The highly-developed machinery of modern warfare would not be so very effective were it not for the high explosives that have been discovered during recent years. And not only have high explosives been devised, but these explosives have been arranged in a most ingenious manner. And without this the high-power gun of to-day would be an impossibility. The grains of powder shown in our engraving are an illustration of this ingenuity. Those grains with the small holes in the end have not been burned. The others show the remains after the powder has been burned out.
FIG. 3.—SECTION OF MAXIM 46-TON TORPEDO GUN, SHOWING TORPEDOES CARRYING HALF A TON AND A TON OF GUN-COTTON.
FIG. 4.—SECTION OF WOOLWICH 67-TON GUN WITH ARMOR-PIERCING SHELL.
Ordinary grains of powder commence to burn from the outside, and as the outside surface is the largest, the greater mass of the powder is ignited at once and it explodes with a sudden bang. But the powder shown in our engraving is ignited on the inner surface through the little holes that are seen in the end of the large grains. It will readily appear that as the fire is applied to grains of powder constructed in this way, it can not all be exploded with one big flash, but it must begin to burn slowly from the little holes in the center. This is why it is called “slow-burning” powder. Then, as the burning continues, these holes burn out larger and larger, and consequently the pressure behind the projectile becomes stronger and stronger as it travels through the long barrel of the modern cannon.
Thus it will be seen that by this process of slow burning, only a comparatively small part of the powder burns at the start, and this serves to give the projectile a sort of shove or push rather than such a sudden explosive shock as in the old way. And as the power of this slow-burning powder keeps getting stronger and stronger, the force that it exerts behind the projectile is such that it throws the great steel missile with a terrible force, and does not produce the heavy strain on the gun that would be the result of suddenly exploding so much powder.
This slow-burning powder is now being quite successfully experimented with for throwing shells charged with “high explosives,” such as dynamite, gun cotton, picric acid, etc. It was deemed extremely dangerous at first to undertake to shoot any of these shells; for fear that the sudden shock might burst them in the cannon from which they would be fired. So various kinds of pneumatic guns have been devised for throwing dynamite and other high-explosive shells. But the necessary machinery for compressing the air for the pneumatic guns was so cumbersome that they are quite impractical for field fighting, and then the shells can not be thrown a very great distance by pneumatic pressure.
But the elastic pressure of the slow-burning powder makes it possible for these high-explosive bombs to be shot from a cannon in about the same way that any ordinary missile would be fired. The principal difference between the ordinary high-power cannon and the one designed for throwing these high-explosive shells is that the latter has a much larger bore.
A few months ago the Journal of the Military Service Institution copied an article from the Scientific American Supplement, by Hudson Maxim, in regard to the use that may be made of these high explosives in what he calls aerial torpedoes. Hudson Maxim is the brother of Hiram Maxim, the inventor of the machine gun that bears his name. Both of these men have given their lives to the study of how to make more destructive weapons of warfare. Mr. Maxim gives the results of some of his experiments with the aerial torpedo. Figure 3 is a sectional view of a gun designed by him for throwing the torpedo or shell through the air. Figure 4 is a section of a high-power cannon for throwing the ordinary armor-piercing shell. It will be seen that the guns are built alike, only the torpedo gun is 21 tons the lightest. This difference in weight is occasioned by the chamber of the torpedo gun being bored out to a 27-inch caliber, while the 67-ton cannon has a bore of only 13½ inches.
Mr. Maxim calculates that his torpedo gun will throw half a ton of gun cotton about nine miles, and one ton about five miles, while a mortar made for the purpose would throw 500 pounds of gun cotton four miles, half a ton about three miles, and one ton nearly two miles.
Mr. John T. Bucknill, in his book on “Submarine Mines and Torpedoes,” estimates that it would take a pressure of 12,000 pounds to the square inch to be fatal to a big battle-ship, while other authorities do not place the figures nearly so high, General Abbot placing his estimate as low as 6,500. And Mr. Maxim informs us that an aerial torpedo charged with 500 pounds of gun cotton would destroy a battle-ship if it should strike either the vessel or the water anywhere within 38 feet of the ship, while half a ton of gun cotton would destroy the powerful man-of-war at a distance of 85 feet, and a ton would be fatal at 168 feet; and a ton of nitrogen in the most powerful of the commercial explosives, would destroy the battle-ship if exploded within 250 feet of it.
The effect of exploding these substances is simply terrific. Just think of a substance so powerful that the exploding of a ton of it would exert a pressure of 12,000 pounds to every square inch at a distance of 250 feet. Even if the ship should not be broken all to pieces and suddenly go down, it is quite certain that no man could endure such a terrible shock. How frightful, at least when we view it from the human standpoint, are all of these death-dealing elements and devices. But we need not take a human standpoint view; for if we will, we may see all of these things in the light of prophecy and know just what they mean.
I have seen a statement from a third one of these Maxim brothers—and one, by the way, whose mind does not run to the fashioning of war implements—to the effect that Hudson and Hiram are both working to the end that they may construct such deadly weapons that men will fear to go to war, and so a universal peace may be brought about. The genuine sentiment favoring a general peace is one of the most noble that can be conceived; for the heavenly Master is himself the Prince of Peace. But a little reflection will show that the proper method for producing a secure peace is not found in the direction of setting the whole world to whirling in a feverish and universal preparation for war.
We have the unmistakable evidence that the Prince of Peace is not the author of this war epidemic that has so completely filled the world. But when the judgment day is imminent, as we have abundantly shown in previous papers, the spirit of Satan stirs up war all over the world. “The nations were angry,” says the prophet. And there is something so superhuman and awful in these modern war agencies that there can be no mistaking the fact as to what it means.
Much has been done by professing Christians to inculcate the idea that war and Christianity go hand in hand. But the precepts of Christ do not warrant any such teaching, even tho many a man who is perfectly honest at heart may have been or still is earnestly proclaiming it. All are familiar with the Lord’s instruction to “put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitfully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5:44, 45.
The Slow-Burning Powder.—1, 3, and 5 are the powder before it is fired and 2, 4, and 6 after firing. From this cut it is evident that as the powder is ignited and has to burn off through the small holes, the force keeps getting greater and greater as the inner surface becomes enlarged by the burning.
Now think seriously on these Christian sentiments taken directly from the Bible, the Book of Christianity itself. And if you have been carried away unwittingly by the sentiments of war, ask yourself seriously if the heavenly Father can possibly be the author of such inhuman destructiveness. We are in the last days, and it behooves us to be right on all these questions.
T.
THE LAW OF LIFE AND THE LAW OF DEATH.
God is the Source of all life. That life flows out from the great central Fountain to all parts of His created universe, carrying in its constant flow the presence and power of God. That life is the Spirit of God, by which God is everywhere present. The Spirit flows out from God always in harmony with God’s wondrous law. All things, therefore, in harmony with the law of God are recipients of the life of God. All these things, we have learned, are taught in the Scriptures of truth.
But when sin entered, when the carnal mind placed itself athwart God’s law, the channel of God’s life, the good law, became perverted, and the power of God was turned to destruction instead of construction, to the weakening of being instead of its maintenance. Outside of where sin controls, God’s law is life. But as soon as it comes into that sphere where sin is dominant, it is perverted; it becomes another law, or, as expressed by the apostle, a “different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind [the righteous, normal law of God which the mind approves], and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom. 7:23, R.V. It is God’s good law perverted, or made evil by sin, by its perversion, or turning aside in a selfish channel.
Let us look upon it in another light. God’s law is the law of love. Its principles are supreme love to God and equal love to our fellow-man. The inflowing of that life into God’s creatures is for the purpose of its outflowing more abundantly to others. But the carnal heart turns its power, its blessing, inward instead of outward, selfishly instead of lovingly, for death instead of for life.
God will not own this perverted life as His, tho it originally came from Him. It is death. He will not own the perverted law as His, tho it exists wholly by the force of the original law. It is “another law,” “a different law,” “the law of sin and death.” And so God calls the life which exists in man in harmony with the perverted law, “thy life,” man’s life, because man has chosen that life in preference to the life of God, which is in perfect harmony with God’s law. It is for this reason that Inspiration tells us that those who walk “in the vanity of their mind” are “alienated from the life of God.” Eph. 4:18. They do not know God; they are doomed to die; for they are not in harmony with the law of His life. The following passages of Scripture state this same truth, that God’s law perverted works death to the transgressor:—
“The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.” Prov. 10:29, R.V.
“The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.” Hosea 14:9.
“For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life.” 2 Cor. 2:15, 16.
“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious; but unto them which be disobedient [“disbelieve,” R.V.], the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient.” 1 Peter 2:7, 8.
The way which is the safest place to the obedient is destruction to the disobedient. The stone which is a foundation to the believer, is a stone of stumbling to the unbeliever. The words which are life and justification to those who receive them prove condemnation and death to those who reject them. The Holy Pillar was light to the Israelites, but darkness to the Egyptians. The glory of the Lord caused Moses’ face to shine, but it proved death to Nadab and Abihu.
As man was, under God, given dominion over all the earth, and as the law of his being and existence is God’s moral law, even as man is a moral being, therefore when man transgressed, when he yielded to Satan and sin, when he perverted the highest law, he by so doing brought vanity and death upon all under him, and marred the harmony of the entire universe. Pervert the life-current which goes into the arm, and the hand and fingers are affected. Man was made subject to vanity because he willingly chose sin, and God therefore holds him responsible. But the beast, the bird, the fish, the tree, the flower, had no choice. So “the creation was subjected to vanity [emptiness, worthlessness, fruitlessness], not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it. . . . For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain with us until now.” Rom. 8:20-22, R.V., margin.
Sin, the perversion of God’s perfect law, is responsible for it all. The misery, the wo, the groaning, the dying, the death, all come because the law of God’s life is perverted. And yet God in His wonderful mercy still pours out His life into the great fetid pool of sin, to keep alive the sinners, that they may turn to Him. Wonderful life, wonderful law, wonderful goodness!
THE GREAT NEW SONG.
The great new song which the last generation redeemed from the earth will sing will be “the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” Rev. 15:3.
The “song of Moses the servant of God” is found in Exodus 15. It is a song of triumph, of triumph by the power of God, over earthly foes. It was sung by Israel because of deliverance, and because it was sung by Moses. But it was sung by Moses because he believed God, not only after deliverance, but before. He could say to murmuring Israel, as they stood before the rolling sea, with the hosts of Egypt behind, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you to-day.” Ex. 14:13. And to Him God could intrust the message, “Go forward.”
Moses could sing the triumph on both sides of the sea. The last generation of men must learn to sing the song of Moses—the song of triumph over all earthly foes—the hither side of the great conflict, when to all earthly appearance there is no hope. And those who sing it in the strength of God on the hither side will sing it on the thither side, the side of eternal deliverance.
“The song of the Lamb” is the song of victory over every inward sin. He could say just before the dark life-and-death struggle of Gethsemane, “The prince of this world [Satan] cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30.
All of self—the glorious self of the Son of God—was “emptied” out, and God filled Him with “all the fulness of the Godhead.” In every fiber of His being flowed the Spirit—the life and power and presence of God—till not one of the temptations of the enemy could have any hold upon Him.
Even so when body and soul and spirit are laid upon the altar of Christ, when the members once yielded to sin are yielded to God and His service (Rom. 6:17–19), He will fill us with His fulness, and by His Spirit sanctify us wholly to His service (Col. 1:9; 2:9; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Thess. 5:23).
Satan may come to such a life and find no hook upon which to hang his temptations, no avenue in which he can enter the soul. Every sin is cast out; Christ reigns supreme.
Such may sing the perfect triumph wrought by Christ Jesus, and He will give them the same triumph over all earthly foes which He gave to Moses. Glorious, blest, eternal song of triumph! Who would not sing it?
NO; IT IS NOT.
A PAPER is sent us containing an article entitled, “Is the Jewish Sabbath Binding on Us?” We answer most emphatically, No; it is not binding on us, nor on any one else by divine authority. God never commanded man to remember the Jewish Sabbath to keep it holy. He said: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” See Ex. 20:8–11. The only weekly day enjoined of the Lord is His own holy Sabbath.
But this writer says, “The Sabbath was given to the Jews and to no other nation.” Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man,” that is, for the race. Mark 2:27. See also Isa. 56:1–7, where the Lord makes rich promises to the eunuchs and strangers (Gentiles) who keep His Sabbath. But was it not given to the Jews?—Yes, and so was everything else. Listen: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever.” And the apostle adds, “Amen.” Can not you join with him, reader? Jesus was a Jew. His twelve apostles were Jews. He says, “Salvation is of the Jews.” John 4:22. On the other hand, those who are Gentiles are “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Eph. 2:12.
The “Jewish” Sabbath, if there be any, is the Sabbath as perverted by the unbelieving Jews, and loaded by their traditions. The Sabbath of the Lord, which He commanded the Jews to keep, is His holy day, which only a7holy man can keep, a man who is a Jew, an Israelite indeed. “Blessed is the man that doeth this.”
Question Corner
“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”
[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.]
807. Rom. 10:4., M. J. C.—The text simply states the object of the law; for this is the meaning of the word “end.” See James 5:11; 1 Tim. 1:5. Christ is the object of the law for righteousness “to every one that believeth.” While the law condemns sin, it leads the believer to Christ, that he “might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24. The sinner can not get righteousness out of the law he is breaking. But the Lord by that law leads to Him in whom the law is perfected, and who has wrought out obedience for us. But to the unbeliever, the law still condemns.
808. 1 Tim. 5:8. E. M. H.—We do not know how the text can be made plainer. We quote from the Revised Version: “But if any [in the church] provideth not for his own [relatives and kindred], and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” Of course this implies that a man is physically able to work, and has power and opportunity to work if he will.
809. The True Church.
WHAT church is the correct one, or the nearest correct? and why are there so many denominations? M. E. K.
The first question may be answered briefly by saying that the true church is made up of those who heed God’s call and through Christ obey all His commandments. For a fuller explanation see Apples of Gold Library No. 36, “The True Church;” price, two for one cent. As to the second, the denominations have arisen in different ways: men have departed from God and drawn away disciples after them (Acts 20:30); others have departed from a backslidden church, in response to God’s call, formed a new church, and stayed there; while others have come out of these last churches. Sometimes there is a good reason for division; more often it is personal whims and foibles and technicalities which divide churches. The way to unite is for each soul to join himself to the Lord.
810. Direct Legislation.
IS NOT direct legislation a scheme originating with the World’s Parliament of Religions, to capture the civil government? L. H. A.
What ails direct legislation if exercised in right lines, that is, in civil lines only? We do not recall that anything of this sort came up at the World’s Parliament of Religions. It is not so much the particular mode of legislation which is at fault, but the object, the motive, the manipulation, the departure from right principles.
811. Baptism, the True.
WHICH is the correct baptism? Can not a man be sprinkled and yet be buried in baptism the same as being buried in sin?
There is “one baptism,” immersion, whelming, burial. This is what the word means in the original; this is the symbolism of the ceremony. He who is in sin is not sprinkled with it; he is in it, whelmed by it. “Mine iniquities are gone over mine head.” Ps. 38:4. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay.” Ps. 40:2. “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” Ps. 69:2.
812. “Earnest Inquirer.”—(1) For an exposition of the plagues of Revelation, chapters 8, 9, and 16, see “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” by U. Smith, published at this office. We do not know whether or not the sultan will move his capital to Jerusalem. It is thought so by some. (2) There is but little difference between many Seventh-day Adventists and many Seventh-day Baptists. Denominationally, the former hold to these: Life only through Christ, which implies the non-immortality of man; the Sabbath and plan of salvation, constituting a distinct message in the light of prophecy; the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and the near coming of the Lord. These views are not held generally or denominationally, we believe, by the Seventh-day Baptists. In other matters they are generally agreed.
813. J. C.—We do not know as to just how the German Baptists practise giving of “the kiss.” Is it at all times, or only at communion service? Is it promiscuous as regards the sexes? This latter caused jealousy in the early centuries, and the “Apostolical Constitutions” orders that brethren shall salute only brethren, and sisters, sisters. While it is proper to practise it, it must be left to the participators as to the time and occasion. See for Scripture references, the only rule, 1 Cor. 16:20; Rom. 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14.
PLEASE explain the following (Rom. 3:20, 21, 28): “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” N. S.
Justification is declaring to be just. It here means an act of God which makes just that which before was not just. Ver. 20 declares that the law can not justify the sinner, the one who is breaking the law; on the contrary, it points out his sins. But Jesus Christ never sinned. By faith He obeyed perfectly God’s perfect law, and wrought out a righteous character. Man by faith, by yielding to God, by thus coming into harmony with God, will have all his sins cleansed away. He can not do it; God does it for Christ’s sake. The righteousness manifested apart from the law is in Christ’s character, which, when we accept Christ, is ours. And the law witnesses that the righteousness which we get through Christ is true. Verse 28 is the conclusion of verses 20 to 27. Man is justified by faith by having his sins forgiven (Rom. 4:3–8), without any deeds of righteousness wrought by himself. But Christ wrought them all out for us, not in mere deeds, but in intrinsic character. As to the justified soul’s relation to the law see Rom. 8:3; 1 John 5:3.
THE WORLD’S UNREST.
The Christian’s Assurance.
A PAPER of no little weight in London, Eng., albeit it has a lightsome name, is Vanity Fair. In its issue of May 12 it has the following significant words:—
From east to west, from north to south, the world is in a general state of unrest. Black men and brown, white men and yellow, all are unsettled; and the cloud of war where it has not already descended hangs threateningly close. We have the picture presented to us of America and Spain actually at war; of the Spanish people on the verge of a revolution; of a revolution in Italy; of very serious disturbances in Sierra Leone; and of the constant possibility of trouble in the far East. Added to these, there is the Cretan business still unsettled, the Soudanese war yet to be finished and the West African bother ready to assert itself. Yet in the face of this state of universal disturbance there are those who wonder at the lack of gaiety in the utterances of Lord Salisbury at the Albert Hall last week—those who find it in them to blame him for his gloomy tone and to rally him on his serious demeanor. These people may rest assured that the premier is not the man to speak seriously unless affairs are serious. No man has more real knowledge of foreign affairs than Lord Salisbury; and none knows better that the world is in trouble.
For, as Lord Salisbury points out, a great change is gradually coming over the world. The nations that have been decaying for years and years must soon disappear to make room for the vigorous races that must eventually dominate the world. America, the country that has hitherto kept herself to herself, will play a very different role so soon as her victory over Spain shall be completed. Flushed with conquest, with all the hot blood of a new and vigorous nation, it is impossible that she will continue to dissociate herself from the other great powers. With her in all probability lies the continuance or the abandonment of peace. . . . These revolutions and disturbances are but necessary steps in the evolution of the world; they are but symptoms of the fatal illness to which certain countries must eventually succumb. Spain’s existence, already threatened by America, is being hurried to its end by the Spaniards themselves; while Italy, bankrupt, oppressed, overtaxed, and idiotically overarmed, can not possibly last much longer. Who can doubt in the face of present-day affairs that the Latin races are destined to disappear, the Anglo-Saxon to rule the world? Who can not see that with England and America allied an indestructible combination would be formed?
This expresses the truth as regards the trouble. It also expresses the wish of the world, but not its assurance. There is no assurance; and because there is no assurance, the world is in trouble, the nations are in perplexity.
It is hoped that an Anglo-American alliance would bring order and stability out of confusion. And we have thought that in this way God might open up the nations of earth to the message of the Gospel in its fulness of power. But this is not assured. It is not known what the United States will do. She does not know herself what she will be led to do or forced to do. The times are big with swift-approaching and important changes, and the world stands breathlessly waiting.
But the children of God need not be alarmed. They do not know all the details of coming conflicts and changes, but this they may know; for God has revealed it in His Word. They may know that above all the strife of nations, “the Most High ruleth” in supreme repose, and, despite the alliances of men, the machinations of rulers, or the schemes of diplomats, He giveth the kingdom to whomsoever He will.
They may know that the last great universal strife will not come till the work of God is done, His servants sealed with His name, and the last willing soul gathered in to the body of Christ.
They may know that when the last grand cataclysm of universal war takes place, not only will Latin and Oriental kingdoms disappear, but all “the kingdoms of this world” will “become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ;” and the kingdoms of earth shall become as the chaff of the summer threshing-floors, which will be forever borne away in the great whirlwind of ultimate wrath.
They may know that then God will gather His people unto Himself forever.
They may know and should know all these things from the “more sure word of prophecy,” the Book of God.
They also should know that this is not a time for dawdling delay, procrastination, worldliness, love of ease, but, filled with the Spirit of God, they should go forth to warn the world of its coming doom, and to tell them of the sweet assurance and everlasting safety of the children of God. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good-pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
ROMEWARD BOUND.
By W. N. G.
INSTEAD of being alarmed at the prospect of Rome's increasing power in the United States, people are coming to look upon such a consummation very complacently, as tho it were something in the nature of a boon, rather than the calamity indicated by the prophetic Word. George Alfred Townsend is reported to have said in a recent letter:—
“The American Catholic Church has before it the opportunity of a great national church; for its ancient home in the Roman see will, after a while, be as absurd as the church of Islam with its home in Fez or Bagdad. The American-born bishops are very different from the Italians. John Ireland is the peer of anybody. The smash of Spain is the premium on intelligence.”
To this the Kansas City Star adds this significant comment:—
“There can be no doubt that the absolute acquisition of Porto Rico and the Philippines and the advisory control of Cuba, would be an advantage to the Roman Catholic Church. When religion is free, men cease to persecute and to fight about it. The pacification of the Philippines by the Americans would end the murders of monks and priests by the insurgents. In the possessions we acquire from Spain would occur what has happened in the provinces we acquired from Mexico. In these—especially in New Mexico—the church has made great acquisitions in the way of edifices, schools, and all evidences of power and influence, and this would happen elsewhere. The talent developed in a free and intelligent country would make itself felt in the control and direction of the church. An American Rome and an American pope would not be impossibilities.”
No, an “American Rome” is not an impossibility; at least an “image” to Rome is not an impossibility in America; for the reason that it is very clearly pointed out in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. This prophecy is assurance that it must be an absolute certainty. It is not merely a matter of prophecy now; for every one who is giving attention to current events—religious and political—knows that no religious force in the United States is so potent in political circles as the Roman Church. And Rome is working for this very thing, with almost no opposition from the influences that ought to be able to see the consequences of her intriguing.
All that Catholics have done for the country as citizens is accredited to the church. That such and such a prominent general, or commodore, or statesman was or is a Catholic is always kept before the public. It never is deemed worth while in political strategy to count on the Methodist, or Baptist, or Presbyterian, or Episcopal vote for this or that candidate; but whether he can get the Catholic vote is always a factor in making up the convention “slate.” It used to be that the Catholic vote was generally counted for the Democratic party; but that day is past. Rome is too cunning in politics for that; she aims to be in a position where she can claim reciprocal favors at the hands of whatever party wins. She once discountenanced a republican form of government, but she is now just as willing to control a republican government as any other. In politics Rome would absorb all parties, just as in religion she would absorb all churches—provided only that Rome can have control. For this reason an “image” to the “beast” (Revelation 13) will receive her favor and be permitted to do her work. The lamentable feature of the situation is that the professed Protestantism of the country has become so imbued with Roman principles as to be powerless to resist Rome’s encroachments; in fact, is being carried with the current into the political lap of Rome.
