The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-09

There are 40 loves like the old loyes--GOd bless Ou
loving wives!
The Attitude ofPresby terIanism Toward,
Rome.
Chicago lnteriorPreHbyterlsa Paper.
The attitude Of the Presbyterian Church
in relation to Rome, as declared by the as.
semhlies Of 1885 and 1916, was determined
mainly on the ground that the Romisll
church lacked some of the essential marks
Of the true church Of Christ, and had be.
come to all intents and purposes Of a poltti'
cal power, q mere machine Of govern
ment for the control and enslavement oil
men. That was the strong indictment
which gave point and power to the great
speech Of DR.. Thornwell, in the assembly
Of 1915, and carried the body by an almost
unanimous vote. II would seem that the
present generation Of Presbyterians have
nearly il not quite forgotten that famous
debate. 1t is true that since then the
Supreme Bishop Of Rome has lost his
sword Of political power and had to dis
band his armies. Inasmuch, however, as
since then he has grasped more fully the
sceptre OF availability and has never
ceased to claim the rights Of his temporal
throne, 1t is clear that DR.. Thornwell's
mastery argument has lost nothing OF its
application. II has rather gained than
lost in logic, BY the facts Of the more
recent Vatican DEGREES, coupled with the
constant reassertion OF the temporal
power.
In the time OF those earlier deliverances,
i was held by the majority OF Presbyter-
ians, at least in this country, that some
thing more was needed to constitute true
church oil Christ than the dead letter OF an
orthodox faith still recognized amongst It's
accepted symbols. 1t was maintained that
the mere fact of protesting an orthodox
creed could no more make nominal
church part OF the true church than it
could make the individual man a true
Christian. The great theologians Of Pro-
testanism, back to the time Of the Reform
ems, had agreed in laying down three es-
sential marks as the criteria Of true
church, just as they are OF true believer,
namely, the spiritual worship OF God, the
pure doctrine OF Christ and q holy life
through the Divine Spirit. Every man
having these, even in imperfect degree, is
a Christian, entitled to membership in the
visible church; and every body Of Chris
tians claiming to be church, having these,
is entitled to be recognized as part OF
The true Christian church. It was
thought that the Roman church, by
her traditions and corruption, teaching
for doctrines the commandments OF
men, failed in each Of the essential re-
quisities, especially in tie first, by which
she had substituted for the worship Of God
in spirit and in truth, the universal idol
airy Of Mary as the mother OF God; and
perhaps not less so in the second, by her
exaltation Of the sacrifice OF the mass, in
place Of the one offering Of Christ. II
was furthermore thought to be Of little
avail to hold the truth in unrighteousness
in dead creed while INDUCING in all the
superstitious observances OF a similar, for
NAL and unregenerate life. Nor does il
yet appear under the new deliverancc al
Saratoga, how the Roman system OF saliva
ton by works, or the Roman communion
holding and teaching this system is going
to be harmonized consistently with these
three Criteria-spiritual worship, pure doc
trine and holy living, as branch OF the
true church OF Christ. We wish those
superficial critics, who just now are hay
ing so much to say in condemnation o.
the fathers OF 1885 and 1916, would do the
public the favor Of showing how this har
mony is to be effected.
The first plea now is that we must dc
something to bring the Presbyterian
Church into another kind Of harmony
into harmony with her sister churches Of
Europe. We are told that our position
since 1885 has been one OF isolation; tina
we have stood alone in our protest against
the Romish church and her ordinances. 1
is true that ours has been an attitude en-
tirely out OF harmony with many othe
churches Of Christendom. But We have
hitherto regarded the position OF on
J church in this protest against Rome as al
honorable one-as great advance in thu
right direction. It is not the only thing il
which the American church has beer
) called Of God to take her position square
ly on the Scriptures, or almost alone
against the European churches.
1t is to the eternal honor OF the Ameri
can Church, aud especially the Protestan
branch OF it, that from the beginning !
has understood the New Testament doc
trine OF total separation between churcl
and State better than all the churches o
; tho old world, and steadtastly Opposes
: every European idea OF church establish
ments. Is 1t anything to cur discredi
that as church we have always stood il
, position OF isolation on this great sub
! iect, and borne our solemn protest agains
all Roman Catholic, Greek, Anglican sn,
even Lutheran ideas Of a church connect
ed by law with civil power? We have re
garded 1t as not only no dishonor, but
cause Of gratitude TO God that our Amer
can Church has been enabled to bear thi
decided testimony for the truth, althoug
she has been compelled to occupy the ad
yanced position which has placed her i
isolation and even antagonism to so larg
part OF Christendom. 1t Is far better I
stand single.handed for the truth than I
: seek utilization with half Of Christendor
/. at the sacrifice oil IL.
Can 1t be possible that public sentimen
: in the Presbyterian church has SO "a
: changed since 1885 and 1916 that our lead
! ers Of thought are not only seeking I
4 bring our church into harmony with tn
European ideas OF recognition and atilii
! ton, as It regards Romei but also TO rescu
us from that other American isolation i
which we have 60 long stood namely