THE Pope of Rome presumptuously claims to be Christ’s vicegerent on earth, and, as a consequence, asserts a right to supremacy, in temporal as well as spiritual matters. Though the Pope’s temporal power was abolished in Italy in the year 1870, he has never for a moment laid aside his claim to have supreme temporal authority over the nations, and he takes occasion, directly or indirectly, whenever the opportunity occurs, to make this known. He wishes, at the very least, to be recognised as a civil potentate among others, and our country has, deplorable to state, in recent times acknowledged him as such by entering into diplomatic relations, and sending an ambassador to the Vatican.
Since the present terrible War began, the Pope has not been idle in his attempts to secure greater political influence, and to bring back Protestant nations under his sway. There is strong ground, indeed, for concluding that the predecessor of the present Pontiff, or the Vatican in his day, had much to do with the bringing on of the War, in order, if possible, to gratify temporal ambitions; and, since the War has raged, and the new Pope has appeared, the same Jesuitical agencies, in various forms, are at work. The cry of “Peace” has now come for the second time from the Vatican. Supremacy by peace, or war, is the thing desired.
It is not our intention to enter into any elaborate criticism of the Pope’s “Peace Note” which was issued on 1st August. We only desire to notice a few points of importance in connection with it. In the opening paragraph, the Pope claims to be “the Common Father” of all those who are engaged in the War, and that they are all “his children.” This is in harmony with the dogma of his universal sovereignty, to which we have already referred. Perhaps Protestants do not fully understand or believe that the Pope still claims them as his children, and maintains that they owe to him absolute respect and allegiance. They are
no doubt rebellious children who have forsaken the pale of the supposed only true Church, but the Pope, according to his principles, regards them as his children still, in order that he may retain, if possible, his hold upon them. He appears in this “Appeal for Peace” in the aspect of a benevolent father, anxious for the welfare of all his children, good and bad, and, with a smiling countenance, would fain draw the disobedient nearer to him by his friendly efforts on their behalf. Such is one of the Satanic lures with which the Roman Pontiff would presently bewitch the Protestant nations.
The Pope, further, declares that he has sought to preserve “perfect, absolute impartiality” towards all the belligerents in the present conflict, and he seems to suppose that this is a feature which should commend his policy to all concerned. He manifestly forgets that his perfect impartiality has amounted to an unholy neutrality. He has never raised his voice for a moment to condemn the unwarrantable atrocities inflicted by the Germans on the people of Belgium, or the cold-blooded destruction of unarmed merchantmen, with men, women, and children, by Germany’s submarines. Apart from the merits or demerits of the War as originally started, these were crimes that called for protest from “the holy father,” if he possessed any holiness about him. The adjective, “holy,” is a complete misnomer, and past and present events in the world’s history prove this.
In the second section of his Note the Pope deals with “concrete and practical proposals,” and invites the Governments of the nations at war to come to an agreement on certain fundamental points. Here he shows his hand completely as the friend of the Central Powers—Germans, Austrians, etc. He recommends that they should evacuate France and Belgium, and that full political liberty should be restored to Belgium, but he has not a word to say about any indemnity or reparation for the wrongs and injuries inflicted upon that unhappy country. On the Allies’ side, he recommends that they should restore German colonies. As to his other proposals of a general kind, in regard to a future assurance of “the true liberty and community of the seas,” etc., he also makes no moral difference or distinction between the Central Powers and the Allies in the matter of the War’s origin, or the War’s conduct. Unfaithfulness to treaty, barbaric militarism, violation of all laws—divine and human—are to pay no penalty, and there is no adequate guarantee suggested against a recurrence of the dreadful horrors of to-day.
Our conclusion in regard to the Pope’s peace note is, that it is a pro-German affair, and that it is designed to make matters easy, if possible, for the Germans and their associates, in view of any future peace negotiations. Should the Pope’s terms be accepted, “the blood of hundreds of thousands” (as one has said) “would have been spilled in vain,” and the cause of righteousness defeated. His terms, however, have received a cold reception
almost everywhere. The German Chancellor is the only one who has expressed himself as regarding “the note with sympathy.” This is significant. Should anyone be in any doubt as to whether the Vatican is pro-German, we think that the recent disclosures (appearing in the London Daily Chronicle) of a secret spying confederacy at Rome, under the shadow of the Vatican, ought to dispel the doubt. The Pope’s Private Chamberlain, Gerlach, was the principal figure, and the main members were Prussians and Austrians. All the latest news concerning the movements of the Allies’ naval ships in the Mediterranean were conveyed to German and Austrian headquarters. Do we not find also that the Pope’s subjects in Ireland are almost all longing to see Britain crushed, and glorying in any successes gained by the Germans? If the Pope were Britain’s friend, Ireland would not be the hotbed of disloyalty and rebellion that it is.
The last thing that we desire to remark is, that it is a matter of humiliation to find that the Pope sent a letter to King George along with the “Peace Appeal” asking him to forward copies of the Appeal, which were enclosed, to the French, Italian, and United States Governments, as the Vatican had no diplomatic relations with these Governments. Twelve other copies were also sent with a request to hand them to “the leaders of the nations friendly to the Allies.” It does appear a melancholy circumstance that the King of the greatest Protestant nation in the world should be a medium for transmitting the Pope’s Jesuitical palavers and deceits to other nations. “How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed!”
A SINNER must come to himself, as did the prodigal, before ever he will come to Christ.
It is the want of a clear view that his sins are forgiven which makes a man afraid of death; nothing but love removes this tormenting fear. You have not this love at all times, but at times it slips into your heart, and makes you say, “I love the Lord because He has forgiven my sins.” And it is only by love that you know that your sins are forgiven. If you ever had this love you will not finally lose it. Those three verses, Romans viii. 28, 29, 30, must make a man know his state if he is made honest: what is the use of a religion that will not save the soul? I read, “Observe the month Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God, for in the month Abib, the Lord thy God brought thee out of Egypt by night.” If ever in all your life the Lord has given you anything sweet, if at any particular time your heart has been set at liberty by Him, He would have you remember this, and tell Him of it and go to Him again in trouble. If ever your sin is pardoned, there is eternal glory at the end. Beg the Lord to give you a clear knowledge of His righteousness put on by faith. If your desires are not as keen as they should be, beg of Him to sharpen them.—Richard Dore.