A UNION OF PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS.
By M. C. W.
THIS journal has from time to time presented before the people the sure word of prophecy which points out that this government, which was so just and wise in its beginning, would become a persecutor by connecting religion with the State. In this she would imitate the apostate church of the early centuries. There would be ecclesiastical and political combinations which would bring this about. The prophecy to us foretold this while as yet there was not even the little cloud in the sky. We knew it would come. The prophecy (found in Rev. 13: 11-18) could not lie. We have pointed out the one religious institution over which the great battle would be fought, the head of the camel—Church and State—which would dispossess the rightful ruler—civil and religious liberty; and this institution is the Sunday. We have endeavored for thirty years to warn our fellow-countrymen of the danger that lies before them. According to ability given of God, we have entreated and endeavored to enlighten our fellow-Christian brethren of other denominations. But what has been the result? It has been twofold. First, thousands have become enlightened, have turned their feet into the way of truth, and are laboring to save others, with an ever-increasing faith in their position. But not so with another class. They have ridiculed the idea that in this enlightened age, in this favored land, in the liberal religious atmosphere of to-day, religious oppression or persecution could result; why, the idea was preposterous, and none but religious enthusiasts, with a predilection for the interpretation of prophecy, could entertain such ideas. It has been said that the principles of Protestants were against such a movement, that they were not united enough to do this, that they were not strong enough politically to do it if they were so disposed, that Roman Catholics would oppose such a measure if begun by Protestants, or Protestants would oppose it if begun by Roman Catholics; and it has also been declared that to enforce any religious institution there must be one church established by law, and this could never be. There is no doubt that all these objections have been honestly presented and held as insuperable obstacles to religious legislation in this country. But there stands the prophecy. It declares that the symbol of this country should make an image to the papal beast. The papal beast was constituted by a union of religion and the State. An image or likeness to that beast would be a similar union in this country. That union in this country would enforce the "mark of the beast," the change which the Papacy has made in the law of God, or the Sunday. There stands the prophecy of God, here are the objections of man. Which is right? When attention was first called to this prophecy there were no outward indications of its fulfillment. The National Reform Association did not then exist. But since that evidences have been accumulating till now the careful observer needs not faith in the light of prophecy to convince him that there is danger from this source; he can see it in the political movements of to-day. The party which has led out in this work has been the National Reform Association, which has been gaining in numbers and influence from the time of its inception. Its essential principles are held by many outside of its organization. One of these principal objects is to enforce Sunday observance. Another association whose object is to promote Sunday observance through moral and civil law is the American Sabbath Union, numbering in its claimed adherents several millions of the greatest religious denominations of our land. As aids to this movement may be counted the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Law and Order Leagues, and some workmen's organizations. A Sunday plank has been a part of every Prohibition platform which we have seen in the last two years, although we believe that there are many Prohibitionists who oppose such legislation. Those who stand at the head of the two first-named organizations are determined to carry their point at all hazards. Sunday must be enforced. Roman Catholics, not a few, have given utterance to just such sentiments. And in order to carry their point, the Protestant Sunday men have been willing and waiting to accept of the co-operation of that church, which has done more against Bible Christianity than all the infidelity of the world. Says the Rev. S. F. Scovel, in the Christian Statesman of August 31, 1884, in referring to the interest shown by religious bodies in upholding Sunday by law:— "This common interest ought both to strengthen our determinations to work and our readiness to co-operate with our Roman Catholic fellow-citizens. We may be subjected to some rebuffs in our first proffers, for the time is not yet come when the Roman Church will consent to strike hands with other churches—as such; but the time has come to make repeated advances and gladly to accept co-operation in any form in which they may be willing to exhibit it." The same journal of December 11, 1884, says:— "Whenever they [Roman Catholics] are willing to co-operate in resisting the progress of political atheism, we will gladly join hands with them." It will be recalled by many of our readers that the atheism of National Reformers is everything which opposes their ideas of National Reform. Dr. A. A. Hodge, in the Princeton Review of January, 1887, said:— "All we have to do is for Catholics and Protestants—disciples of a common Master—to come to a common understanding with respect to a common basis of what is received as general Christianity, a practical quantity of truth belonging equally to both sides, to be recognized in general legislation." Prof. Charles A. Briggs, D.D., of Union Theological Seminary, in the Christian at Work of April 19, 1888, says:— "In all matters of worship we are in essential concord with Roman Catholics, and we ought not to hesitate to make an alliance with them so far as possible to maintain the sanctity of the Sabbath [Sunday] as a day of worship." The American Sunday Union were only too glad to count Cardinal Gibbons' name as representing 7,200,000 Catholics, in their petitions to Congress for a national Sunday law last winter. Prohibitionists have rejoiced at the accession of every Catholic priest to their party. Thus much and more might be said, from the Protestant side of the question. What do Catholics say? In an Encyclical of Leo XIII., published in 1885, Catholics are exhorted— "To take an active part in all municipal affairs and elections, and to further the principles of the church in all public services, meetings, and gatherings. . . . All Catholics should do all in their power to cause the constitutions of States and legislation to be modeled to the principles of the true church." The above is authoritative, and has a direct bearing on Sunday legislation. Now for a later utterance. The Congress of Catholic laymen held its last meeting in Baltimore, Md., November 12. At that meeting a platform, or manifesto, was adopted, which, according to the San Francisco Daily Examiner of the 13th inst., contained the following:— "There are many Christian issues in which the Catholics could come together with non-Catholics and shape civil legislation for the public good. In spite of rebuff and injustice, and overreaching zealotry, we should seek an alliance with the non-Catholics for proper Sunday observance." Now what will be the result of such a union of forces. One result will be that the combination will hold the balance of power, and corrupt politicians, in order to get support, will swear eternal712fidelity to all Sunday legislation, and, with those who truly hold to such principles, will pass Sunday laws. And then what may those who oppose such legislation and who truly fear God expect? 1. By National Reformers to be classed with atheists, as they already have been (see the speech of Johnathan Edwards, D.D., at the New York National Reform Convention). And of this atheism, in which he places Jews and Seventh-day Baptists, he says: "Tolerate atheism, sir? There is nothing out of hell that I would not tolerate as soon." 2. By Roman Catholics to be classed with the worst of criminals. Says Bishop John Ireland, of Minnesota, at the centennial of Columbus, Ohio, September 10, 1888, as reported by the American Catholic News, of September 19:— "It is the intemperate class that violate our Sunday laws, and the violator of a Sunday law is the worst of criminals." The Dark Ages reveal the result of the movement we have been considering. Protestants and Catholics are agreed. As in the early centuries, when the church departed from Christ she had no means of defense (for down she had laid the weapons not carnal), there was but one of two ways for her to accept: either to acknowledge her error and repent, or to lay hold upon the civil arm, and thus deny her Lord. The church then chose the latter. She is making the same choice for the same reason to-day. The result will be the same. There will be the "confederacy" spoken of by the prophet (Isa. 8: 9-12); it will be the means of uniting apostate Protestantism and corrupt and hoary Romanism; but as Herod and Pilate were formerly made friends over the abused, condemned, and crucified Redeemer, so this union of Protestants and Catholics will again trample the purity of truth in the dust and crucify the Lord of glory again in the person of his saints. The trials, the legislation, the persecution will come. "Coming events cast their shadows before," in the persecutions of Georgia, and Arkansas, and Tennessee. We can say to the faithful who live at that time when there will be confederacies against right and truth, in the words of the prophet (Isa. 8: 12, 13, 20):— "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy, neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." "To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Alone with God is better than to be allied with all the kingdoms of earth, without him.