The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-02-11

cral intelligence has taught mankind
that II Is mistake to suppose that
one God-nppoiutcd king and kingdom
were Dlvincly appointed to wipe anoth
err Divinc'y appointed king aud king
dom or the face Of the earth. Hence
popcS and kings now admit that they
reign 10y u popular sulfcraucc, and
their appeals for money, for armies
and uavics Is no longer ON the score
that they were Diyiucly instructed to
ohlitcrutc each other, but ON the score
OF sclf-dcfcuSc
This claim, however. wholly de
StrONS the argument that we are now
or ever in the past have been under
ChriSt's KINGDOM, either direct or
through the popcs. Neither now nor at
any other time In the worlds history
has there been reign of righteousness
such rs the Scriptures declare Christs
Kingdom shall be. May we not, then,
with good grace Catholics and Prot
estants-admit that neither our Catho.
lie popes. empCrOrs and kings, nor our
Protestant kings, cmperOrs and heads
of Churches are rcignlng with any
Divine authority manifest to human
judgment? Let us humbly admit the
nonsense OF the legends on our coins,
Catholic and Protestant, to the effect
that kings and popes reign by the
grace of Colby Divine appointment.
Let us rather say that they came into
power through the exercise OF brute
force and in time of common public
ignorance. Nor by this do we mean
any diSrcspcct to the governments of
tOday-rathcr we have shown that to-
day the people are ruling through
their Congresses, Pariaments, Reich
stays. etc. and that the kings and
emperors are mere fgure-head OF
power. more or less useful and de
pendent upon the goodwill of their
people.
If II be asked how we shall account
for the period Of the dark ages and au-
tocratic and dcvilish misrule, our re-
ply would be to point to the Apostles
words. He declares that Satan Is the
god or ruler Of this world, who now
operates through the disobedient-
through those not in harmony with
God, who constitute the vast majority
in Chr!Stendom and elsewhere. And
we remind you that our Lord Jesus
also sp,Er Of Satan as being the
Prince "f this world or age John xii,
81, and Of himself as the Prince or
Ruler of the coming Age, the Millen-
NAL Age John xviii, 36).
All, yes. the sooner both Catholics and
Protestants admit what they and all
the world now see, the better-namely,
that for long time our great Adver-
Sary held us in a bondage of ignorance
and superstition, in getting free from
which many bright minds have reacted
towards inhdelity, because they did
not see that many of the teachings of
the past, both Catholic and Protestant,
were not only irrational, but most posi-
lively unscriptural teachings Of men,
and, as st. Paul declared, doctrines of
demons" Il Timothy iv, u.
Not Vice. eerent Christ.
In view of the fore going-in view Of
the fact that the Divine titles of all
kings and emperors are now abrOgat-
ed, papacy need feel no special dis
grace to her cause in similarly abro-
eating the claim that the pOpes reign
as representatives of Christ or have
authority so to do. Indeed such a
claim is more safely denied than held,
for in the light of our day papacy'S
best friends cannot look into the past
and point with pride to any achieve
mCntS as properly representing the
reign Of tie Prince of Peace-lmmun-
ucl. In the light of the present all of
Gods people. Catholics and Protesants
of every shade, should rejoice to join
in the LORDS Prayer Thy Kingdom
come; thy WIN he done on earth as il is
done in heaven" Surely this is what
all saints Of all denominations should
desire and pray for ana labor for.
Not that we can hope to bring it to
pass of ourselves, however Nearly
nineteen centuries of efforts show to
the contrary Even our last century
of great missionary endeavor. Catholic
and Protestant, proves this. United
States statistics show that in the. year
1900 there were six hundred millions
of heathens. and that in the year 1900
their numbers had doubled-there were
twelve hundred millions of heathens.
While continuing our eXertions on be-
half of the heathens abroad and at
home, let us tie our faith to the Apos-
ties words and wait for Gods Son
from heaven" q Thessalonians /, 1O).
At the second coming of Christ and
the gloritication of his Church. "his
elect" "his saints" gathered from ali
denominations. Catholic and Protes.
tant (and some from outside of all
Of them)-onIy then will the glorious
reign of Christ and the Church begin
only then will the spiritual Seed o.
Abraham be complete and the work OF
blessing the unregenerate world begin
the Millcnnial Kingdom wOrk-thC
overthrow of Satan and his empire.
the scattering Of darkness, ignorance
and superstition which he fostered-
the flooding OF the earth with the light
Of the knowledge of the glory of Coo
the restoration of natural Israel to