QUITE A CHANGE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 7, 1879

QUITE A CHANGE.

PRESIDENT Grevy, of France, recently presented the scarlet berettas to two newly created cardinals. Accompanying the presentation, he made the following significant address:—

“Messieurs Le Cardinaux: I am indebted to the functions conferred upon me by my country for the honor of handing to you the insignia of the high dignity which your talents and your virtues have merited, and with which the Supreme Pontiff has crowned your long episcopacy. I am happy to have been able, on behalf of the civil power, to have had a share in your elevation. You invoke the constitutional authority of the President of the Republic in favor of the rights of the church. Be fully reassured in that respect; those rights are in no danger—they are under the protection of the laws, and the Government, if IT DOES NOT PLACE THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH ABOVE THE RIGHTS OF THE STATE, feels deep solicitude for the protection of both.”

On this The Christian at Work remarks:—

“The President immediately afterward entertained the Cardinals and their suite at breakfast. Quite a change all this from the time when popes released whole peoples from their allegiance to their Sovereigns, and a Supreme Pontiff declared it to be his duty and prerogative “to pull down the pride of kings.” After all, the world does move!”

This is indeed “quite a change,” and “the world does move.” For the prophecy declared that there should be “quite a change” in the condition of that anti-christian papal power when they should take away its dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end; and the “world moves” undeviatingly and irresistibly toward the complete fulfillment of all the declarations of prophecy.