Popery by Editor | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 20, 1864

Popery.

By Editor

We understand from Rev. xiii, that there will be a spirit of deference manifested on the part of Protestantism toward the Papacy, or rather a spirit of affiliation or coalescence with that power in some of its anti-christian assumptions. The following article which we find in the Earnest Christian, published by B. T. Roberts, Rochester, N. Y., contains some startling and significant facts. We chronicle these for the reader's consideration, and wait for further developments in this direction.

The progress of Popery in this country is truly alarming. We can remember when a Roman Catholic—a man who did not eat meat on Friday—was a curiosity. Now Romanism bids fair to be the dominant religion of the country. The titles assumed by their ecclesiastics are significant. Their bishops are styled bishops of the country, and not of the Roman Catholics in it. New York contains some Protestants, but the representative of the Pope calls himself the bishop of New York, as though his jurisdiction extended over all its inhabitants. They are not only rapidly increasing in numbers, but their church property is accumulating faster than that of any other denomination. The largest and finest churches in Buffalo belong to them, and notwithstanding the heavy expense of building at the present time, another large edifice is in process of construction. In Philadelphia, a cathedral was consecrated last month, which was eighteen years in building, and cost about half a million of dollars. It is the largest church edifice in the United States. More than seven hundred priests participated in the ceremonies, and eight thousand people were in attendance.

But the power to which Romanism has already attained is strikingly seen by the special favors shown to its ministers by the Government. When Archbishop Hughes—the man who drove the Bible from the public schools—died, the Legislature of New York conferred honors upon his memory which they have never shown to any Protestant Divine, however great his talents or exalted his services. Since our civil war began, many Protestant ministers have been drafted into the army. Some of them were in poor circumstances, with dependent families; whom it was difficult to leave; and congregations to serve that could ill spare them. Those drafted were compelled to go, or procure a substitute. In one case that we know of, a substitute was refused. The Rev. Thomas S. La Due, of the Illinois Conference of the Free Methodist Church, was drafted under the recent call. As he had a family that needed his care, his brother, a single man, offered to go in his place. The offer was refused, and Rev. Mr. La Due had to take his place in the ranks.

How has it been in regard to Roman Catholic Priests? In September last, two Catholic priests were drafted in Bardstown, Kentucky. The Secretary of War ordered that they be not called on to report for service. A number of priests at St. Louis were drafted, all single men, as Catholic Priests always are. Application was made to the War Department, and they, too, were promptly exempted. What right has the Government to manifest such partiality? Is it to be understood that Romanism is to be thus specially favored by our authorities? The political dominion of the Priesthood in the Old World was gained by slow degrees. Is it to be so in this country? Are our religious and civil liberties to be at the mercy of the Romish hierarchy? It is time for the people to wake up to this subject.

As a specimen of the claims already put forth by Romanists in this country, we give an extract from 'The Universe,' of Philadelphia, 'the oldest Catholic paper in the United States:'

'The pope is the prince of Christendom. He is the Vicar of Christ. All, therefore, that have the true faith, are under his jurisdiction. He is the universal shepherd. To deny this would be heresy. It would be the contradiction of existing visible fact. Where there is the right of jurisdiction or authority, there is the duty of obedience and loyalty; and where this duty is found, the right to protection is found along with it. The Holy Father, therefore, owes the protection of his sublime office to every member of his flock. This spirit has always animated the Sovereign Pontiffs. They have never lost sight of it. It will distinguish them forever. The allocution against the religious and political tyranny of Russia on Poland, was inspired by it. Rome has always preserved the deposit of faith, and always protected it and its children to the best of its ability.'

'What can be objected against this? All Infidelity, all Atheism, all Protestantism, and all Judaism, cry out against it with one common voice. But because they are false, they have no justice in their protests, and it would be a waste of time to consider what they demur.'

The pope the prince of Christendom! Is not that a bold claim to be put forth in the nineteenth century? Infidelity, Atheism, and Protestantism are ranked together! and 'because they are false' their protests must not even be considered!