ROMEWARD BOUND by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 23, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 25.

ROMEWARD BOUND.

By W. N. G.

INSTEAD of being alarmed at the prospect of Rome's increasing power in the United States, people are coming to look upon such a consummation very complacently, as tho it were something in the nature of a boon, rather than the calamity indicated by the prophetic Word. George Alfred Townsend is reported to have said in a recent letter:—

“The American Catholic Church has before it the opportunity of a great national church; for its ancient home in the Roman see will, after a while, be as absurd as the church of Islam with its home in Fez or Bagdad. The American-born bishops are very different from the Italians. John Ireland is the peer of anybody. The smash of Spain is the premium on intelligence.”

To this the Kansas City Star adds this significant comment:—

“There can be no doubt that the absolute acquisition of Porto Rico and the Philippines and the advisory control of Cuba, would be an advantage to the Roman Catholic Church. When religion is free, men cease to persecute and to fight about it. The pacification of the Philippines by the Americans would end the murders of monks and priests by the insurgents. In the possessions we acquire from Spain would occur what has happened in the provinces we acquired from Mexico. In these—especially in New Mexico—the church has made great acquisitions in the way of edifices, schools, and all evidences of power and influence, and this would happen elsewhere. The talent developed in a free and intelligent country would make itself felt in the control and direction of the church. An American Rome and an American pope would not be impossibilities.”

No, an “American Rome” is not an impossibility; at least an “image” to Rome is not an impossibility in America; for the reason that it is very clearly pointed out in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. This prophecy is assurance that it must be an absolute certainty. It is not merely a matter of prophecy now; for every one who is giving attention to current events—religious and political—knows that no religious force in the United States is so potent in political circles as the Roman Church. And Rome is working for this very thing, with almost no opposition from the influences that ought to be able to see the consequences of her intriguing.

All that Catholics have done for the country as citizens is accredited to the church. That such and such a prominent general, or commodore, or statesman was or is a Catholic is always kept before the public. It never is deemed worth while in political strategy to count on the Methodist, or Baptist, or Presbyterian, or Episcopal vote for this or that candidate; but whether he can get the Catholic vote is always a factor in making up the convention “slate.” It used to be that the Catholic vote was generally counted for the Democratic party; but that day is past. Rome is too cunning in politics for that; she aims to be in a position where she can claim reciprocal favors at the hands of whatever party wins. She once discountenanced a republican form of government, but she is now just as willing to control a republican government as any other. In politics Rome would absorb all parties, just as in religion she would absorb all churches—provided only that Rome can have control. For this reason an “image” to the “beast” (Revelation 13) will receive her favor and be permitted to do her work. The lamentable feature of the situation is that the professed Protestantism of the country has become so imbued with Roman principles as to be powerless to resist Rome’s encroachments; in fact, is being carried with the current into the political lap of Rome.

. W. N. G.