p. 358 | A MARKED DIFFERENCE by W. N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 23.

A MARKED DIFFERENCE.

By W. N. Glenn

BY W. N. GLENN.

CHRIST taught and practiced non-resistance against insult (Luke 6: 28, 29), and his true disciples have always followed this principle (1 Thess. 5: 15). It is not recorded that he kept an armed body guard to punish those who were so ill mannered as to insult him. We read of his rebuking his followers for suggesting the summary punishment of such offenders. Luke 9: 54–56; John 18: 11.

The pope assumes to be the "vicar of Christ," and poses as the head of the church on earth. But the papal manner of sustaining the dignity of the position is quite different from that of the Master. When the people are admitted to an audience with the pope, the Vatican etiquette obliges them, no matter what their religion may be, to kneel when he draws near. The Catholic News tells of a young man, a tutor in the family of an English duke, who thought to disregard the requirement at an audience with Leo XIII., and declined to kneel. The News continues the narrative as follows:—

There are four gigantic Swiss that follow the Holy Father as he moves about during an audience. One of these men seems to be about six feet eight inches in height, and his helmet, with its upright plume, makes him as big as St. Christopher. The tutor stood there defiant, asking with his eyes, "What do you intend to do about it?" If he really had any doubt as to what was to be done, the doubt was soon dispelled. The pope noticed the insult to his dignity, and he whispered to the Swiss, "Remove him." The fellow was removed so thoroughly that when he reached the Vatican door he must have thanked heaven, if he had any gratitude in him, that the Swiss are not Irish. When the news reached the duke's hotel, the tutor's baggage was removed to the sidewalk. The duke dismissed him from his service, and the English colony sent an apology to the pope.