Papal Propaganda in America.
By Editor
At this writing there is gathering in Chicago the first American Missionary Congress of Roman Catholics. Now as the pope has declared America a Catholic country, Roman Catholics are putting forth special effort to convert souls in America. A recent letter received by Cardinal Gibbons from Pius X declares: "We have learned with joy that very large numbers of the people of the United States of America are to-day turning with great interest to the study of the Catholic religion." In this work he finds two things worthy of his approval: "First, that the bands of priests organized for this work in various dioceses are closely subject to their bishops," and, secondly, "that all bitterness is excluded from their teaching, and that their sole aim is the true and full exposition of the Catholic teaching." Now, Roman Catholics have the right to teach what they believe to be true, just as much right as have we or any other religion under the sun; yet we do not believe that they are teaching truth. We believe there is something much more commendable than what the pope states; namely, the teaching of the word of God as it is in Christ Jesus. Such a propaganda as this ought to stir Protestants to the very depths of their souls, and it will stir all those who have any true convictions as to the truth of the word of God. Higher criticism and the new theology are taking away all missionary spirit on the part of professed Protestants to-day. Let them come back to simple faith in God's word, and they would find the power of the Reformation still with them and many souls would be converted to God. It was a very startling thing a few years ago to hear a so-called orthodox Protestant minister proclaim his disbelief in God's word; to question the divinity of Christ or His resurrection. Such things are becoming more and more common. For instance, the Spokane Daily Chronicle of November 2 reports a sermon from a Congregational minister, Mr. W. J. Hindley, who teaches that Jesus was only the son of Joseph; that the simple and natural conclusion is that Jesus was the child of Joseph and Mary, and that upon this point there is no essential difference between His consciousness and our own; or, as the Chronicle itself expresses Mr. Hindley's thought, "that Jesus of Nazareth was no greater than His disciples, or any man who professes to be a Christian." We are hearing very much of such teaching in these days; teaching that utterly denies the word of God. Think, reader! All that we know of Jesus of Nazareth is what the Bible tells us. If the Bible is wrong in a part of that narrative, why should we not doubt it all? And if we reject the very things in His life which the great sinning, sick world needs most, why not reject the story entirely? It is to such conclusions as these that the new theology drives the reasoning man. Jesus of Nazareth is what He professes to be to us in His word, or He is nothing and the world is entirely without hope. Thank God, there are millions since He was here upon the earth who have demonstrated in their lives His own recreative power, who have found His word written in the Book, and have also found the experiences of having the same Spirit write the word in their own hearts and lives. Jesus Christ is all that He professes to be, and the needy, sin-sick world may trust Him.