CHANGED INDEED | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 2, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 14.

CHANGED INDEED.

A PARAGRAPH taken from the Age of January 16 reveals a change of attitude that must appeal to many thoughtful minds:—

One of the striking features of the coronation, says the Whitehall Review, will be the number of Catholic peers who will make their appearance on the occasion as compared with those who were present at the crowning of Queen Victoria. The Duke of Norfolk's family have, of course, always been Catholics, so have the Howards of Glossop and the Howards de Walden, as well as the Cliffords, and the Herries, and all of these distinguished families were probably represented at the coronation of the late queen, tho when they took up their positions they may have received a rather doubtful reception, inasmuch as Catholics were then accepted with more reserve than cordiality. All this is now changed, and his Majesty will welcome a host of Catholics on the great occasion, for religious bigotry is now mercifully a thing unknown among people of culture.

This is indeed a “striking feature,” and the question must in all fairness be asked, How has this change of front toward Rome been accomplished? Has Rome changed? Has her contempt for kingly authority been cast aside? Has the will of the Vatican ceased to be her court of appeal? Is the authority of the pope recognized as subordinate to that of kings and rulers? Have her anathemas against thrones and crowns been recalled, or has her antagonism to the Protestant faith lessened in any degree?—No! In none of these respects has Rome changed. Her policy is still, “Obey the Vatican first, and then, if convenient, obey the king.”

But there has been a change, and therefore it must be Protestantism that has changed.

In Revelation the prophet speaks of all the world wondering after the power that once received a deadly wound. Rev. 13: 3, 4. Next we see the world worshiping this power, and last of all the kings of the earth give it their power without reserve or question. Rev. 17: 12-18.

This prophetic change of attitude toward Rome, among the nations, has already begun. The world has wondered at the vitality displayed by that power; it is now preparing to worship, and soon the time will come when for a short space the hand of Rome will again control national destinies. But that time will be short. Thank God for this.—Australian Bible Echo.