PROGRESSING BACKWARD

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 3, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 31.

PROGRESSING BACKWARD.

MONASTIC life was utterly unknown in the first two or three centuries of the Christian church. It has no encouragement in the New Testament, it was never dreamed of by the apostles, and it is contrary to the spirit of Christ. Moreover, from time to time, the lives of those who have shut themselves out from the world, have become so utterly pernicious and rotten that the civil powers have been compelled to interfere, and dissolve or expel them. World, flesh, and devil can not be shut out by stone walls, and by the exclusion of the opposite sex, on either side. France is expatriating these pests and plague spots from her shores. But to our amazement the “Protestant Episcopal Church” of America has just opened a monastery on the Hudson River, in the diocese of New York, under Episcopal sanction! This heathen institution, adopted by the Roman Church from the teachings of Buddha, and condemned by that church itself, is now to be linked with a professedly Protestant church. Even a committee of cardinals in 1538 reported as follows:—

Another abuse which needs correction is in the religious orders, because they have deteriorated to such an extent that they are a grave scandal to seculars, and do the greatest harm by their example. We are of the opinion that they should all be abolished, not so as to injure the vested interests of any one, but by forbidding them to receive novices; for in this wise they can be quickly done away without wrong to any one. At present we think the best thing to be done is to dismiss all the unprofessed youths from their monasteries.

The Protestant Episcopal Church is entering a course that will end in the substitution of “sacrament” for Christ, and pious prayers for heart worship and loving service.—Watchword and Truth.