1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

"Looking now at the sphere of morals, we take our commonstand on the ten commandments and the sermon on the mount.As to the vast majority of all questions of morals, Romanismand Protestantism are agreed. It is true thereR1169 : page 6is a great deal of immorality in the Roman Catholic Church insome countries, and we think it may be shown that as a ruleProtestantism is productive of better morals than Romanism; butthis, after all, is a question of more or less, and to say the least,Protestantism has little to boast of. On all these questions it is ofthe highest importance that the Roman Catholic Church andProtestant churches should make an alliance. Their joint effortswould have an influence upon public and private morals such asthe world has not yet witnessed. We may agree to differ anddebate on all questions of morals where there is discord. Butwhen we are agreed on the vast majority of questions that comebefore the public, it is sheer folly for us to waste our energies inantagonism when co-operation and alliance would be productiveof vast good."We hold, therefore, that the Roman Catholics and theProtestants ought not to hesitate to ally themselves for themaintenance and the protection of those great principles ofChristian doctrine, Christian worship, and Christian morals thatthey hold in common."***The proposed alliance with Rome, the necessity for whichDoctor Briggs reiterates so often, is a noteworthy sign of thetimes, and we could not ignore it and be true to our name. TheDoctor seems to base his plea for alliance quite largely upon thefact that Protestantism is about as bad as Catholicism. He saysabove that Protestantism has little to boast of over RomanCatholicism, in the way of morality; and elsewhere in the samearticle he says:--"Why should we complain of the persecutions that our ancestorssuffered from Rome, when we have to lament that others of ourancestors were merciless to Roman Catholics? Roman Catholicintolerance and bigotry may be matched by Protestantintolerance and bigotry. I doubt whether God looks with anymore favor upon these detestable vices in the one than in theother."This is, no doubt, a valid reason why Protestantism and RomanCatholicism should join; for when Protestantism becomes as badas Catholicism, we can see no necessity for maintaining aseparate existence. For ourselves we think that there is yet quitea difference between the two bodies; but when a prominentprofessor in one of the leading theological seminaries in the landcan see no difference between the Lord's supper as celebrated