THE SPIRIT OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
By J. O. C.
Intolerance Not Confined to the "Dark Ages"—Jews and Protestants, as Well as Catholics, Have Been Persecutors—Following a Wrong Principle Always Brings the Sad Results
MUCH has been said and written about the intolerance of the Dark Ages under the domination of Catholicism. Great stress has, in most of these utterances, been laid on the opinion that the doctrines of the papacy were responsible for the ravages of persecution that made bitter human existence in those days of mysticism. While this is largely true, yet in some measure the doctrines of the papal hierarchy were the commonly received tenets of Christendom. Reliable history of those times abundantly supports the charges so often reiterated, that the supremacy of the papal church in politics gave nerve to government schemes for the excommunication and death sentence of all who dissented from the religious doctrines and customs adopted by the ecclesiastical establishment of those memorable centuries. This tells that the crusades of the sixteenth century against the gentle, cultivated, God-fearing Vaudois Christians, which drove them over the icy fields of their Alpine solitudes, to the snow-clad summits of wintry hills, there to be mercilessly hacked to pieces, or tossed from projecting crags into some ravine as martyrs to their faith, were, according to Leger (part two, page 72), the work of inhuman Jesuits. The French Inquisition, with its "apostolical authority" to try and condemn heretics, was created in 1525 with the sanction of Clement VII. By this, all reformers were outlawed, and a royal edict pronounced their extermination. The Bible of the Huguenots was everywhere burned. The sword of the duke of Alva desolated whole cities in the Netherlands in an attempt to stamp out Protestantism, and the Bible that upheld it in opposition to the doctrines of Rome. On the night of August 24, 1572, only five days after the marriage of Henry of Navarre to Marguerite, the sister of King Charles of France, the narrow streets and gloomy lanes of Paris became the scene of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. THEIR HUMAN PREJUDICES DID IT
These revolting items of history are not called up here for the purpose of heated controversy, but are cited merely with the design to reveal the true basis of all persecutions on record. To this end, it may be in place to say at once that the persecutions engendered by Catholics of past ages were not entirely because they were Catholics, but because they had human prejudices in favor of their own religious beliefs, and in support of them gained control of the civil power in behalf of their propaganda. The result was deep-dyed intolerance, as has always been, and always will be, under like circumstances, regardless of the particular doctrine of salvation believed. It was the same in Judea at the beginning of the Christian era. The Saviour of mankind appeared, antagonizing Judaic customs and forms of worship. The Jewish church, holding a large place in political circles, was enabled to compass the death of Christ through the aid of civil government. Imbued with many of the harsher traits of religio-political Israel, Saul of Tarsus pursued with malicious intent the humble followers of their slain Leader, and stood by to hold the garments of those who stoned to death the martyr Stephen. On his way to Damascus, still bent on his ruthless work, he was converted, and became Paul, the little, and in turn felt the cruel and continuous hand of persecution until slain by pagan decree. The ardent Peter, the fond and tender John, and the faithful James, all met a felon's fate for daring to differ in religious sentiment from a church that held the reins of political power. THE JEWS IN TURN WERE PERSECUTED
Lindo's "History of the Jews in Spain and Portugal," Rule's "History of the Inquisition," and Prescott's "Ferdinand and Isabella," all agree that the lives of the Jews on the sunny slopes of western Europe were made extremely rigorous on the simple ground of heresy. They were driven from their synagogues and from the empire, leaving behind their wealth and offices of trust, to become the spoil of their persecutors. The very elements of decay were363deeply planted in their hearts by a silent terror that rested constantly on the mind. Llorente, volume 1, page 235, relates the awful story of ten thousand burned at the stake during Isabella's reign, under the orders of the terrible Torquemada. THE PROTESTANTS AS PERSECUTORS
But as before stated, other bodies of religionists besides the papal communion have attempted by civil law to unify the devotional faith of a commonwealth, but always with the same ending. John Calvin, a Presbyterian in belief, sought this end in the city of Geneva, and thus brought about the death of Michael Servetus through civil process, mainly on the charge of heresy. The Separatists of England, later known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were driven to seek refuge in Holland from the persecution met in their native land. A few years later they emigrated to America, landing on the shores of Massachusetts. There they did their best to establish a theocracy, or in other words, a state-sustained church, the very system of government from which they had fled to seek a home in the distant wilderness. To this end the company signed a compact before landing at Plymouth, in which the agreement was made that no one would be admitted to citizenship among them, except he became a member of their church arrangement. Consequently when Baptists came among them they were whipped and banished. Quakers fared even worse, some of them being put to death, and others sold as slaves to sugar planters in the West Indies. A MAN-MADE THEOCRACY IS BOUND TO PERSECUTE
It could not have been different under the circumstances; for while a purely secular state may be menaced by rebellion and intrigue inciting to war, a theocracy is under constant peril from any wind of opposing doctrine. A man-made theocracy is therefore bound to persecute, through fear of an unseen foe, which renders it blind and pitiless. THE DANGER FROM SUNDAY LAWS
It will be the same again in America when the plans of church federation, coupled with those of the many Sunday-law advocates, shall have matured. When certain forms of doctrine, as Sunday observance, and some others, are enforced by civil law, by the demands of the church element, the state has placed itself in the hands of the church as verily as was Europe during the Dark Ages, or as was New England during the reign of the Puritan pioneers. Nothing then can prevent the enactment of scenes similar to those witnessed during those years of church and state union. Then will be assumed the role acted by Jews, pagans, papists, and Protestants, when the state enforced their decrees. Why will men be so blind as not to see that like causes produce like effects? Some particular phase of religious faith, if not fostered by state laws, can never bring on persecution, however strongly it may be advocated. But when the state unites with the church to enforce its dogmas by civil law, persecution is sure to follow, and that right speedily. Let the people beware of taking the step that will give the church control of the state in matters of religion, which is purely a personal affair. J. O. C.