Portugal and the Church.
By Editor
It ought to be a lesson to thinking Roman Catholics—the revolution in Portugal. It is more than a revolt against monarchy; it is preeminently a revolt against religious dominance as embodied in the Roman Catholic Church. For long centuries the Papacy has been the maternal instructor of Portugal; to-day her children rise up, but instead of calling her blessed, they revile, defame, and maltreat her. Who is responsible? With fullest freedom in teaching and worship, with the power of the state behind her, with the freedom and influence of other religious bodies restricted and restrained, the responsibility must rest with Rome. The revolution, while against that church, is the legitimate fruit of the church-and-state régime. The little items in our Missions department are mere notes of news, and from partial reports at that, but they are cheering nevertheless. Hearts are accepting God's message everywhere.