The Los Von Rome Movement in Germany.—The Missionary Review of the World in a recent issue, gives a summary of the conversions from Romanism to Protestant Christianity in Germany in the last few years, and the comparatively small Papal gains from Protestantism. Mention has several times been made in the Review of the drift in Germany from Catholicism to Protestantism; but these figures, covering fifteen years, cannot but be considered most significant. The most complete and reliable Church Year Book published in Germany is the Jahrbuch compiled by Pastor F. W. Schneeder, of Elberfield. According to statistics collected by this author, Protestantism is making steady and substantial gains from the ranks of Romanism. In Austria, where Romanism has had as strong a hold as in any European State, it is reported that 75,000 Catholics have become Protestants in the past five years.
While the greatest Protestant gains have been in Prussia, yet in Alsace-Lorraine, a Catholic stronghold, the Protestants in 1904 gained 116, while the Catholic gain was 10.
Republic of Bolivia.—The Republic of Bolivia, South America, has broken off from Rome. In Bolivia, as in all the other Spanish Republics of South America, monks and nuns acted as if they were the masters of the land. Their arrogance reached lately the breaking point, by claiming, exclusively for themselves, the right to teach in the public schools of all grades, and by claiming the right to dictate the policy of the State. Not long ago the Government of Bolivia passed a law granting liberty of worship to all religions in the State. Monks, nuns, and priests, joined hands in an agitation against the Government. Nothing new in this; it is only in Protestant countries that these people speak of liberty for all. The clerical parties of Bolivia protested vehemently against the liberty of worship and against the law establishing civil marriage. The Government of Bolivia instructed their representative to remonstrate at the headquarters against the disloyal conduct of the monks and nuns, and the Vatican sent down their Monsignor Angelo Dolci as “Apostolic Delegate.” The latter, however, took the part of the monks and nuns; and he even sent in a protest in their favour. The President answered that last piece of Roman arrogance by sending a Presidential Message to Parliament, declaring that the diplomatic relations with the Vatican were once and for ever terminated. Soon after this the Bolivian representative called on Cardinal Merry de Val to inform him that his country had no more need to be represented at the Vatican.
The Salvation Army.—Can it be true that on the staff of the Salvation Army Jesuits are at work? Many wise people have had serious misgivings for a long time; ought not the authorities to bestir themselves? What does that advertisement mean in the trade journal of the Salvation Army for August, with an illustration of a new design for a flag-staff head with a large cross on it? If this be bad enough, what will our readers say to the fact that General Booth is issuing a shockingly mutilated edition of the sacred Scriptures for use among the rank and file of his army? Let every Protestant beware. Surely these are terrible days. Satan is exerting his utmost power, knowing that soon he will be chained for a thousand years, and ultimately destroyed for ever. Let God’s true people cry mightily to Him for power to witness faithfully in these awful days.—Vanguard.