The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-11-14


yielding compliance for the sake of
peace, love and harmony These
three are indeed to be greatly de-
sired, but never at the sacrifice of
vital principle. There comes a time
when, great principles being at
stake, duty demands that we take a
firm stand in order that the whole
world may know clearly where our
allegiance lies. AS Paul dealt with
Alexander the copper-smith on a GER
tain occasion, so we must withstand
to the face" those who would destroy
the sanctities Of our nation and re-
ligious life.
This is the situation that con-
fronts the Christian church today
with relation to the peril of Roman
domination. 1t is not a situation
of our seeking, but one that has been
forced upon us by the bold and de-
faint utterances of the papal prelates
and press, especially within COM
paratively recent period. These ut
terances cannot be misinterpreted;
their true purpose is evident in every
line and syllable To meet vaunt
with vaunt, threat with threat, is
not within the province of a Chris
tian journal. How, then, are we to
deal with the oft-reiterated intima-
lions that it is the purpose of the
Romanists to make America Catho-
lic," to dominate our politics, to
come to their own" by securing
more Catholics in Congress?" How
are we to treat with foe which for
twenty years has boosted that Prot
estantism is "decadent and will soon
disappear?" How shall we estimate
the political activities of church
which claims absolute temporal
power throughout the world; which
has already set up at least three
thrones of temporal power in the
United States; which claims for it's
cardinals the official precedence due
to princes of the blood" which is
already in the saddle in a political
sense in some of our biggest NUM-
cipalities, and whose sudden growth
in wealth and power is only sur
passed by it's arrogant claims for the
future?
These facts constitute substantial
ly the problem submitted by The
Christian Herald in recent letter
addressed to a number of the lead
ing pastors of various Protestant de-
nominations, and also to the presi-
dents of our foremost theological
seminaries. Recognizing the consti
tutional rights of all religions to the
free exercise of their faith in this
republic, we invited no criticism of
creeds or religious principles. But
when any church or denomination
leaves it's legitimate sphere and
plunges into politics, as the Roman
church has done with the avowed
purpose of overriding all other reli-
gionists, and making America Cath
olic," it becomes a proper subject
for public criticism. This is the view
universally taken by the distin-
tinguished contributors who have
sent to The Christian Herald their
responses to our invitation to an
open discussion of the subject. In
these frank and outspoken letters,
the first instalment of which we print
today, one may feel the very pulse
beat of the free and Independent
American people We believe these
sentiments will find an echo in many
millions of American hearts.
The time is now ripening for a
new reformation, though not on the
lines of the old. Here, in this re-
public, which Leo XIII declared was
"the hope of Rome" we. are evident
ly destined to witness struggle be-
tween an arrogant hierarchy, backed
by the wealth, influence and pomp