New Catholics.— The Oregon Daily Journal of May 4 says that Methodists, Baptists, and other American communions working in Italy and assisting local Protestants in France, report that there is coming into existence in both countries a Catholic Church that is not papal. Those leading in this movement, it is said, are the younger elements among the better type of families. They wish to get away from historic Catholicism and cope with
Liberalism and the Catholic Church
has modern conditions, with a trend toward liberalism in doctrine. But we may safely say this,—that there will be no movement of this kind of any importance as against the great Catholic Church. It may flourish for a little while.
Is It Dead Matter?
Is It Dead Matter?—Current Literature, reviewing a new book, says: “That living organisms can be obtained ‘almost at will’ from solutions which have been heated in hermetically sealed vessels to temperatures very much higher than that which is known to be their death point, is now asserted by that famous authority on the nervous system, Dr. Henry Charlton Bastian, emeritus professor at University College, London.” The media used are mixtures of saline solutions. It is said that in these mixtures, after the exposure of the tubes to light for months, develop organisms, not moving about in the fluid, but “were always motionless.” The real question is, after all, whether these organisms are not manifestations of lower forms of life, mineral or vegetable, than have come within our ken. Are not minerals alive until disintegration occurs and the power to crystallize is gone? How do we know the matter was “dead matter”? These are questions of a layman.
The Office Does Not Make Holy
It may be a holy office of God's own appointment, worthy of all honor; but it does not make its incumbent holy. Its responsibilities and sacredness may bring to him somewhat of the holiness he ought to possess, but it will not change his heart or make him a holy man. Let us not degrade the office divinely ordained, by confounding it with the unworthy officer, who places the position before Christ. The kingship was important, tho Saul and Ahab and Zedekiah were false to their trust. Apostleship was divinely ordained, tho Judas was false. Only Christ can save and cleanse. Position in His work without Him is mockery.
Peace in a World at War
The San Francisco “News Letter” puts present conditions fairly well when it says: “The bird of peace has anything but a heavenly time in these times of ‘armed intervention.’ The school children will celebrate Peace Day on May 17, and in every civilized country, according to news despatches, blood is being shed in war, riots, strikes, or forms of anarchy.” Surely there is need of peace propaganda. But peace can not come with men at war with God. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
Human Government and Sabbath Enforcement
Human government never enforced GOD'S word or law or Sabbath; it only enforced some man's conception of what God demanded. Men of old professing to be teachers of God, believed that Jesus Christ ought to die because He did not keep the Sabbath in the same way they did. There are teachers now who believe that men who keep the same Sabbath that Jesus kept ought to die because they do not keep a day He never kept. Should such teachers ever be entrusted with the power of Cæsar?
The Home and National Morality
The Portland “Oregonian” reports a sermon by the Rev. Frank D. Findley, of the First United Presbyterian Church, in which he said that “if the dear little child is to be banished from the home to make place for cards, wine, theater-parties, paint, poodle dogs, and the follies and fashions of sin, the home is gone, and the nation may as well prepare to meet the whirlwind. No part of society can strike against God without inflicting upon us national injury.” And he speaks truly.
The Boycott of Tipping
The United Commercial Traveling Men of California, recently in convention assembled, passed resolutions to boycott all hotels, barber shops, cafes, and other places where tipping is not prohibited. Good! We wish it might become general. Employees ought to be paid enough by their own employers, without demanding that the public should aid.
Editorial and Publishing Appointments
By Editor
Since the recent election and organization of the Review and Herald board, the following editors have been appointed, a noting of which will be of interest to our readers: editor of the Review and Herald, F. M. Wilcox; associate editors of the Review and Herald, C. M. Snow and W. A. Spicer; editor of the Youth’s Instructor, Mrs. Fannie Dickerson Chase; editor of Life and Health, Dr. G. H. Heald; editor of Liberty, W. W. Prescott; associate editor of Liberty, C. M. Snow; editor of Protestant Magazine, W. W. Prescott.
J. W. Mace was appointed manager of the western branch house, and L. W. Graham manager of the eastern branch. The business manager of the publishing house is E. R. Palmer, formerly secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department. That place is now filled by Brother N. Z. Town.