Romanism in the United States.
By R. S. Webber
GROWTH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.
The following is taken from the Illustrated Catholic Family Almanac, for 1871, page 100:— “The growth of the Catholic Church in our midst has proportionately far outstripped that of the republic. In a period of ninety-five years, the United States has increased from thirteen States to thirty-seven States and thirteen Territories, while the Church, during a period of eighty-one years, has increased from one bishopric to fifty-four bishoprics, six vicariates apostolic, and four mitred abbots. The population of the country has increased from 2,803,000 to about 40,000,000, an increase of 1,433 per centum; while the Catholic population has increased from 25,000 to about 5,500,000, an increase of 22,000 per centum.” The increase in our Catholic population has resulted from foreign immigration, the natural growth of our native population, conversions from the sects, and accessions from the Indian tribes. The salvation of the Indians has ever been one of the dearest aims of the Catholic Church. The Church is conservative and productive. Had her efforts not been defeated by the non-Catholic and inhuman policy pursued toward the Indians, they, too, would have been prepared for an enlightened civilization on earth, and for the enjoyment of the beatific vision in Heaven. Our clergy have been increased from twenty-one priests in 1790 to about four thousand and eight hundred, dispensing the blessings of faith and religion to five and one half millions of Catholics, worshiping at four thousand two hundred and fifty churches, and seventeen hundred chapels and stations. The incense of prayer and benedictions ascends, also, from thousands of institutions dedicated to religion, education, and dispenses inestimable blessings upon the land.” If the above estimate is true, may we not expect to see some of the old dragon spirit manifested when the image is made to the beast? Rev. 12: 17; 13: 14, 15. We find also that they have some of the finest and most costly churches upon the western continent. The Cathedral in Mexico, they claim to be the noblest temple of God in the western world. It was begun in 1573, was ninety-four years building, and cost $1,752,000. The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Mass., was originally estimated to cost about $2,500,000; hence, we can see that they make every effort to make an outside show of piety and religion, claiming at the same time that theirs is the only true religion. All others are false. We can see that there is a hideous monster silently creeping into our midst. The Romish priest swears by an oath that there is no salvation to those who do not believe this creed, that is, who do not believe in the supremacy of the pope, indulgences, transubstantiation, purgatory, image worship, saint worship, persecution against Protestants, traditions, &c. He swears also to spread these antichristian doctrines among those under his care. Cruelty is a central principle in the church of Rome, and therefore it is anti-republican. It is very common among Roman Catholics to deny that their church approves religious persecution, but there is no fact more clearly proved, both by history and the dogmas of the church everywhere contained in their canons and bulls. Bellarmine, the papal authority constantly appealed to, says:— “Experience teaches us that there is no other remedy [than death]; for the church has advanced by degrees, and tried every remedy. At first, she only excommunicated, then fined, then exiled; at last, she was compelled to have recourse to death. If you throw them (Protestants) into prison, or send them into exile, they corrupt their neighbors by their language, and those who are at a distance by their books; therefore, the only remedy is to send them speedily to their proper place.” The following is the curse of Pope Benedict VIII.:— “May they suffer the curse of God and of the world. May they suffer it in their body. May their mind become stupefied. May they meet with all bodily pains, and end in perdition. “May they be damned with the cursed ones, and perish with the wicked,” &c. The Rhemish translator of the New Testament, on Rev. 17: 6, “drunken with the blood of saints,” says, “Protestants foolishly expound it to Rome, for that they put heretics to death and allow of their punishment in other countries. But their blood (the Protestant’s) is not called the blood of saints any more than the blood of thieves, man-killers, and other malefactors, for the shedding of which by order of justice no commonwealth shall answer.” Therefore, we see, if they had the power to-day, they would punish heretics, as they call them, with the same vengeance that they did through the long and bloody reign of the papacy. It is so natural to their religion, they cannot refrain from it altogether. Romanism has not changed by the light and progress of civilization. In the State of Pennsylvania, a few years ago, near Doylestown, a German Catholic was beaten almost to death, while on a sick bed, by a Catholic priest, because he had become a Protestant. The priest was fined fifty dollars and cost, and then he left the country. This is popery! Who can think this unchangeable church has changed her system of butchery? What she has been, she is now, and we should feel it if she had the power. Now that there is to be an image made to the beast, will there not be a likeness in the spirit of the beast that will make the image and the beast to which the image was made? It seems to me there will be. Then, dear brethren, let us be prepared for the solemn events that await us. Let us put our trust in the Lord, and he will save us. R. S. WEBBER.
Richmond, Maine.