Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-04-06
THE ROOSEVELT INCIDENT AT
ROME.

It IS one of the inevitable, as well
as regrettabIe, features of intolerance
that it always breeds intolerance.
The intolerance of the papal officials
finds a reflection in the intolerant
spirit shown by certain of the Metho-
dist clergy of Atlanta In neither in
stance can broadminded men excuse
the action taken.
The Methodist clergymen of Atlanta
adopted a resolution in effect declar-
ing it a SIN to visit the pope. This is
in keeping with some of the resolu-
lions that We're adopted a half cen
fury ago declaring that the papacy
was the scarlet woman of the Revela-
tons, and that the pope was anti
Christ. 1t was an exhibition Of mar
nowness on the part of some of the
Atlanta clergymen arising out of an
angry state of mind. The common
sense Of humanity does not endorse
such a view any more than it en-
dorses the statement of the gentleman
who drafted the resolution that the
Catholic church is not a Christian
church.
All this sort of thing is greatly to
be regretted. While as protestants We
may not believe in many Of the teach
ing of Catholicism, nor endorse lis
attitude in many respects, to claim
that it is not a Christian body is an
exaggerat.on that will not be re-echoed
by the mass Of enlightened protestant
sentiment. In the differences between
the two great bodies into which Chris
tendon is divided we are too apt to
overlook the essential points on which
they agree, the worship of the same
God. the Universal Father and Crea-
tor of all things, the virgin birth of
Christ, his sacrifice on Calvary, his
resurrection, his atoning power. All
the great primal truths that are ac-
cepted by the protestant churches of
the world are to be found stressed by
the Catholic church. Perhaps if we
looked more for the points on which
there is an agreement it would be be-
ter for both branches of the universal
church, and the breach would be mar
rowed instead of widened.
The Fairbanks and tie 3oosevelt in
cidents are simply proof laat the con-
ttuted authorities of the Catholic
church at Rome cannot view things
from an American standpoint. It IS
impossible for the average American
to appreciate conditions in other lands,
and it is doubtless even more difficult
for the Italian cardinals to accept the
American view point. The American
idea Of absolute religious tolerance is
not known anywhere else on the face
of the earth. England and Germany,
the other two greatest protestant ma
tions, have each their established
state churches, although freedom of
conscience prevails. But it is alone
in this country that there is an entire
severance of the relations of church
and state, a complete divorce between
them, and each and every denomina-
ton is permitted to work out its own
salvation without assistance or him
drance Of any character from the gov
eminent. Incidents like the two re-
cent occurrences at Rome will more
than ever strengthen the conviction
in this country that this condition of
affairs must be maintained, 1t is an
evidence, or as such it will assuredly
be accepted by the mass of protestants,
that those at the head of the other
great division of Christendom are OPP
posed to the American standards or
ideals. and it will inevitably accentu-
ate the determination in this country
to allow no encroachments on the es-
tablished order of things here. 1t is
well that this should be so. Nothing
could work greater harm to the nation
than any interference with the condi-
lions that have prevailed since the
establishment Of the government. This