p. 19 | State and Church by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1912

State and Church

By Editor

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of Religious Freedom, and the Campaign "to Make America Catholic."

Conducted by the Religious Liberty Association.

W. W. PRESCOTT - - - - - SECRETARY

Seventh-Day Adventists and the Roman Peril

Some Information Concerning the Plans and Purposes of the Roman Catholic Church in America — What These Things Mean to Those Who Are Giving the Final Gospel Message

Did you know that Roman Catholics deny that this is a Protestant country?

Did you know that the Roman Catholic hierarchy has repeatedly announced its purpose "to make America dominantly Catholic"?

Did you know that precedence over all officials is claimed for the Roman Catholic cardinals at all state functions?

Did you know that Roman Catholics declare that the future religion of this country will be the Roman Catholic religion?

Did you know that the Roman Catholics are seeking to have a law passed which will exclude from the United States mails all publications making attacks on their faith?

Did you know that in 1776 the ratio of Roman Catholics to the total population of the United States was one in one hundred twenty, but now it is one in six?

Did you know that the Roman Catholics are multiplying their spectacular celebrations of the mass which are attended by state officials, including the President?

Did you know that the Roman Catholics are persistently seeking for the division of the public-school funds, so that a portion may be used in the support of their parochial schools?

Did you know that the Roman Catholics practically hold the balance of political power between the two great parties, and are therefore in a position to dictate the nominations?

In the brief space available it is difficult to present an adequate view of the Roman Catholic situation. There are many evidences of what has been designated as "the invasion of Protestant lands by Rome in a spirit of fierce aggressiveness, resolute determination, infinite craft, rigid exclusiveness, and uncompromising intolerance." We shall refer to some of these evidences.

Until about two years ago, the United States was treated by Rome as a missionary country, but at that time it was classed as a Roman Catholic country and a greater measure of self-government was granted to it. Since that time, the Roman Catholic hierarchy in America has put forth the most determined efforts to advance the interests of the Papacy, and to extend the membership and influence of the Roman Church.

Rev. F. C. Kelley, the president of the Church Extension Society, read a paper at the third Washington Conference in the interest of the mission work of the Catholic Church in this country, held in Washington in 1909, in which he said:—

"Again, how fond are many of calling this a Protestant country! Is it? We deny!"

Having declared that this is not a Protestant country, the Roman Catholic leaders have organized a mission movement for the purpose of making the United States dominantly Catholic. Here is their own statement:—

"The spirit of the mission movement in America is the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales. It excludes all controversy and condemns all rancorous religious discussion. At the same time, it devotes itself to showing forth the inner beauty of Catholic doctrine and practise, believing that if the non-Catholic people of America only knew the old mother church of Christendom as well as we do, they would love her as ardently. Our motto is, 'We come not to conquer, but to win. Our purpose is to make America dominantly Catholic.'"

In the attempt to realize this purpose, nothing is spared, and Pope Pius X is cooperating in the heartiest way with the hierarchy of America. New dioceses are being formed, and additional bishops are being appointed. Instead of one resident cardinal, there are now three. Spectacular functions are being multiplied, and no opportunity is lost to impress upon the public mind that Protestantism is dead; that Roman Catholicism is the original apostolic Christianity, and will be the future religion of this country.

Demands are being made, and claims are being asserted, which were absolutely unknown a few years ago. For example:—

At the dinner of the Charitable Irish Society, held in Boston on St. Patrick's day, at which President Taft was a guest, Cardinal O'Connell demanded a seat at the banquet and a position on the program of speakers before the governor of the State of Massachusetts, and next to the President of the United States. The claim for such precedence is based upon the assertion that a cardinal is "a prince of the blood," and therefore entitled to a position above all state officials, outranking even ambassadors from other countries, and the Vice-President of the United States.

For three successive years, the President and many members of his official family have attended an annual Thanksgiving mass at St. Patrick's Church in Washington, and this gathering has been designated as "the official celebration of Thanksgiving." For two successive years a military field mass has been celebrated upon government grounds in connection with the naval station at Brooklyn. For two successive years a military field mass has been celebrated upon the Monument lot in Washington, attended last year by the President and other officials of state, and this year made a leading event in connection with the unveiling of the statue of Christopher Columbus. An annual celebration of the mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City has now been established as

honor of the firemen who died in that city during the preceding year. A tablet has been affixed to the wall of the custom-house in New York City, announcing that on that spot the first mass was celebrated in America. This tablet was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies and accepted in behalf of the government by William Loeb, Jr., the collector of customs of the port of New York.

In twenty-nine States legislation has been secured under Roman Catholic influence, setting apart Columbus day as a holiday, and every one familiar with the facts knows that on this day Roman Catholic societies parade the streets, masses are celebrated, and orations are delivered, glorifying the achievements of Columbus as a Catholic, and claiming all the results of his work as belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Under the leadership and influence of Roman Catholics, an appropriation of $100,000 was secured from Congress for the erection of a monument to Christopher Columbus in the city of Washington. This monument was unveiled June 8, and the unveiling was in a large degree a Roman Catholic affair. Tens of thousands of members of the Roman Catholic order, the Knights of Columbus, assembled from all parts of the country and constituted the chief feature in the unveiling ceremonies and the subsequent parade. Pressure is now being brought to bear upon Congress to secure a law designating one day in the year as Columbus day in the District of Columbia. The evident purpose of all this is the glorification of the Roman Catholic Church.

During the last century, there has been such a large number of Roman Catholic immigrants coming to these shores, and they have been so skilfully manipulated, that at the present time they hold a controlling influence in the leading cities of this country, such as New York, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco. New York is regarded as the strongest center of the Papacy in the world, being a much more Roman Catholic city than even Rome itself. In 1776 the ratio of Roman Catholics to the total population of the United States was one in one hundred twenty, but now it is one in six.

The influence of the Roman Catholic hierarchy upon the highest officials of America, including the President himself, is most marked, and has become the subject of discussion in nearly all the Protestant papers of the country. Evidences of this are seen in the intimate relations between the President and the leading members of the Roman hierarchy, such as Cardinal Gibbons, of Baltimore, Mgr. Russell, of Washington, and other prelates; in the ease with which these men secure favors from the government, such as the suspension of the religious-garb order, issued by Commissioner Valentine; and in the assertion made by Very Rev. John P. Chidwick, in a sermon at the laying of the corner-stone of the church of St. Jean Baptiste in New York City, Sunday, April 28, 1912: "In this country the church and the government are in sympathy."

There are other pertinent facts which might be cited, but these are sufficient to emphasize the fact that the Roman hierarchy has entered upon a definite program, and that it is carrying out that program with a zeal worthy of a better cause.

Those who are familiar with the interpretation of prophecy that Seventh-day Adventists have publicly presented for a half-century and more, know that they have predicted a revival of Roman Catholic influence in this country, and that they have endeavored to prepare the people so that they might recognize this fulfilment of prophecy, and know how to relate themselves to it. Now that we are beginning to see worked out in current history what we have declared would come, it is certainly fitting that we should recognize the advantage which this development brings to us, and that we should devote ourselves with greater intelligence and an increasing zeal to the work of proclaiming the threefold message announcing the perversion of truth by the Papacy, and warning the dwellers upon the earth against worshiping the beast and his image. It is doubtless true that there are very many people who up to this time have seriously questioned the correctness of our application of this prophecy, but who now might be convinced that our interpretation is fully warranted in view of recent events. It is certain in any case that a large number of Protestants have become greatly aroused by the facts and occurrences mentioned in this document, and that they are beginning to realize as never before that the Roman Catholic Church is seeking to capture America for the Papacy. This is indicated by the widespread discussion concerning the encroachments of the Roman hierarchy and its determined purpose, now so evident, to use governmental influence in furthering its ends. This makes the present a most opportune time to enter upon the most aggressive campaign which we have ever undertaken for proclaiming the truths of this message, and for exposing the false doctrines and the political aims of the Papacy.

The experience of the past three years has indicated that the Protestant Magazine is a most successful medium through which to reach clergymen, teachers, and other professional men, and to bring to their attention those fundamental principles of Protestantism which lie at the very foundation of this second advent movement. A most remarkable interest has been shown in this magazine by those who have maintained their devotion to the true principles of Protestantism, and we have received most encouraging letters and long lists of subscribers from such persons. We are confident that there are hundreds of thousands of others whom we have not yet reached, who would just as heartily welcome this exponent of Protestantism and give it their support.

In order to make this magazine a stronger factor in advancing our message, we have decided to issue it monthly, commencing with October of the present year, and we desire to enlist the efforts of all our people in securing for it a large circulation. With the hearty cooperation of those who believe in the message which it bears, we could soon have a list of 100,000 subscribers. We are not drawing on our imagination when we say this. One anti-Catholic publication which has been in the field only a little over one year, has already secured a list of nearly 200,000 subscribers, and the number is still rapidly growing. There is no other publication which occupies exactly the same field as the Protestant Magazine, and with the present interest in the Roman question, subscriptions can be more readily secured than at any previous time.

We suggest two definite plans of action. First, that each one make an effort to secure five yearly subscriptions to this magazine, forwarding three dollars, and retaining two dollars commission. The same result will be obtained if each one sends in five names with three dollars to pay for the magazine one year to each name. Second, that conference officials undertake to send this magazine to every minister in their territory, securing subscriptions as far as possible, and meeting the remainder of the expense by donations. It will be impossible to estimate might be accomplished in a very short time if our people throughout the country would carry out these suggestions. To give a clear understanding of terms and discounts, we submit the following statement of prices:—

Yearly subscription . . . . . . . . . . $1.00 Six months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 (Subscriptions for less than six months not accepted) Three years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00 Five years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00 Five copies, one year, one address or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00 Single copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Until Oct. 1, 1912, all new subscribers sending $1 for the year 1913 will receive, in addition to the 12 issues for 1913, the October, November, and December numbers free of charge — 15 months for $1. No reduction allowed on new six months' subscriptions.

We are earnestly hoping that there will be a cordial response to this appeal, and that we may commence the monthly issues of this magazine with a very largely increased list.