular friend, or noted person, whom he wishes to please or honor. That the beast of Rev. 13: 2, is the papacy, is the view taken by most Protestant commentators. That the beast of Rev. 13: 11, is the United States, two facts connected therewith sufficiently prove. 1. There has been, and is, no other government to which all the specifications in reference to the two-horned beast can apply. 2. All these specifications do harmoniously apply to the United States. That a national religion is signified by the language of this chapter, can be conclusively shown; but of the many proofs we will advance but few, and those founded on the premise that “the beast” is the papacy, and the two-horned beast, the United States. Papacy was, in its palmiest days, a power combining religious and civil authority. The pope, the head of the church, could enthrone and dethrone; none could resist his mandates with impunity. Indeed the pope has commanded his feet to be placed in stirrups by the hand of a king, and the command was obeyed through fear. Again, by order of the pope, a king was compelled to stand exposed to a piercing wintry blast until nearly frozen. History mentions these incidents as facts. And what of this? Merely the evidence that in one man, and he the head of “the beast” (papacy), was vested sovereign rule. In him was acknowledged to be concentrated the power to depose a king from his throne or consign a soul to the pains of “purgatory.” This, then, was church and State”—a government religion—a national religion. As the “head of the church” defined religion, so it existed among his supporters. Now an image is very like the object it represents. The beast that arose from the earth (Rev. 13: 11) does make an image to “the beast” (papacy). What else? And exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him. . . . Rev. 13: 12. Now if this two-horned beast (the United States) exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, will he hold ecclesiastical and civil control over his subjects? How can we avoid this conclusion? We take it for granted that the “image” made by the United States government, will not be a small affair or power, set up aside from, but is a part and parcel of, the government itself, so much like the old papal power as to be a very true likeness of it—the very image of it in power. And what are the tendencies now before us? Will Catholicism be converted to Protestantism, or vice versa? We think neither, wholly. From the movements of both sects we think there will be a gradual blending—a sliding into each other, and out of these two elements will arise the image. Do we see any symptoms of this coalition? We think we do. There has been a gradual softening down of the enmity existing between Catholic and Protestant. The respect for each other has of late rapidly increased, especially since the pope has lost his horns—those horns of infallibility with which so many Protestants have been theoretically tossed into the imaginary heretic’s hell. We say the respect for each other is rapidly increasing. We venture to present some of the proofs. The Roman Catholic church has split—become twain; and under the stress of the great cry of “liberality” now raised by all who wish to throw off sectarian restraint, it is easy to predict which will become the major party, the Jesuit, or the Dollinger and Hyacinthe. We quote from the American Messenger and Christian Union; the italics are ours: MOVEMENTS OF OLD CATHOLICS.
“Detailed reports have been received of the proceedings of the great Congress at Munich of those who are opposed to the supremacy of the Jesuit faction of the Roman Catholic church, and to their adoption of the unscriptural dogmas they have introduced. . . The leading measures of their proposed programme, which we have already published, were adopted with almost entire unanimity. The cautious Dr. Dollinger, however, was unable to restrain the movement he originated to merely speculative opposition to the papal dogmas. The Congress aimed at practical results; and, though declaring their attachment to the old catholic faith, and holding fast to its old constitution, they demanded radical reforms, denounced the Jesuits as the authors of the derangements in the church, called for their suppression by the civil power, and took measures for the establishment of a national church that could include advanced Catholics, Protestants, Greeks, and other sects.” This is across the water to be sure, yet there are Catholics in this country, and this great union scheme will be hailed with delight by many of the enlightened Catholics of the United States, and, doubtless, by as many of those Protestants who are so anxious to unite all denominations in one great body. The Christian Union finds that, “While uniformity among Christians was never farther off than now, unity is betokened by many signs. The prime condition of such unity—religious freedom—is fast becoming universal throughout Christendom. The best way to secure unanimity is to allow men the privilege of differing if they choose. With the removal of external restraint, comes this freedom, and with this freedom, comes love, hand in hand. As concerns the Protestant and Catholic churches, there are those in both who, looking across the chasm that separates them, discern the faces on the other side as those of brethren. Among the sects of Protestantism is visible a growing disposition to respect and honor one another. From within the church of England there is a movement toward intercommunion with the Greek church. Among the different churches of Scotland there are movements toward organic union. Among ourselves, we have the example of the two great Presbyterian bodies reunited. The alienation between the Methodist churches, North and South, it is felt will be of only short duration. In the West, the Baptists and the Disciples, offsprings of a common stock, are seeking for common ground upon which they can unite. There are not wanting other like indications. Throughout the church now the centripetal force prevails, and this wide seeking after a closer fellowship is a very great and cheering fact.” And thus it goes. The great struggle for a national religion has commenced. The dailies, weeklies, and monthlies, teem with the cry of union of the different sects. Already thousands are interested in the subject of amending the Constitution so that the “Christian religion” can be recognized. Already the chains are being forged that are to bind the consciences of United States citizens. Already laws are upon the statute books of several States, contradicting the Constitution, contradicting the declaration that all men are created “free and equal,” and that they can “worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.” “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” If several of the States should put their Sunday laws into effect, how could people worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences who believe that the seventh day and not the first is holy time? Soon Protestant and Catholic will join hand in hand, and walk to the ballot, and there help make the “image to the beast.” F. A. BUZZELL.