HOW ROME REGARDS IT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jul 26, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 30.

HOW ROME REGARDS IT.

Her Relation to the Government.

NOT long since, as set forth in this journal (July 4, 1905), Cardinal Gibbons expressed himself in an authorized interview in this fashion:

I have this to say—that the government of the United States is entirely friendly to the Catholic Church.

The condition of the Catholic Church in America is most favorable.

The National Convention of the Knights of Columbus—a Roman Catholic organization—at Los Angeles, Cal., June 5 to 10 gave us an ocular demonstration of the cardinal's words. June 5 the Knights were received. The address of welcome to this religious organization was by Hon. Frank P. Flint, United States Senator. Hon. Alden P. Anderson, acting governor, welcomed this Roman Catholic organization in behalf of the State. Hon. Owen McAleer, mayor of Los Angeles, welcomed it in behalf of the city; and J. O. Koepfli, president of the Chamber of Commerce, in behalf of that body. Now why should the federal and state governments be there represented? For these men were there not as individuals, but as representatives. The official program puts them down as the representatives of nation and state.

Further than this: The illustration on this page is the front cover of that program, which we reproduce in black and white. The original is in beautiful colors. Study it. Note how Rome looks upon her relations to this country and our government.

The great central figure is a Knight of Columbus, a Catholic padre, or priest, with hands extended in blessing, indicative also of the extent of his field. Beneath his right hand is the courthouse, symbolical of finality in law, no decision of which Rome will bless which is not favorable to her interests. Below the courthouse is the portrait of President Roosevelt.

Below the padre's left hand is the San Gabriel mission, representative of the church and her mission and authority. From the courthouse floats the flag of the nation; on the mission stands a cross, both under the outstretched hands of Rome in the person of her priest.

Underneath the mission is a portrait of Pope Pius X., the head of the Roman Catholic Church, who claims jurisdiction over the world, positive as regards its religion, negative at least, as regards its civil authority. Connecting the two greatest visible rulers in the world is a continuous garland of roses, encircling them both and showing the amicable relations which exist between the papal head and the chief magistrate of that commonwealth which above all others ought to stand for absolute separation of church and state.

A prized correspondent, who loans us the program, remarks: "Courtesies lavished upon the Catholic representatives by the civil authorities and the commercial bodies during the continuance of the national council revealed the drift of public sentiment in Los Angeles."

Has Rome reason to view things in the light of this picture?—She has. Cardinal Gibbons is not guessing when he tells us that "the condition of the church in America is most favorable." The ready yielding, the concessions, to Catholic demands since 1892 or thereabouts have been constant, steady, and cumulative. Rome gained a great victory in the Philippines. She is gaining it continually in the constant increase of her devotees in government and official positions, which are strategic points in the struggle of the future.

The saddest thing of all is that Protestants have so rejected or neglected God's Word, the more "sure word of prophecy," and the study of history, that they can not see the elements of destruction which are being grafted into the republic.