THE INCONSISTENCY OF APOSTASY.
By Editor
An illustration of the inconsistency always found connected with those churches which have apostatized from the word of God is presented in a late ruling of the Roman Catholic Bishop Watterson, of Columbus, O., and the sustaining of this decision by the papal delegate Satolli. Bishop Watterson during the last lecture season decided, as reported in the public press:— I hereby withdraw my approbation from any and every Catholic society in this diocese that has a liquor dealer or saloon keeper at its head or anywhere among its officers, and I suspend every such society itself from its rank and privileges as a Catholic society until it ceases to be so officered. No one who is engaged either as principal or agent in the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors should be admitted to membership. Concerning this Satolli says:— The liquor traffic, and especially as conducted here in the United States, is the source of much evil, hence the bishop was acting within his rights in seeking to restrict it. Therefore the delegate apostolic sustains Bishop Watterson's action, and approves of his circular and regulation concerning saloons, and the expulsion of saloon keepers from membership in Catholic societies. We do not believe that liquor dealers have any place in religious societies; but the point we wish to make is this: If these men are qualified for church membership, are they not-qualified morally (for this is the point in question) for membership in any other religious society? If they are not worthy to belong to a church society, are they worthy to belong to the church itself? Now according to the Scriptures the church is the "spouse of Christ," "the body of Christ," his representative on the earth. This is, we believe, just what the Roman Catholic Church claims of herself. Yet she places above the church the various societies connected with the church. Some or all of Rome's societies have more or less secrecy connected with them. Are the drinkers excluded because they are liable to become too voluble and talkative? In the Bible we find but one society through whom the Lord works in the world, in which he dwells, which he calls his body. It is "the church of the living God." Upon the church of God has Christ bestowed every spiritual gift, every talent necessary for effectual service, every weapon needed for triumphant warfare, every office needed for wise direction, all power necessary for the work assigned her. All these are given to her, and all that extra or intra church organizations can obtain must be drawn from the church. Officers, organizations, and machinery of men are multiplied, the church of Christ is weakened, and man obtains the glory. In fact, every addition of extra church societies or organizations means glory and honor to man, instead of God. It simply shows that Christ's professed followers are afraid to trust his humble ways, his almighty power, his simple though infinitely wise direction. "We" must do something; "we" must build; "we" must manage," is the carnal cry; and sadly history records, "we" fail. It is well written that the world by wisdom knows not God; nevertheless, "the foolishness of God is wiser than men."