Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1906

The following item appeared in a recent issue of the Western Recorder:—

The Roman Catholics have organized their Military Federation of America, and it includes eighty thousand armed men, located in different parts of the country. This is a larger force than the whole regular army of the United States. What use, pray, has the Roman Catholic Church in this country got for eighty thousand soldiers? Suppose each denomination should organize an army of its own? They have as much right to do so as have the Roman Catholics. Bodies of armed men not amenable to either national or State control are an element of danger.

The Roman Catholic Church believes in a union of church and state; that is, in the support of the church and the furtherance of church interests by the use of physical force. This being so, it is not strange if in this country, where it is not joined with the state, it should foster secret military organizations for use in a possible time of need.