American Sentinel, Vol. 9, No. 10 (March 8, 1894) | AdventAI

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It will not do to say in answer to this, although it be perfectly true, that the pope’s claims to be the representative of God, or to be God, are a fraud and an imposture, and therefore the Catholic’s belief in the pope and his allegiance to him are a fallacy and are indeed really nothing religiously. This is all true, but that does not touch the point here. The Catholic believes and religiously believes that the pope’s claims are genuine, and that his prerogatives are divine: that is the Catholic’s religious profession. And the point is that he has the inalienable right to believe thus and to hold this religious profession, without question or molestation from any source or for any cause. It is a fundamental American principle and sound American doctrine, that for “each one to believe for himself and to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience is an inalienable right.” And that “our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, more than on our opinions in physics or geometry; that therefore the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to the offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages to which, in common with his fellow-citizens, he has a natural right.” This, we say, is sound and fundamental American principle and doctrine. And therefore it is clear that any proposition to make the Catholic’s allegiance to the pope a test or impediment against any civil or political right is decidedly un-American. Consequently, any such method as that of opposing the papacy in the United States not only will not succeed but will actually aid her, in that it subverts fundamental principles and breaks down constitutional safeguards. And when these are subverted and broken down for any cause whatever, they are subverted and broken down for every cause—they are indeed no more, and the nation becomes but the prey of the violent and the most violent take it by force. Such procedure can only hasten the success and supremacy of the papacy. And therefore the AMERICAN SENTINEL, being American, and opposed to the papacy, can never indorse, nor engage in, any such method of “opposition.”1 paragraphs
THEREFORE it is that this question of opposing the papacy requires the most careful thought upon the part of all who would engage in it, lest they be found really aiding her while professedly opposing her, and while really intending to oppose her. This is true in the case at any time, because of the exceeding subtlety of her workings; but now it is doubly true, because, in addition to the subtlety of her workings, she has, as we showed last week, such a clear field and such an immense advantage in every way, for the carrying forward of her avowed purpose to possess America for herself.1 paragraphs
BISHOP COXE proposed another method of “opposition” to the papacy, which is worth notice, not only because it is an example of how not to do it, but because it has been quite widely indorsed. We have given in these columns the bishop’s clear statement of the situation as regards <page-break/> the papacy in the United States, and have given him credit for it. And we also give him credit for good intentions regarding opposition to the papacy. But as his raising the alarm is robbed of its force by the fact of his having helped to create the alarming situation, so his proposed opposition is robbed of all its force by the method which he proposes. Here is his proposition as made in his second open letter to Satolli:—Editor6 paragraphs
It has been seriously proposed to disfranchise Catholics in the United States who will not renounce allegiance to the pope. But this could never be done on any American principle. The Catholic’s allegiance to the pope is a religious matter—it is a spiritual thing. And to deny or curtail political right on account of religious profession is clearly and entirely un-American. It is a fundamental principle, as well as a constitutional provision, of the Government of the United States, that religious profession shall never have any bearing upon civil rights or political qualifications. To the Catholic the pope is in the place of God, and is the representative of God: he believes that allegiance to the pope is allegiance to God. And it is in this sense that the Catholic professes and holds allegiance to the pope. This cannot fairly be denied. His allegiance to the pope is therefore a religious thing, it is a religious profession, and is to him an essential part of his worship as to God. And to propose to abridge his political rights on account of his allegiance to the pope, is therefore plainly to deny civil or political right on account of religious profession, and is therefore just as clearly unconstitutional and un-American.1 paragraphs
If opposition to the papacy be conducted upon unchristian principles, it will only increase her antichristian power and influence. If this opposition be conducted upon unprotestant principles the only effect will be to make more widespread the influence of Catholicism. The papacy is un-American, it is true, but if opposition to her is conducted on un-American principles her un-American power and influence is only increased, her hold upon the country is more confirmed, and her taking possession of the country is only hastened.1 paragraphs
THIS subject of opposition to the papacy in the United States needs to be very carefully studied, lest it be done in such a way as to really help her instead of hindering her. The papacy needs to be opposed and must be opposed in her designs upon the United States and the world as well as in every other thing. But this opposition, to avail anything, must be made upon right principles and must be conducted in the right way.1 paragraphs
AND being Christian, Protestant, and American, the opposition of the AMERICAN SENTINEL to the papacy, whether in the guise of a professed Protestantism or in her own proper dress, always has been, and always will be, conducted upon strictly Christian, Protestant and American principles.1 paragraphs
THE AMERICAN SENTINEL is therefore everlastingly and uncompromisingly opposed to every element and every principle of the papacy wherever, and in whatever guise, it may appear.1 paragraphs
AND the AMERICAN SENTINEL is American.1 paragraphs
THE AMERICAN SENTINEL is Protestant.1 paragraphs
THE AMERICAN SENTINEL is Christian.1 paragraphs
THE reader may be ready to ask, “Do you propose to surrender to Rome altogether?”—Oh, no, never! We propose to have the victory over Rome altogether. It may be inquired then, “How do you propose to do it?” Well, we shall tell that later. But in the meantime we beg leave to remark that the present position and work of the papacy in the United States presents a much greater question than the American people realize, and a question which requires much more careful and critical thought than many people have ever yet given to it.A. T. J.2 paragraphs
Trial of Seventh-day Adventists in Gainesville, Georgia.W. H. M.10 paragraphs
No! Upon American, Protestant, and Christian principles, the Grand Lama has as much right to send an “ablegate” here to control 500,000 Buddhists as he has to send a priest to control five, or as any individual has to be a Buddhist at all: that is, a full, complete and untrammeled right. And under these principles the pope has just as much right to send an ablegate here to control 7,000,000 Catholics, as he has to create a cardinal here, or to appoint a priest here, or as any individual here has to be a Catholic at all: and that is, a perfect right. And no restriction can be put upon that right without, at the same time and in the same act, sweeping away the safeguards of all the rights of all the people. And, surely, every person who will take the time to think must readily decide that it is far better to maintain the principles and the safeguards of all the rights of himself and all the people, and bear the presence of an “ablegate,” than to sweep away all the safeguards of all the rights of himself and all the people in an attempt to get rid of the “ablegate.”1 paragraphs
BUT it may be said, and truly, that the papacy with its ablegate, and in its whole system, is not only religious but political, and interferes in politics and manipulates votes, and thus herself violates the principles of the Government and the Constitution. Yes, that is true. The papacy is nothing if not political as well as religious. “The help of the law and State authority” is an essential element in the work of the papacy. She does interfere in politics and does manipulate votes, and does, thus and otherwise, violate the principles of the Government and the provisions of the Constitution.8 paragraphs
Did the Church of Rome Ever Persecute?C. P. B.24 paragraphs
“A CHRISTIAN man may believe that his church is far from perfect, and may yet consistently retain his membership in it; but in the very moment in which he reaches the conclusion that it is a thoroughly corrupt organization, he is bound to leave it and lift up his voice against it. If he hesitates, he shows that he is lacking in courage.”1 paragraphs
Christianity and the Roman Empire.12 paragraphs
The Gospel Not Force.W. A. COLCORD6 paragraphs
Rome Claims Supremacy Over the State.7 paragraphs
Shame on Maryland.6 paragraphs
The “Non-Sectarian” Delusion.L. D. Burdick10 paragraphs
The New “Standard Dictionary.”11 paragraphs
The Church Union on Sunday Observance.2 paragraphs
“The Sovereign Pontiff.”4 paragraphs
What the National Reformers Propose to Do.9 paragraphs
DO YOU USE A FOUNTAIN PEN?5 paragraphs
Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen5 paragraphs
FATHERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCHEllet Joseph Waggoner6 paragraphs
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PLAN OF SALVATIONan American Citizen5 paragraphs
ROBERT MORRISON, the Pioneer of Chinese Missions—By Wm. J. Townsend, Sec. Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society. 12mo, 160 pages, fully illustrated, cloth extra, 75 cents.Wm. J. Townsend1 paragraphs
JOHN WILLIAMS, the Martyr of Erromanga—By Rev. J. J. Ellis. 12mo, 160 pages, fully illustrated, cloth extra, 75 cents.1 paragraphs
Order of PACIFIC PRESS,1 paragraphs
THE STORY OF JESUS.Mrs. G. E. Morton5 paragraphs
“The garb of the Sisters of Charity was conspicuous in the Thirty-fourth Ward public school to-day,” says a Pittsburg dispatch of the 26th ult. The reason given is that four nuns who had been previously employed in the parochial school of the ward begun teaching in the public school. The priest in charge of the parish states that this was necessary because of lack of accommodations for the parochial school children in his building. Instead of erecting an edition to the parochial school he installed nuns as teachers in the public school. “The nuns passed the school- teachers’ examinations with high percentages.” The school board is composed of Catholics, and they readily agreed to the proposition. It is said that there will be no religious instruction given in the school hours, and that the nuns will not wear their rosaries, but will wear their religious garb. Commenting on the facts stated, the Independent, of this city, says: “Of course a nun should not be excluded from qualifying as a teacher if she can. But we should draw the line at her wearing any specially religious garb: and if we are not mistaken, General Draper, who was superintendent of schools for this State, decided that such a dress could not be allowed in public schools.” If General Draper ever made such a ruling he was clearly right. Distinctively religious garbs must be excluded from the public school rooms unless the schools are to be completely Romanized.1 paragraphs
TOPEKA, Kansas, is moving in the matter of Sunday closing. The Ways and Means Committee met recently, says the Topeka Capital, to discuss the Sunday closing ordinance. A delegation from the Ministerial Union, consisting of Revs. Alderson, Dill, and Owens, was present to discuss the matter with the members of the committee.3 paragraphs
LEGISLATION seems to be running mad. The latest freak is a bill at Albany “to prohibit the tolling of any bell in any cemetery in Brooklyn.” The Sun pertinently enquires: “Will the meddlers with everything, and every custom, and every right of the living and of the dead, even with funerals, burial ceremonies, and immemorial usages, never cease their meddling?”1 paragraphs
THE Catholic Review does not like the idea of taxing church property, but thinks that in the event of such a policy being adopted, "it is not the Catholics but the Protestants who will have the most reason to wince." And that is just the reason church property will not be taxed. "Protestants" there are in abundance who would like to tax Romish Church property, but the Protestants who are willing to pay taxes on their own church property are few.1 paragraphs
A DISPATCH from Toledo, under date of February 21, published in the Sun of this city, on the 22nd, states that a judgment was rendered against one W. J. Ostrander, on a suit brought to recover a balance of $138.40 on a contract for a lot of rifles sent to Council No. 2 of the American Protective Association. Ostrander was, it seems, the agent of the council in the purchase of the rifles. With the American Protective Association and the Roman Catholics both arming, the results are scarcely a matter of doubt. Open conflict must ensue.2 paragraphs
A CORRESPONDENT wants to know our objections to the proposed 16th Amendment. We have no objection to it except that it does not go far enough. It prohibits simply appropriations for “sectarian” purposes. In the proper sense of the word that is all right, but in the sense in which it is intended by the promoters of the amendment it would still leave the Government or any State free to make appropriations for that colorless thing known as “unsectarian religious instruction.” The amendment does not touch the root of the evil and is not designed to.Editor1 paragraphs
A FRIEND in Missouri writes us as follows:—Editor4 paragraphs
S. S. Lessons on the Book of Luke.2 paragraphs
If you are going to do anything this year in either the vegetable or flower garden wouldn't it be a good idea to send ten cents to James Vick's Sons, Rochester, N. Y., for a copy of “Vick's Floral Guide” for 1894? The “Guide” is one of the neatest things of the kind that we have ever seen, and if you purchase seeds, it costs nothing since the ten cents can be deducted from the first order for seeds. Vick's seeds cost no more than do others, and they are always good. Besides, the “Guide” is very attractive, and if you see it you will be pretty sure to want some of the choice novelties advertised this season. Every family that can possibly do so, ought to have, in addition to the common vegetables, at least a few choice flowers for their refining influence. They will repay the little care they require.1 paragraphs