WHO ARE THE CHRISTIANS?
By W. M. Adams
We often hear the statement that “history repeats itself.” To this end let us study the past history of Rome. View the Iron Kingdom as it was 1,600 years ago, when paganism predominated to the extent that all church property not pagan was seized and confiscated. This was especially so prior to Constantine’s time. He came to the throne and began his eventful career upon the death of his father, Constantius Chlorus, who died July 25, A.D. 306. He saw that his “father revered the Christian God, and uniformly prospered, while the emperors who worshiped the heathen gods died a miserable death.” “Therefore,” said he, “that I may enjoy a happy life and reign, I will imitate the example of my father.” He did so, only he went farther. At Milan, A.D. 313, he issued an edict to the effect that all confiscated church property should be restored to “the whole body of Christians” without demanding any price, and to do it without “delay or hesitancy.”—Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, book 10, chapter 5. This imperial decree was published throughout the empire. Different sects claimed the property to be restored, for all claimed to be “the body of Christians,” according to the decree. Now in what position did these pressing claims place Constantine? He was forced to decide who were “the body of the Christians,” was he not? In answer to a letter from Anulinus, proconsul of Africa, he says, “Hail, our most esteemed Anulinus; . . . whence it is our will, that when thou shalt receive this epistle, if any of those things belonging to the Catholic Church of the Christians, . . . these thou shalt cause immediately to be restored to their churches.”—Eusebius. Thus we see that the Catholic Church, according to the emperor, was “the body of Christians.” Feb. 29, 1892, it was officially declared in a Supreme Court decision that “this is a Christian nation.” Why was such a decision rendered? Hear what the Supreme Court says: “This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour there is a single voice making this affirmation.” The commission to Christopher Columbus, prior to his sail westward, is from “Ferdinand and Isabella, by the grace of God, King and Queen of Castile,” and further, “It is hoped that by God’s assistance some of the continents and islands in the ocean will be discovered,” etc. Christopher Columbus was the discoverer of this country, and if what the Supreme Court has said be true, then would not this nation be the same kind of a Christian that Columbus was? Let us see. What was his religion? Go back to his early days and we find him, when very young, entering upon a nautical life. He left the parental roof and sailed to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. While there, as his custom was, he attended “religious services at the chapel of the Convent of All Saints.”—Discovery of America, by Washington Irving, p. 14. On page 113 (“World’s Columbian Exposition”) the record runs: “At the church, which, as a devout Catholic, he [Columbus] attended regularly, he saw and became enamored of the beauty of an Italian girl.” Soon after he was married, he petitioned King John II., of Portugal, to furnish him with ships to cross the trackless ocean in quest of new worlds. He was denied. Then he turned to Spain, and his request would have been ignored there had it not been for a Franciscan friar, Juan Perez, who had been confessor to Queen Isabella. Through his influence, Columbus was granted his petition by King Ferdinand V. and Queen Isabella. William Swinton, A.M., says that Queen Isabella fitted out Columbus a fleet, thinking that “the discovery of these new realms might be the means of spreading the Christian faith here.”—United States History, p. 3, par. 10. Ferdinand V. was surnamed “The Catholic.”—The Student’s Cyclo., art. Ferdinand V. There is, too, a Spanish order of knighthood called “Order of Isabella the Catholic,” founded “as a reward of loyalty, and for the defense of the possessions of Spanish America.”—Chambers’ Encyclopedia, published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., art. Isabella the Catholic. Such were the supporters of Columbus in his aggressive enterprise. He entered upon his voyage “with the most devout and affecting ceremonies.” He sailed from Palos, Spain, Friday, August 3, and landed Oct. 12, 1492. When he landed “he . . . formally planted the cross,” says A. S. Barnes, “and took possession of the country in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella.”—United States History, p. 23. “Since the time when Noah left the ark to set his foot upon a recovered world, a landing so sublime as that of Columbus, had never occurred. . . . He . . . erected a crucifix and took possession of the island.”—Willard’s Universal History, p. 302. “Columbus,” says A. B. Berard, “splendidly appareled, stepped on shore, and, with religious ceremonies, took possession of the country in the name of the sovereigns of Spain.”—United States History, p. 5, par. 3. Again we quote: “As the sun rose, Columbus landed; and with solemn ceremonies dedicated the new land to Christianity and civilization.”—World’s Columbian Exposition, pp. 123, 124. When he returned to Spain, he received a royal reception. Says Washington Irving, “When Columbus landed, the multitude thronged to see and welcome him, and a grand procession was formed to the principal church.”—Discovery of America, p. 63. “He . . . told them of the beautiful land he had discovered, its brilliant birds, its tropical forests, its delightful climate, and above all its natives waiting to be converted to the Christian faith.”—Barnes U. S. History, p. 24, par. 2. When this was done, “the sanction of the pope, Alexander VI., was solicited.”—Willard’s Universal History, p. 303. Here we have the picture before us. Columbus was a devout Catholic, and was aided by a Catholic prelate in securing favor of the Spanish sovereigns, who were surnamed THE CATHOLICS. When he landed on this continent, he took possession with religious ceremonies, and after planting the cross, he dedicated the country to Christianity. On his return to Spain, he first went to the principal church, then in describing his wonderful discoveries he speaks of, “above all its natives waiting to be converted to the Christian [Catholic] faith.” Now, then, if this be a “Christian nation” because the land was discovered by a Christian (Catholic) man, what church alone should possess it? What say you? George Washington, the father of our country, and the United States Senate, said in the treaty with Tripoli in 1797, “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon Christian religion.”—Article II. This7 treaty is a part of the supreme law of the land, according to Article VI. of the Constitution of the United States. Yet, notwithstanding this, the following action was taken by Congress in 1892. A few months after the above dictum of the Supreme Court, the World’s Fair opened. Congress was asked for an appropriation of $5,000,000. While discussing the propriety of granting the request, Congress was reminded (by scores of petitions from professed Christians) that this is a “Christian nation,” consequently the Fair must be closed upon the “Christian sabbath.” An amendment providing for its closing was tacked upon the Appropriation Bill. It is well known that there is a large body of citizens in the United States who keep the seventh day of the week (Saturday), while the majority honor the first day (Sunday) as the Sabbath. Now as Constantine was forced to decide who were the “Christians” of his empire, so the congress of the United States thought itself compelled to decide which was the “Christian Sabbath,” for this man-made “Christian nation” to keep; for they all claim to be Christians, whichever day they keep. The decision was that “the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday,” is the “Christian Sabbath.”—Congressional Record of July 10, 1892, p. 6614; and July 12, pp. 6694, 6695, 6701. Is this not taking a step toward deciding who are the “Christians”? The pope sits in Saint Peter’s chair at Rome and decides ecclesiastical questions, while Congress sits in Washington, D. C., United States of America, as arbiter over religious controversies. What is the difference in principle?—The pope claims infallibility. Congress assumes it. In an address to the General Assembly of Virginia soon after the Declaration of Independence was formed, we have these words:— “It is at least impossible for the magistrate to adjudge the right of preference among the various sects that profess the Christian faith WITHOUT ERECTING A CLAIM TO INFALLIBILITY, which would lead us back to the Church of Rome.”—Baird’s Religion in America, Book III., chap. 3, par. 9–16. Now that the “magistrate” has adjudged “the right of preference among the various sects,” what do they in principle erect?—INFALLIBILITY. Our forefathers came to this country to find “a state without a king and a church without a pope.” But where is this nation drifting? The Supreme Court decided that “this is a Christian nation.” “The decision of our federal Supreme Court is FINAL,” says the Catholic Mirror, March 2, 1895. The nation being “Christian,” and Sunday being the day generally kept, it follows that the decision of Congress was logical that Sunday is the “Christian sabbath.” This is the logical workings of the decision of the Supreme Court. Where will it end? Since that time the same sentiment has grown apace. Is it not high time for every true Christian to arouse and say, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law” (Ps. 119:126)? for Jesus Christ says in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” and again, “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (verse 23). “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” Ps. 112:1. “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” Isa. 58:13, 14. “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:12. W. M. ADAMS.