September 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
390
and must frequent only those institutions which the re gime [Fascist] has established for them.” The Pope replies: “We can never agree to anything which restricts or denies the high nature that God gave to the Church and the family in the field of education. On this point, we are not merely intractable, but we are uncompromising. . . . Our rights and our principles can not even be discussed.” Mussolini says: “My formula is clear . . . evepr- thing within the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State. The child, as soon as he is old enough to learn, belongs to the State alone. No sharing is possible. Maybe this will be judged a Spartan doctrine carried to an extreme. One can not deny, however, that it is clear. We are in process of reconstructing Italy—a great Italy.” The Pope replies: “In certain cases, when the welfare of the Church is concerned, I will not hesitate to dicker even with the devil in person. In the matter of the schools, however, I can make or tolerate no bargain. That the Church has the sole right to control education, as the trustee of Christian families, is as clear as that twice two makes four, not five, or six, or fifty.” Both of these gentlemen declare that their positions are quite “clear,.” They are clear and irreconcilable ! It is also “clear” that the very heart’s blood of each system is at stake. The system that yields—dies! Mussolini rattles his sword! The Pope calmly replies: “We have no material force to support our uncompromis ing attitude, but this is not to our disadvantage, for truth and right have none of material force.” Who Will Win This Fight? I f it were to be fought out single-handed between the beast and the harlot, the harlot would win, and we believe the beast knows it and will profit by his knowl edge. Many an emperor has fought with that hoary old harlot and has fallen. Her purposes are “fathomless as the sea, and silent as the grave” ; but irresistibly, unspar ingly, remorselessly, she rides on through the centuries and through every state to the accomplishment of those purposes. She may not strike directly. But she is an adept in the matter of arraying nation against nation, statesman against statesman, breaking up, dividing, and crumbling her enemies. History tells that story. But the beast is wise. There is to be a federation of kings to give final form to this mighty empire now shak ing from itself the grave-dust of the centuries. When these kings federate (and the signs of such a federation are not wanting just now), then, the beast will strike, and strike hard. For “these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire. For God did put in their hearts to do his mind” (Rev. 17:16, 17, R. V.). The beast shall destroy the harlot, but the descending Son of God shall destroy the beast (Rev. 19:19, 20), and the final victory will be the Lord’s. Saints of God, what days these are for you! Are we not beholding the actuality of the wondrous vision of the seer of Patmos? If not, then the avant-couriers are be fore u s ! At least, we are not of those who dwell “in dark ness, that that day should overtake . . . as a thief” (1 Thess. 5 :4). Our God, by every possible sign, is warning His people to be ready, that through the great “up-calling* (1 Thess. 4:13-18), they may “be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk. 21 :36).
creasing, over four hundred million souls!” So Mussolini, the atheist, acquiesces to the galling saddle, and the harlot rides on. Mussolini, the present head of the reviving beast, joins the Church of Rome and has more than once, figuratively if not literally, addressed himself to the dis tasteful task of kissing the big toe of papal Rome. Mussolini, although inwardly despising the papacy, was keen enough to see in the tremendous organization of the Roman Church, the most highly developed disciplinary machine in the world, ready for instant action, and he reached out his hand for the levers. He. abolished Free masonry, that ancient foe of the whole papal system— and the woman rode on. He restored the crucifix in all the public schools of Italy—and the woman rode on. He passed a law making religion (which, in Italy, means Ro man Catholicism) a compulsory feature of the public school curriculum. He made it a crime for any person or newspaper to criticize in any way the Roman Catholic faith or Church. Mussolini countenanced, if he did not encourage, the persecution of the Protestant Church. One of the first things he did after coming into power was to take from the State and to present to the Pope the great Chigi Library, an ancient historical library of great value. He ordered all his ministers to attend mass ostentatiously. The famous recent Concordant between Mussolini and the Pope provided that no marriage in Italy should be valid without church bans. It also provided that the Papal Creed should be enforced in all schools throughout Italy. It provided that the Canon Law of the Church of Rome should be a law that the beast would be bound to enforce. It provided a temporal domain, making the Pope an earthly sovereign —and the woman rode on! • Some months ago, a far-sighted reporter managed to get a manuscript out of Italy, giving his impression of this apparent domination, by a “scarlet woman,” of the huge Roman beast over whom no one else seems able to exercise any control. His article closed thus: The stage seems set for great events here, and the first gun may be sounded any time. . . . There is no doubt that Mussolini is contemplating a great betrayal. It might be well for the Pope if some one who has his ear should whisper therein the words of the old Chi nese proverb : “He who rides a tiger must not dismount.” Political Babylon and Ecclesiastical Babylon Entering A Fight to the Finish ssuredly , this grandiose parade of the imperial beast and the marvellously bedecked harlot that rides him cannot go on forever. All the world knows that these two are out on no mere petting-party. Serious business is ahead. The pretensions of the beast, as spoken by Mussolini, cannot brook the pretensions of the papacy. Mussolini says : “Within the State, the Church is not sovereign and is not even free . . . because, in its institu tions and its men, it is not subject to the general laws of the State.” The papacy replies : “The Church and State should be united, and the ecclesiastical power superior to the civil.” Mussolini says: “The State governs for all, over the heads of all, and if necessary, against all.” The papacy replies: “All rights belonging to society exist in the Church.” Mussolini says : “Education must be ours” (that is to say, the State’s) ; and : “The young belong entirely to us,
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