AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS (JESUIT, ETC.) RELIEF BILL,
1916.
THE following Resolution has been sent the Prime Minister and others:—
“This Presbytery considers that the Religious Orders Relief Bill, now before Parliament, is fraught with very serious dangers to our Protestant throne and to the civil and religious liberties of the British nation. The Presbytery would respectfully remind those in authority that the Jesuits, on whose behalf the Bill claims relief, are a body of men that are sworn to do their utmost to set up again the temporal power and sovereignty of the Pope of Rome, and that in their past efforts to accomplish this object, they have been guilty of the most diabolical and bloody intrigues against the peace of the European nations, and of our own nation in particular, with the result that it was found absolutely necessary here and elsewhere, to place them under legal disabilities and restrictions.
“The Presbytery would strongly press upon the attention of Parliament, first, the fact that the Jesuits still exist as a society to pursue the same disastrous object as hitherto; and, secondly, the natural conclusion therefrom that it would advance much more the peace and prosperity of the British nation to have these restrictive laws kept upon the Statute-Book and vigorously enforced than to have them repealed in these critical times. The Presbytery would enter its most vehement protest against this Bill, as it is manifestly an effort on the part of the enemies of our Protestant Constitution to set up the Papacy in the nation, by dividing us so as to conquer us. The Presbytery humbly appeals to Parliament to reject the Bill, and to safeguard the peace and prosperity of Britain.”
O! IF ye, and the nobles of this land, saw the beauty of that world’s wonder, Jesus our King, and the glory of Him who is angels’ wonder, and heaven’s wonder for excellency! Oh, what would men count of clay-estates, of time-eaten life, of worm-eaten, and moth-eaten worldly glory, in comparison of that fairest, fairest of God’s creation, the Son of the Father’s delights.—Rutherford.