The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-12-08

for speaking only pleasant things. The
Pastor has the happy faculty of stat
ing pungent truths kindly and sympa-
thetically. He speaks from the heart
and carries conviction
He hen demonstrated from Scrip
ture that our Redeemer and His disci
Piles knew nothing whatever about the
distinction between clergy and laity
With great humility Jesus declared
that His Message was of the Father
He taught His disciples to seek only
that honor which cometh from Above.
''One is your Master. even Christ; and
all We are brethren" was His way of
forewarning us against the error which
afterward divided the Lords people.
The Start of the Error.
The growth of this romeo doc
trine was then traced from its begin
ming III the Fourth Century. when the
bishops became dignitaries in the
Church and sought TO impress the rul-
ers with their Importance. Emperor
Constantine endeavored to strengthen
his political power by granting honor
to all Christians who acknowledged
the Nicene Creed and especially TO the
Bishop of Rome. In the following cen
fury the power of the bishops was
greatly increased by various false doc
trines which gradually crept in
Amongst these was that of a fiery
He'll of torture. followed by the theo
ry that members of the true Church
would never be sent there. but to Pur.
gatory. where "a second chance for
Heaven would be furnished them.
The clergy gradually grasped more
power and money for services 10Y and
hereafter Marriages not performed
by them would not be valid Then
followed the theory of infant damna
ton. classification of sins. fixing of
penalties. arranging for masses, etc
All these bound the people to the cler-
81 and separated them from the sim
plicity of the Gospel.
AS the Roman Empire went TO
pieces. the Bishop of Rome became
more prominent, and assumed the ii
tie Pontifex Maximus, previously held
by the Caesars. Another doctrine thor
oughly separated clergy and laity-
that the former constitute the Church.
the laity being children of the church
This accounts for the Catholic custom
of calling ordained clergy Father.
The year 800 found the Church max
ing higher claims than ever before;
namely. that then the Church became
the Kingdom of God Catholics still
hold that the Millennium began that
year, and that the Popes are Christs
vicegerent-reigning in His stead. The
clergy, separated from the people by
a great gulf. represented the Elect OF
God, holding the destinies of b laity
in their control; the laity dependent
upon them for baptism, marriage. etc.
Professionals and Christ's Kingdom.
The separation of Christ's followers
into clergy and laity was established
for centuries before the Reformation.
II was but natural for Protestants to
COPY practises and doctrines with
which they had been familiar from
childhood. Consequently we see every
where forms of godliness without its
power-lip reverence without much
manifestation of Christ's Spirit.
Protestants are much confused re
speeding Papacy's claim that Christ's
Kingdom has been set Up. They, OF
course, deny that the Popes are Christs
Vicegerent. Nevertheless. they have
followed Papacy's lead in telling earth
ly rulers that their kingdoms are part
Of Christ's Observation-Disclosures"
They send chapiains with the armies
and avies of these kingdoms. receive
financial support Inc recognition from
them. and call upon the civil power to
suppress so-called heretics, refusing
them license to preach. etc. They thus
| closely follow In their mothers foot
steps. Altogether. these false doc
trines are surely responsible. not only
for many past wars, but also for the
present European war.
We may assume that some of the
clergy, Catholic and Protestant. are
honestly doing what they believe to
be Gods win In these matters. But
we are bound TO believe that thous-
ands are not deceived-that they know
full well hat the world is ruled. not
by Christ and His teachings. but by
~self-seeking kings. princes. mobiles,
| fnanciers. politicians. etc. Blu what
have the ministers of "Christendom"
done 10 open peoples eyes TO the truth
ON this subject-to tell them that these
kingdoms are not Christs In any
sense?
Now. as the hour Of their judgment
approaches. they deserve our sympa-
thy.