IN the Vancouver World recently there was a paragraph notice of a summons that had been served on one of the Protestant pastors of the place, in which it is charged that he “used seditious language, and accused Rome of being behind the war.” The dispatch further states that the church “decided to back up their pastor to the limit.” There is nothing to be gained for the cause of Christ by ministers’ engaging in discussions of that kind, and making charges of that sort against the papal power.
OIL WELLS IN GALICIA SET ON FIRE BY THE RETREATING RUSSIANS
The issue between Protestantism and Catholicism is not whether or not the papacy is the instigator of the war in Europe, but, Does it present the Christ of the Bible, and the Bible itself, to the individual?
There are many people who seem to have the idea that the very fact that a man is a Catholic brands him as a sort of outlaw, and that if a man is a Protestant, he is all right. But the sacred Word recognizes that God has people in the Catholic Church as well as in all the communions of Protestantism. The same Word recognizes that all these organizations, when the last generation is reached, are in a deplorable, backslidden, worldly, and therefore unchristian condition; and His mighty call is, “Come out of her, My people.”
It is unfortunate to allow some kind of political measure to cloud the great issue, and to cause prejudices and bitter feelings that will keep the individual from hearing the divine call of God’s message.
