The Penn's Grove record., 1921-07-22
WHY DIFFERENCE IN NATIONS
Because of The Book of Freedom

What made the difference in the peo-
pie of England and the other countries
of Europe ? What made the difference
between the Thirteen Colonies speak
ing English and the French in Canada,
with the Spanish in Cuba and Mexico,
when seventy-five per cent have no ed
ucation ?
1t was and is the Bible circulating
among and read by the common people.
We have told how the Barons free
men) made King John Q199-12l6)
sign Magma Charta, a code of laws
giving rights to- men free Of debt and
land owners. The pope in Rome de-
posed John and gave his crown to a
French king Notwithstanding John had
inherited his kingship from his father,
Henry ii to whom the pope had given
a title deed for Ireland. After a pope,s
legate wore it three days he gave it
back to John at a yearly tribute Of
1000 marks, sailed Peters pence.
The daily newspapers announced
last Saturday that the pope's subjects
in Philadelphia had given Sl17,3S6.4o
III good hard earned American money
to 90 to Rome to help maintain a royal
retinue.
In the time of Edward III (1327-
1377) this tribute money eXacted from
King John was not paid regularly.
During his reign, John Wickitf (l324
13S4) a noted scholar, after learning
science at oxford translate the scrip
lures and learned therein there was no
need of going to Rome for salvation,
and paying a big tribute in money. He
had the Bible circulated among the
common people, and preached SALIVA
ton through Christ and the sole infall-
ibility of the sacred scriptures" Each
person who could reaS need only to
buy a Bible, and have his own key to
Heaven, without paying a MAJ IN
Rome, to send him the privilege OF go
ing to heaven.
John Wickliff's followers recognized
a ministry Independent of Rome
founded not on the permission of popes
or on the DEGREES of councils, but on
the Scriptures. They were called Lol-
lards. He advised against the need OF
the king paying the tribute eXacted
from King John, The pope through
his adherents had the Bible and Wick
lifts books burned and had him ban
nished from Oxford.
Two hundred years later, in 1923
Henry VIII, declared his independence
from the pop Parliament erased
from the statute books many barbar-
Gus laws against Lollardism (readlng
the Bible and having religious Wor-
ship free from the pope's control) re-
iteTatcd former acts restraining h
payment Of public taxes to Rome; en-
acted that church dignities should be
conferred by church officials at home;
made provision for the conduct Of re-
Iigeous matter without resort to Rome.
The pulpit proclaimed that the pontltt
had no authority, ecclesiastical or civil
in England. The people seemed AMI
mated by the glowing spirit of the
Lollards. The pulpit appeared to be
but the echo of the ~resurrected soul OF
Wicklif. The Roman eagles wings
were clipped and could no longer. be a
destructive bird Of prey by civil au-
thofity. on,
William Tindale translated the Bible
into English. 1t was widely circulated
and brought light in to the British
Isles. except in Ireland where it was
prohibited, and where the people con-
tinue to be blind slaves of Rome.
The church services up to this time.
were recited in Latin, the language
Of dead men and only n i'll a hundred
knew what it meant. The poor worship
pers mumbled over a few Latin words,
but did not know what they meant.
Having the word of God read and
preached in English and printed so
that all who could read were enllght-
ened had a great effect on educating
the people as to the laws Of right
thinking and living. Those who liked
not any of the popish forms and Latin
prayers used other English forms,
according as their fancies led them.
God always kept ahead of the people
and understood English as well as
Latin, French, Italian or Greek. The
The vestments We're discarded by
many of the reformers as the badges
of the old serfdom of Rome.
In courts of justice and entering
duties in office oaths were taken
as now. The oath used to be, "By
God, by the Saints and by the Holy
Ghost" John Hooper, one of the learn
ed divines when appointed Bishop IN
MAY 1850 declined because of the form
Of the oath in use. The King con-
WINGED that his objection was Just
struck out the obnoxious words by
the saints, and by the Holy Ghost"
and it has continued ever since in
Great Britain and America. This was
the beginning of the Puritans.
During the reign of Mary G553-58,)
daughter of Henry VIII. there was a
reaction. Hooper, Bishops Crammer
and Ridley, We're burned at the stake
at Smithfield. Many Puritans fled to
America, Holland, Germany and Swift
Elizabeth succeeded Mary and
reigned until 1903. 1t a Mary's
dearest wish to convert Elizabeth but
She should not believe in transubstan-
ton. Elizabeth, who was no mean
poet, replied this:
"Christ was the word that spake it
He took the bread and break it,
And what his word did make it