p. 712 | ROME AND AMERICA by I. A. Crane

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 16, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 45.

ROME AND AMERICA

By I. A. Crane

What Each Has Done for the World—Will the Papacy Regain Her Power?—What Does the Prophecy Forecast?—The Healing of the Deadly Wound

By I. A. CRANE

The question of Catholic control has become a burning one before the American people. Neither is the present agitation on this question without a cause and a purpose. In recent years, things have transpired that have aroused suspicion in the minds of many. All that is needed to put persons on guard is the memory of past wrongs, when the rights of the minority in matters of conscience were denied.

As is often the case with questions which agitate the public mind, much that is said savors of popular prejudice rather than truth. However, we believe that the present awakening regarding Rome and her work, like that regarding the gospel in Paul’s day, whether in pretense or in truth, whether by contention or by good will, is according to the purpose of God. The people are becoming aroused to appreciate and understand the truth concerning a question which involves all that is sacred and dear to mankind.

It must be apparent to Catholics, as well as to Protestants, that until the present time, the words “Rome” and “America” have been terms opposite in meaning, at least so far as church control is concerned. May we not profitably consider what effect the principles for which each has stood have had upon the world?

WHAT ROME AND HER POLICY HAVE DONE

If we desire to know what Rome and her principles have accomplished for the world, we need only look to that time when she had undisputed control over the world. No one could say that those days were days of enlightenment. To us they are known as the Dark Ages. The more complete the rule of Rome, the more intense the darkness that prevailed. Truly, as has been said, “the noonday of Rome was the moral midnight of the world.”

As to the blessings of liberty enjoyed during her rule, let millions of martyrs answer. If any enjoyed liberty to obey the call of the gospel and the dictates of conscience, it was in some mountain fastness, unknown to the emissaries of Rome. Her subjects could have banishment, torture, and death, but liberty never! Hers was the unchangeable policy pursued by the dragon from whom she received her great authority and power. Rev. 13:2. It was a determined policy to hinder obedience to the commands and teachings of the Word, and to compel the observance of doctrines and customs received by her from the false religions of heathendom.

True to principle, she who hated light must surely do all in her power to suppress that Book which is a lamp to the feet and a light to the path.

SHACKLED SCIENTIFIC MINDS

Not only did she shackle the minds and bodies of men in all matters of religion and conscience, but in temporal things as well. She manifested her wrath against truth and enlightenment by her relentless persecution of Galileo, who invented the telescope, and dared teach the truth he had learned concerning the movements of the planetary system. The pope was “infallible”; how dared Galileo claim to know more than he! How dare any man teach what the pope and his colleagues deny!

No man could with safety pursue or teach knowledge in advance of his time, lest suspicion be aroused, and he be required by some zealous churchman to show that he was not guilty of heresy. Any truth not already indorsed by the church could be made heresy, and its advocates punished with imprisonment and death.

It follows as a natural consequence that when men are deprived of liberty in matters that pertain to the highest and noblest aspiration of the mind—the right to respond to the claims of Deity—the mind becomes enslaved indeed, and can never develop even in common learning. In Rome’s palmiest days, there could therefore be no marked

development in science, no wonderful inventions, such as immediately appeared when her power was broken. No steam printing press, no telephone, no steamship or railroad train, belongs to the days of Rome’s supremacy. Her principles stand condemned as being not conducive, but detrimental, to the peace and prosperity of the world. They stand opposed to development in science and invention, as well as in morals and religion. Not liberty, but oppression; not peace, but trouble; not enlightenment, but darkness and superstition, characterize the time of her control.

WAS THE AGE RESPONSIBLE?

Some may say that the moral degeneration and superstition of the age, rather than Catholic principles, were responsible for the evils that then prevailed. To this we reply that since she had universal control of the nations in civil as well as spiritual affairs, it was her duty and privilege to dispel the darkness, and provide a remedy for the existing evils. Yet this she never attempted to do, or if attempting, utterly failed to accomplish; so that to-day her claim to infallible changelessness certainly affords us but little hope that she would control America to any better advantage. She has never in times past been a willing partaker in anything that brought liberty and light to the world. Even to this day, in Spain and in South American countries, and wherever her influence still prevails, it may be seen that her rule breeds superstition, darkness, and oppression. In every land and in every age, the testimony is ever the same,—that the more fully a nation repudiates her policies and resents her control, the safer are the people of that nation to enjoy liberty and peace.

Since the blessings of peace and liberty are not found in Rome, let us turn to the history of America, and the principles for which America stands.

WHAT AMERICA AND HER PRINCIPLES HAVE ACCOMPLISHED

Rome’s grinding oppression, her stifling of conscience, her wearing out of the saints of God, who are the light of the world (Dan. 7:25; Matt. 5:14), did not leave the world in a favorable condition for rapid progress and enlightenment. For the elect’s sake, God had shortened the days of Rome’s oppression. Matt. 24:21, 22. Her power had been weakened by the Reformation. The faithful of God had fled from her wrath to the wilderness and the mountains. Then, as it were, the earth opened her mouth, and there was revealed a new place of refuge to the oppressed of earth. A new world—America—offered an asylum. Here, under the fostering care of the Almighty, was planted the seed of a mighty nation, under whose influence the downtrodden millions of earth were encouraged to continue the struggle for liberty.

In America was to be found a new order of things indeed. It was in America that the declaration was made: “We hold these truths to be self-evident,—that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

America was declaring to the world that the only legitimate reason for the existence of governments among men was to protect men in these God-given rights. Governments were to make these rights “secure” to the people to whom they were bequeathed by their Creator. No nation could give men rights. These are inherent in the people. Bigots may invade these rights, but justice still confirms them.

Men of other nations recognized and believed the principles for which the American people were struggling, and some of them yielded their lives to aid in the struggle.

Rome lent no aid to America in her struggle. The principles advocated in America were clearly a denial of Rome’s most cherished creed. Yet she remained neutral. This was not because she was yielding to light, but because England also was her enemy. To curse America and her declaration would be giving aid to England, whom she would gladly see humbled.

STRUGGLE FOR RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE

The doctrines of the equality of men and the rights of conscience were not crystallized into law, even in America, without a struggle. Neither have they continued except against the most determined opposition.

America stands for liberty and equality. Her first organic act, after her constitution was ratified, was to place religion and conscience above the realms of civil law, by the enactment of the first amendment. This, with the Declaration of Independence, is the great bulwark of religious liberty. It declares that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

This first amendment became a part of “the supreme law of the land”; and by article 6 of the same constitution, it binds all judges in all the several states above any law in any state.

A LIBERTY DEARER THAN LIFE

Absolute liberty of conscience and religion were thus guaranteed by the American constitution. Men were to be free to heed the voice of conscience and right.

The very word “liberty” is dear to the heart of man. The love of liberty is heaven-born. Liberty is dearer than life itself. Without it there can be no enjoyment. This great boon is granted by American law. If the law has not been upheld, that is not because of the failure of these glorious principles, but rather because of a counterworking of the opposite principles, upheld by men who are untrue to American ideals.

THE SUCCESS OF THE PRINCIPLES

What have been the results of the carrying out of these American principles? It had been said that such principles would lead to anarchy, infidelity, and ruin.

The papacy received her deadly wound when the French army took Rome, and made Pope Pius VI prisoner, in 1798. Rev. 13:3, 10. America was just beginning her career. The facts as to America’s policy and principles are before us in the peace and progress of the nation. No other nation has ever made such wonderful advancement in so short a time and in so peaceable a manner. Never has there been such remarkable progress in science and invention. All that made for peace and happiness and enlightenment, which could not exist while Rome bound the minds and consciences of men, now sprang into activity. Rome had ruled, but made no advancement, for over a thousand years. Now, when her power was broken in the Old World, and America became free in the New, what marvelous changes do we behold! Who dares assert that the change was not for the better? Not a voice dares affirm that the change from Catholic to American principles was for the worse.

Shall the world return to Catholic rule? Shall America repudiate her declaration and her constitution? Will she apostatize? Reader, do you desire again those days of religious tyranny? Are you ready to yield your right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience?

THE WARNING OF PROPHECY

Take warning. The sure word of prophecy says of Rome, “His deadly wound was healed.” Rev. 13:3. It foretells of an image yet to be made “to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Rev. 13:14, 15. Rome can never control America so long as Americans stand by her constitution as it is.

Again we ask, Will America apostatize, and repudiate her constitution? The prophecy gives the warning; and the widespread move on the part of Protestants to enact and enforce religious laws, seems to indicate that our nation is about to fulfill the prophecy, and open the way for Catholic control. Let every American and every Christian stand for religious liberty as set forth in the United States Constitution. Our constitution is the logical outgrowth of the principles of soul liberty taught by Jesus Christ.