PROTESTANTISM IN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES AND IN THE UNITED STATES.
By W. N. G.
“A very truthful statement bearing upon the Protestant denominations’ sustaining missions in Italy, is made by a correspondent writing to London from Rome. The desire that Vatican rule shall be the dominant factor in politics, science, literature, and religious works, operates as largely as ever in the Catholic mind, and to that end it ceaselessly strives. It has come to see that, territorially, it has small chances if it confines itself to so many acres of land; hence the desire to acquire the rule over the individual man, always getting hold of the mind and will, so as to bend both in that direction which shall serve the ends of the body corporate. Vigorous and determined effort to enlighten the conscience is needed, if Italy is to be strong among the nations; and the strongest support, both morally and materially, may well be given to the evangelical churches which are standing up manfully for freedom of thought, and are endeavoring to promote among the people a sense of personal responsibility, first to their Maker, next to their country and their neighbor.”—N. Y. Christian Advocate. We often hear that Catholicism is practically a very different element in countries entirely under its rule from what it is in the United States. The same may be said of so-called Protestantism. In Italy, for instance, as noted above, the “evangelical churches” are very solicitous for the inculcation of free thought; that is, that Protestantism may gain the ascendancy and recognition now held by Catholicism. While Catholicism is more Romanistic in Catholic countries, Protestantism is more Protestant; real Protestant principles are more pronounced, and free thought on the lines of civil and religious liberty for the masses is a more prominent issue. But in the United States, where Protestantism has had full sway from the beginning, we find its nominal votaries urging the government with every available resource to adopt measures—through Sunday legislation and otherwise—that can only have the effect of curtailing free thought. And, strange as it may seem, they manifest great anxiety for Roman Catholic co-operation in this unprotestant work. For this reason Protestants in the United States are becoming more and more unprotestant, and Rome is continually gaining influence in the government. She is fast becoming the “dominant factor in politics” and in religion, simply because a waning, weakening, compromising Protestantism has adopted Roman methods of acquiring power and influence, and has thereby placed herself on Roman ground. And this is all that Rome asks of anybody; she is always master in her own field. In support of the position that Protestantism is adopting Roman methods in the United States—leaning upon the “arm of flesh” and seeking political domination—we submit the following as only one of the many current indications:— “CHICAGO, Jan. 18.—“The great tendency in the Congregational Church is toward the union of religion and the State. The church has before it a splendid opportunity to assert love for country and to fill itself with patriotic spirit. The time is coming when we shall put obligations of citizenship into our creed and teach them in the churches.’ “These were the words of Rev. Dr. Chas. A. Lamson, the president of the American Board of Foreign Missions, in an address before the Chicago Congregational Club last evening. He was speaking of the great tendencies manifest in the development of his church, and when he had reached the part of his remarks telling of the power the church would have in civic and national affairs in the future, and uttered the words above quoted, his entire audience burst forth into cheers.” W. N. G.