THE Chicago department of health calls attention to the fact that pneumonia is a dirty-air disease. People die from pneumonia when cold weather comes not because the weather is cold, but because they refuse to ventilate their houses and work places. They will not die from pneumonia if they will only let fresh, pure air into their homes. “Ventilate, but don’t hibernate” is the slogan of the health department. It points out that it is better and cheaper to pay for fuel than for sickness and death. In the living-rooms one window can be raised a trifle at the bottom and another lowered a little from the top. All bedrooms should be thoroughly aired for an hour or more every morning, and no bedroom is big enough to sleep in with all the windows closed.—Selected.
A Visit to Jamaica
By D. E. BLAKE, M. D.
It was recently the writer’s privilege to visit Jamaica, his native land, after an absence of more than ten years. The occasion was an enjoyable one, particularly the meeting of parents and friends and acquaintances. Only those who have had such an experience can fully appreciate its pleasantness. There was one regrettable feature in it, however, and that was the calling away of many by death,—many who were strong and healthy, and who at the time of our parting little dreamed of death. One thing more than all others was pleasing and gratifying,—the return to a home which, though ten years ago it was sadly indifferent toward present truth, is now rejoicing in the third angel’s message, and from around the family altar songs of praise arise to the Lord.
Several friends within a radius of twenty miles were visited. Some of these have made splendid progress, and in all may be seen the genuineness of the foundation laid by the pioneer workers on the island. Those who accepted the truth in those early times are still faithful, and their testimonies ring with courage and hope. The work of Brother W. W. Eastman in this neighborhood deserves special mention because of the rich and lasting results attending it.
One section of the island has had a severe drought, and several of our brethren are suffering from want of food and water. I may mention especially the district of Newell, where Brother Luther Mullings labors. Amid all the trying circumstances, they are building a little church in which to worship.
On my return, I visited the headquarters of our work in Jamaica, and was pleased to notice the improvements that have been made and are being made in Kingston. The beautiful church building, in one of the best parts of the city, does credit to the work there. The president of the conference, Elder D. E. Wellman, with a few faithful workers, is starting treatment-rooms, and already a good beginning has been made. This will greatly strengthen the work of the message in that important West Indian city. Brother Wellman reports progress in other parts of the field. May the Lord bless the work in this island.
D. E. BLAKE, M. D.
Illinois
By J. C. Harris; Mrs. J. C. Harris
Two years ago last March we moved from Sheridan to Ottawa, where we began work by going from house to house with the Missions REVIEW, soliciting for our needy mission fields. This work we enjoyed very much, and found it an excellent way of reaching all the people, besides gathering quite a little for the fields in the regions beyond. Many received us gladly, and we had many good experiences.
In the two years and a half that we were in Ottawa, we made a house-to-house canvass three different times, receiving, in all, more than two hundred dollars for missions. We held Sabbath and Sunday evening services, the papers of the city publishing a synopsis of the Sunday evening sermons. Many told us that they were reading the sermons every week.
We frequently visited Sheridan, Streator, and Pontiac, the Lord greatly blessing at these places. Just before we left Ottawa, we had the satisfaction of seeing four, all heads of families, take a firm stand for the truth, three of them uniting with the church.
The latter part of August the conference asked us to move to Joliet, it being necessary that a minister be stationed there. We at once began to plan for work in this large city. We have been able to recognize very clearly the hand of the Lord in this change of field, and can say that his blessing has been far greater than we expected. Though we have been here only a little over a month, one man has taken a firm stand for the truth, giving up a good position that he might keep the Sabbath. His wife is very favorable, and attends our Sabbath and Sunday evening meetings with her husband. We have rented a hall in the center of the city, and some not of our faith are attending our meetings. The enemy has tried hard to hinder the work in Joliet, but the Lord has shown his care for the work and for his dear people here. We hope to see a strong church built up in this city, and ask that the readers will remember to pray for the work here.
J. C. AND MRS. J. C. HARRIS.
Press Bureau Work
By W. L. BURGAN
MINISTERS and other workers in different parts of the United States are taking advantage of the opportunity to have some phase of the last gospel message heralded to the world through the columns of the newspaper, with the result that the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has probably had more extensive advertising this year than it had had during any ten years of its existence.
It is very encouraging to receive through the mails practically every day letters from our brethren in which they say that they have been writing for their home papers, and that the cause has been advanced through the publication of their articles. Along with their letters, quite a number have also sent clippings of the articles published, and a perusal of these clippings makes us rejoice in the fact that others are cooperating in this great movement to give the light of the gospel to untold multitudes who would not otherwise learn about it.
It is also encouraging to read in the various union conference papers statements by our brethren that they are writing for the press, and that interested persons are being attracted to the meetings through the reading of these reports. One of the brethren assisting in a tent-meeting in Sacramento, Cal., stated, in a recent issue of the Pacific Union Recorder, that the papers in that city have been giving liberal space for the reports of the meetings. A brother in Jackson, Miss., says that he recently held a ten days' tent effort in that city, and that a paper there published an excellent report of the meetings nearly every day. He further says: “These reports were read by many who were not able to attend the meetings, and were also the means of bringing some to the tent.”
One of the workers in Oklahoma reported the camp-meeting of that conference for the Oklahoma City papers, where the meeting was held, and after stating that it was his first real attempt18at reporting, continues: “I was quite surprised but very much pleased to see the way in which the daily papers here opened their columns to our reports. I became quite well acquainted with the city editors of the three papers, also with some of the reporters, and had some good talks with them about our organization and work. They were glad to talk on these subjects, and seemed to wonder at the magnificent work we are carrying forward, and thought it a great undertaking.”
Other letters of similar character have come to the Press Bureau office, which clearly indicate that not only will the men in these offices, who are wise in this world's knowledge, gladly publish articles about eternal truth, but will as gladly enter into an investigation of the wonderful principles which Adventists hold; and our brethren through the handing in of their reports will find many opportunities to go more deeply into the principles of the gospel with these men, and such visits may bring salvation to them. Newspaper editors and reporters, though they are almost entirely occupied in delving into the things of the world, are, nevertheless, susceptible to the teachings of the blessed gospel; and when one finds a tender spot in the heart of any of these men, he can soon realize that such a person is just as hungry for spiritual food as are men in other walks of life.
W. L. BURGAN.
Delaware and Maryland
By Gustavus P. Rodgers
WILMINGTON.— Our tent effort closed here Sunday night, September 22. It had been cold in the evenings for two weeks, but the interest was of the very best. Elder F. H. Seeney and wife; Mrs. E. V. Manners, a Bible worker of Norfolk; and the writer and his wife, comprising the tent company, prayed from the very beginning for a rich harvest of souls. The Lord answered our prayers. Sabbath, September 21, we held an impressive baptismal service. Ten were baptized, two being rebaptized, and three united with the church on their former baptism.
When we first pitched our tents in Wilmington one year ago, there had never been a worker among the colored people. As the result of our labors, a church has been organized, and now there are twenty-three persons rejoicing in the truth.
BALTIMORE.— Every Sunday night this past summer, which is always the most important night, Elder Seeney was alone, as the writer carried on the hall effort in Baltimore begun last March. As the result of this hall effort, nine united with the Baltimore church in June, and four or five others will soon take their stand for the truth.
Both at Wilmington and at Baltimore there is much to be done. We ask the REVIEW readers to pray the Lord of the harvest to send us more reapers, as the people are eager to know this truth. Among two hundred sixty-five thousand colored people in this conference, there are but two workers and one church building. We believe that the day of the Lord hasteth greatly.
GUSTAVUS P. RODGERS.
Cuba
By U. Bender
THE first general meeting among the Seventh-day Adventists of Cuba was held at the headquarters of the mission in Cerro, Havana, September 5-10. Many had looked forward to the time when the work would be so developed that a meeting of this kind would be necessary and profitable to the progress of the truth in this republic. The meeting is now a thing of the past, but we believe that the result will be greater power and progress in the giving of this last message to the people of Cuba.
The various methods of spreading the truth were discussed. At the present time, the evangelistic, canvassing, and school work are employed.
The canvassers have had good success this year, and several will continue in this work. At present our Spanish health book is being sold, with the hope that it will win the confidence of the people and open the way for some of our other books.
The meeting was attended by all the canvassers and by several brethren and sisters from out of town. The members of the Havana church attended the meetings as often as possible. The services at night consisted of preaching or of social meetings.
On Sabbath Elder G. M. Brown baptized two candidates, after a talk on what it means to go forward in this ordinance.
The attendance at the Sabbath-school was about seventy. This is a large company for Cuba, when we remember that seven years ago there were but two or three here who believed this message, and these had come here from the United States. In the entire field there are at present one hundred nine reported as regular members of the Sabbath-school. About thirty of these are foreigners, having nearly all come from the United States.
Since Jan. 1, 1912, orders for books have been taken to the amount of $8,905.66. Of this amount $5,907.31 has already been delivered. The aim is $10,000 worth of books delivered for 1912.
Without doubt this meeting will show good results in the future. The privilege of attending brought forth expressions of gratitude from many. May the Lord bless the workers as they turn again to their work among this people.
U. BENDER.
Work Among the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel
By F. C. Gilbert
NOT much has appeared of late in the Review concerning evangelistic work among the literal seed of Israel. But this has not been because nothing has been done among them, nor because there is a lack of interest in the work. I believe there never was a time when our brethren and sisters were more interested in this branch of the work than they are at the present time, and I am grateful for the encouraging words which frequently come to me from our people concerning their interest in this work.
In fact, the interest has grown to such an extent among the people of God that there have come many requests that information concerning how to labor among the Jews be published in such papers as the Review and the union conference papers. In order that this request might be granted, we have ceased to publish Good Tidings of the Messiah, though we regretted very much to discontinue its publication. We feel sure that, under God, that magazine has had its place, and it has been the means of accomplishing some good in the cause of present truth in behalf of these people.
We are glad to report that during the past summer we have had one Jewish brother with a tent effort in Boston, one brother in the canvassing work in Massachusetts, and one in the canvassing work in the Chesapeake Conference; and one sister has been at work translating from English into Yiddish. While we wish that many others were in the work or were preparing to go into the work, we are glad that a beginning is being made.
Only a short time ago several accepted the truth in New York; one brother in Nebraska has recently accepted the truth and desires to prepare himself for the work; and one young man whose mother has recently accepted the truth, desires to go to school to get a training for work in this cause. A young woman is waiting baptism, although she fears that it may greatly distress her people.
It means much to a Jew to accept Christ. When a child of Abraham in the flesh takes a stand for Jesus and for his truth, it means a complete separation from loved ones and friends, if not death as far as friendship or kinship is concerned. But we believe that God has many among these people who will yet accept this blessed message, and we are hoping, praying, and laboring to this end.
We are sure that when our brethren and sisters generally take the interest in the Jews which they should, and pray earnestly for them, we shall see the salvation of God. The apostle Paul tells us, in Rom. 10:1, that his heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. This indicates to us that if we wish to see Israel saved, we must pray for them. It is the Lord's plan that people should be saved by those of his children who love souls, who pray for the lost. We are sure that when more prayer is offered up for the lost sheep of Israel, we shall see more of them coming to the blessed Saviour.
We have also been conducting an interesting correspondence with many of these people throughout the land, and we are glad to say that the efforts have been blessed of God. Here is a letter from a prominent editor and publisher, which speaks for itself:—
“DEAR SIR: I thank you for sending me a copy of Liberty. I naturally sympathize with the movement of strengthening religious liberty in this country, especially with the object of your sect in maintaining the historic Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath which was observed by Jesus.
“Will you kindly give me the latest statistics of the Seventh-day Adventists, which I will use in the Hebrew Encyclopedia, in the article ‘Sabbath.’
“In my opinion the changing of the day of rest for Sunday, has caused the separation of Christians from the Jews, and is responsible for the persecution of that race.”
His request was granted, and statistics were sent him. He sent this reply:—
“DEAR SIR: I received your favor of the 12th inst., and enclosed statistics regarding the Seventh-day Adventists, which I will make use of in the ninth volume of the Hebrew Encyclopedia, under ‘Sabbath.’ This volume will appear about March, 1913. Meantime, if you have additional information, kindly send it. With many thanks. Will send you a copy of the printed article when it appears in book form.”
Let us continue to pray for the blessing of the Lord upon this work and upon these people. Any one who desires information in reference to work among the Jews can receive it by addressing the undersigned at South Lancaster, Mass.
F. C. GILBERT.
An Outside Viewpoint
THE Mountain View (Cal.) Register-Leader, of September 18, has this to say of the Harvest Ingathering number of the Signs of the Times:—
“To-day there might have been seen going through the street of the town an express-wagon loaded with all the mail-sacks that a willing horse could pull, even over the well-graded streets,” said Wednesday’s San Jose Times.
“This is but a small, very small part, of the mail now being sent to all parts of the world by the Pacific Press Publishing Company, which is under the management of the Seventh-day Adventists. The company has recently issued from the plant in this town the stupendous number of 450,000 of the Signs of the Times Magazine, devoted to their special faith.
“Few who are not thorough printers can have any idea of what these plain figures really mean, but those who have a knowledge of the printing business know that 450,000 copies of a magazine is a work which few printing plants west of Chicago could produce, to say nothing of the immense expense.
“It is something of an honor to have a printing plant of this magnitude in the Santa Clara valley, and the magazine does not ask nor accept advertisements from the public at large, even a few pages of which would bring in many thousands of dollars.”
From the Schools
THERE were over two thousand more pupils enrolled in our church-schools last year than the previous year.
SOUTH LANCASTER and Keene Academies are both equipping new normal buildings, which they hope will be ready for the winter term.
PROF. C. S. LONGACRE says that South Lancaster Academy began with a larger attendance than last year, and that the school will be full to overflowing.
PROF. FREDERICK GRIGGS writes: “Our school is opening up in good form. We have more students in the home now than we had at any time in 1911-12. We may not be able to reach our four-hundred mark in students, but we are certainly endeavoring to do so.”
PROF. O. J. GRAF writes: “School opened last Tuesday with an unusually large attendance, notwithstanding the fact that it was early in the week, and also early in the month. We had the largest opening enrolment in recent years,—175 against 102 of last year. At present we have 175; at the same time last year, we had 116. And what gives us more encouragement than the increase in numbers is the excellent character of the students. Our first Friday evening vesper service was one of great inspiration. Dozens were standing, waiting for an opportunity to express their determination to make this school year the best in their lives. The Sabbath service was so well attended that we had to seat a part of the congregation on the choir platform, to make room for all. We thank the Lord for his blessing to us.”
Christian or Worldly Education, Which?
By O. P. WILSON
THE greatest need of all the world to-day is men,—men who will stand by their convictions, and follow the instruction given by our Lord. His command is, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [“make disciples of all the nations,” A. R. V.], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Notice that we must teach the people if we wish to make disciples of them.
“To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized,—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life.”—“Education,” pages 15, 16. Can the public schools do this?—No, they can not, and will not; so it is time for us to be doing something with regard to it. We are living right down in the end of the world,—a time that is parallel to that just before the flood; a time when men are saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” a time when but few are going to stand the final test, as Noah and his house did in those days. O, let us awake to our duty! Let that duty be first to our families, for it is true that as the antediluvian world rejected Noah’s warning, so will this present world reject ours.
What a comfort it will be to us when we can hear Jehovah say: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” What an encouragement to parental fidelity! Then should we disregard our duties at this time to educate our children in the way that has been planned by the Great Teacher? If you have not already planned to send your children to our own schools, do so at once. Do not delay, “for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
O. P. WILSON.
The Young People’s Work in the South American Union
By MAXIMO TRUMMER
THE beginning of special work for the young people was made in connection with the school work in Diamante, Argentina, and in Pua, Chile. As the youth came together in these places year after year, the importance of wisely directing them in their plans and aims to become workers in the message presented itself very forcibly, and the result was the organization of missionary societies for them. In their meetings, special studies on missionary endeavor were presented, and practical missionary work was done.
However, the question of the Missionary Volunteer organization was not given consideration until two years ago. During the annual council of the union committee it was decided to organize the young people’s society at our educational center in harmony with the Young People’s Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference; it was very gratifying to see the deeper consecration and the greater determination which were soon manifest among the young people.
The work of the societies is both theoretical and practical. The young people meet every two weeks for studies, except the societies in the schools, which meet every Sabbath. The Missionary Volunteers of Buenos Aires give also Friday evening to prayer and social meeting. The programs are made up of Bible topics, biographies of Reformers and missionaries, the study of our work, the history of the world-wide field, and music. Missionary work is done in canvassing, in mailing periodicals, and in correspondence work. In this, the society in Diamante gives a worthy example by maintaining among its forty members a club of 180 yearly subscriptions to our Spanish Signs. Donations are taken up regularly for the support of the local work and the building up of libraries. It may be of interest to note that a valuable collection of books can be secured in Spanish, aside from our denominational works, such as, the Lives of Luther, John Wesley, and Abraham Lincoln; the histories of the Reformation and of the Christian church; also one of literature.
For general reading, we have books by S. Smiles on Character, Self-help, Duty, Economy, Life and Work, etc. To these we can also add some volumes in the English and German languages.
Unifying the Work
At our last union conference in Santiago, Chile, the Missionary Volunteer work received special consideration in the further organization of this department. Plans were made for the publishing of the Morning Watch Calendar, and for continued studies in the union paper. Immediate steps will be taken to effect the formation of conference and mission societies, which will enable us to be in contact with each young person in our churches. Secretaries have already been elected to lead out in the work in each field. Beginning with the new year, a reading course will be maintained throughout the union. We have in view as our missionary enterprise the paying of the salary of the teacher at our Indian mission at Lake Titicaca, Peru.
We have now four Missionary Volunteer Societies in Argentina and one in the republic of Chile. However, two others will be reorganized in the latter conference when I visit them next September, which will give us, virtually, seven societies in all at the time of the reading of this report. These will have an approximate membership of one hundred twenty-five. This number will, no doubt, be increased very materially by adding the members of the conference and mission societies at the beginning of the new year. Aside from those already mentioned, we have also a young people’s society in our Indian mission in Peru. The meetings are held mostly in the Aymara language. I had the privilege of being with them last July.
The Lord has certainly blessed this work in a marked manner, and the outlook is very encouraging. Our experience with the young people at campmeeting was also much enjoyed, and it is our desire to improve these opportunities still more in the future. This year we shall follow the plan suggested for the annual gatherings in the States. With the motto, “The love of Christ constrains us,” and the inspiring aim, “The advent message to all the world in this generation,” we hope to perfect the Christian experience of our young people, and to train many to be workers for the cause of the third angel’s message in Latin America. We wish to be remembered in the prayers of the young people in other lands.
MAXIMO TRUMMER.
Young People’s Work
Conducted by the Young People’s Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference
M. E. KERN Secretary
MEADE MAC GUIRE Field Secretary
MATILDA ERICKSON Corresponding Secretary
Christian Education
By H. R. Salisbury
Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference
H. R. SALISBURY Secretary
Serving the Lord
By Maclaren
ALL life will flash into beauty, and tower into greatness, and be smoothed out to easiness, and the crooked things be made straight and the rough places plain, and the familiar and trite be invested with “the glory and the freshness of a dream,” if in all we are consciously serving the Lord. That is the secret of diligence and of fervency.—Maclaren.
An Aggressive Campaign Announced
We are of the opinion that the Roman Catholic hierarchy, by its persistent interference in governmental affairs, has aroused an opposition and precipitated a discussion which it little expected. That some sturdy Protestants have become thoroughly aroused is shown both by the wide-spread discussion of these matters in the leading religious papers and in the various anti-Catholic publications, and by the plans now announced to carry the work into the enemy's camp by seeking such legislative action as will forbid some of the things for which the Roman hierarchy has been striving.
The following extracts from an article in Church and State (Boston), September, 1912, announces a plan of action during the next session of Congress which will doubtless line up the forces for and against a more complete separation of church and state in this country:—
“The American Minutemen are planning a most aggressive campaign at Washington when Congress convenes for its December session. The organization will, in the first place, vigorously oppose and use every honorable means to defeat every attempt that may be made to secure the appropriation of public money or the diversion of public property for any sectarian purpose. It will also combat any effort to secure undue privileges for any religious body.
“On the offensive the organization will concentrate its efforts on two important measures. As will be recalled, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Valentine some months ago issued an order that teachers in Indian government schools should not teach in religious garb. President Taft immediately revoked this order. The Minutemen believe that the Valentine order was absolutely fair and in accordance with the American policy of complete separation of church and state. They further believe that this matter is altogether too important to be left to the judgment of either the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Interior, or the President of the United States. As evidenced by the present disagreement between Commissioner Valentine and President Taft, officials of the same administration may hold different views on this question, and even were they in complete accord in the matter, there is nothing to prevent their position being completely reversed by the next administration. Such a condition must not be permitted to continue. The Minutemen are now drafting a bill to absolutely prohibit the wearing of any religious garb by teachers in government schools during school hours. This bill will be presented in Congress next December.
“The second and by far the most important matter to be presented by the Minutemen is a constitutional amendment to prohibit sectarian appropriations. In other words, an attempt is to be made so to amend the Constitution of the United States as to prohibit forever the national government, as well as any State or local government, from making any appropriations of money or property for any institution wholly or in part under ecclesiastical control.
“To amend the Constitution of the United States is a serious and somewhat difficult task, but the end sought is well worth every endeavor. This amendment, if adopted, will permanently settle a controversy that would otherwise drag on for years with ever-increasing bitterness and ill feeling. As matters at present stand, a bill appropriating money for parochial schools or other sectarian institutions may be introduced at any session of Congress, or of most of our State legislatures, and if defeated, may again be introduced at the next session. Such a situation accrues entirely to the advantage of those demanding sectarian appropriations. They lose nothing by a defeat or even by a series of defeats, and sooner or later they are sure to secure a Congress or a legislature weak enough or base enough to yield to their demands. In fact, numerous appropriations have already been made for sectarian institutions other than schools. We believe that the only statesmanlike course to pursue is to add the proposed amendment to the organic law of the land. Such legislation will eliminate any excuse for ecclesiastical interference in American politics. It will settle this grave question, and settle it right.”
The Need of Consistency
It is comparatively easy to see a departure from right principles in the other man. This is illustrated by the attitude of some Protestants toward Roman Catholics. Nearly all Protestants have opposed the wearing of the religious garb in the government schools on the ground that it was a violation of the American principles of separation of church and state; but at the same time, they favor certain things done by Protestants which are a much greater violation of the same principles. This savors of unfairness, and works to the disadvantage of those who occupy this contradictory position. Protestants ought to be consistent in their warfare against Romanism, and not allow in themselves the things which they condemn in Roman Catholics. The disadvantage at which they have placed themselves in doing otherwise is clearly shown by the following criticism:—
“They are criticizing the Catholics for their attempting to do precisely that which all the Protestant sects have been doing ever since the establishment of the republic. Wherever they can bring it about, they have Protestant religious exercises and Bible reading in the public schools, using the King James Version, which is accepted by neither Catholics nor Jews; and every effort to make the public schools non-sectarian, so that there shall be nothing in the routine to offend the religious beliefs of the parents of any of the pupils, has been fought by the Protestant clergy and their following with the utmost determination and with every weapon at their command, in the churches, the newspapers, the courts, and even by intimidation of office-holders, candidates for office, and teachers.
“Nor have they stopped there. They have have the paid chaplains in the army and navy, in all correctional, reformatory, and public charitable institutions. Congress and all other political sessions are opened with Christian prayers. All Protestant leaders and judges, even some of those on the United States Supreme Court bench, insist that this is a Christian country and that Christianity is a part of the law of the land, and demand Sunday and sumptuary legislation accordingly. The Guardians of Liberty are hardly in a position to criticize the Catholic Church and its adherents for their alleged political activity.
“What all good citizens should strive for is secularism pure and simple in all branches of the government and courts and in all public educational institutions, leaving the inculcation of religion to the parents and the churches, and giving the greatest possible facilities to all of them, and special advantages to none.
“And above all, no man's religious belief or unbelief should be considered in selecting the candidates for public office or employment in any private capacity.”
— The Chicago Israelite, Oct. 5, 1912.
The Present Situation
By Editor
We have received the first copy of Church and State, a monthly publication issued in Boston, advocating the separation of church and state. The editorial staff is a strong one, and includes the names of L. S. Metcalf, LL. D., former editor of the North American Review; Rev. O. P. Gifford, D. D., a leading Baptist pastor of Boston; and Prof. Luther T. Townsend, D. D., of the Boston University, who has made some valuable contributions to the literature opposing the new theology.
In its leading article, setting forth the reasons for its existence, Church and State gives a view of the present situation, which is well worth reprinting. We quote a portion of this article:—
“It must be apparent to every thoughtful American that our country is facing one of the most momentous questions in its history. In the past eighteen months a series of significant events have forced upon the mind of the public the conclusion that the time has at last arrived when the Roman Catholic Church is to demand, and make every effort to secure, public money for the support of its parochial schools and other institutions. There can be no doubt that this purpose has been in the minds of certain Roman prelates for years past, but they have been retarded somewhat in carrying out their plans by the passive resistance of a more liberal element in their own ranks.
“Unfortunately, however, the ultramontane, or reactionary, element in the Church of Rome is now in the ascendancy, as evidenced by the type of American cardinals recently appointed; and the issue of whether public money shall be appropriated for sectarian purposes is squarely upon us.
“On Jan. 29, 1911, the Federation of Church Societies of the Archdiocese of Boston (the archdiocese of Cardinal O’Connell) passed resolutions demanding state support for parochial schools. The same body passed similar resolutions in 1912. The National Federation of Roman Catholic Societies, meeting in Columbus, Ohio, August of last year, took the same position. Many of the speeches on the matter were extremely21violent, one speaker going so far as to threaten that there would be no political peace in the nation until such appropriations were made. November 5 last, Monsignor Teeling, of Lynn, Mass., one of the leading prelates of the ultramontane wing of the Roman Church, in a public address, stated that the time had come not only to demand but to work for state support of parochial schools. Determined efforts are being made to secure national support for Roman schools among the Indians, and also to control absolutely the government’s own schools. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Valentine last spring issued an order that teachers in government schools should not teach in religious garb. So powerful were ecclesiastical influences in Washington that the President of the United States immediately revoked this order.
“The silence of the American press on this question has been well-nigh criminal. No daily paper of any prominence has even mildly criticized, much less rebuked, the church’s demand for public support of its institutions. Not only this, but these papers have refused to print, or have printed in garbled or extremely abbreviated form, the addresses of eminent clergymen and others who have criticized or opposed such demands of the Roman Church. Several anti-Romanist publications have, it is true, spoken in no uncertain tone on the matter, but their extreme violence and intolerance on the whole matter of Romanism has been such as to limit their influence to the comparatively small number of their own subscribers. The Protestant religious press of the country has not hesitated to speak fearlessly and openly concerning the matter, and deserves the thanks of every patriotic American for its timely utterances. But the religious press necessarily finds itself with limitations when it comes to discussing political matters. It can maintain and advocate right principles on this grave matter, but it can not well lead a propaganda that can accomplish results only by concerted political action.
“Hence it is evident that if our citizens are to be informed upon this important matter, it must be by means of a publication independent of other issues and wholly devoted to this one. This is why we are publishing Church and State. It will maintain the entire separation of church and state. It will oppose all appropriations of public money or public property for sectarian institutions or purposes. It will strongly advocate the passage of laws making such appropriations forever impossible. It will keep its readers and the public thoroughly informed on all matters pertaining to the above questions.”
State and Church
By W. W. Prescott
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of Religious Freedom, and the Campaign “to Make America Catholic.”