Why? by Editor | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 29, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 22.

Why?

By Editor

Why?—A special cable from Rome, under date of April 13, to the New York Times, gives us a long account of how Rev. Mr. Lowrie, rector of the Episcopalian American Church in Rome, has deeply offended his own people and others by referring to the pope as “My reverend brother, Joseph Taylor.” The name of the pope is Giuseppe Sarto, which translated into English is Joseph Taylor, and in Rector Lowrie’s Parish Notes, he says, “With my reverend brother, Joseph Taylor, across the Tiber I have no quarrel.” How in the world that can offend the pope or any of his friends we can not understand. When our Lord was upon the earth He was called many times the simple name of Jesus (Hebrew, Joshua, a not uncommon name among His people). The apostle Peter designates himself an “elder” among the elders, and the apostle Paul a “bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.” If Christians had kept to heart the one lesson of giving no glory to men there would never have been any offense in what Rector Lowrie said; but to carry it further, there would never have been any pope of Rome.