The various reform movements, as predicted by the prophet (Dan. 11:32-35), were "overcome by flatteries." Each one, after accomplishing a measure of cleansing, stopped short. So far as they found it practicable, they imitated the example of the Church of Rome in courting and receiving the favor of the world at the expense of their virtue — their fidelity to Christ, the true Head of the Church.

Church and state again made common cause. In a measure they united their worldly interests, at the expense of the real, the spiritual, interests of the church. Progress and reform in the church were again at a standstill. A retrograde movement set in. Today many of them are much farther from the proper standard, both of faith and practice, than in the days of their founders.

Some of the reformed churches were even admitted to share in authority and power with earthly rulers — for instance, the Church of England, and the Lutheran Church in Germany. Those who have not succeeded to that extent have made many compromising overtures to the world for smaller favors. It is also true that while the world powers have advanced the worldly ambitions of the unfaithful church, the church has also freely admitted the world to her communion and fellowship. Baptized worldlings now form the large majority of her membership, filling nearly every important position, thus dominating her.

This was the disposition which degraded the church in the beginning of the age. This disposition brought about the great falling away (2 Thess. 2:3,7-10), and gradually, but rapidly, developed the Papal system.

This loose character, early assumed by the various reform movements, and which gradually developed sectarian organizations, continues to the present day. The more these organizations grow in wealth, numbers and influence — the further they fall from Christian virtue and develop the arrogance of their mother. A few earnest Christians in the various sects observe this to some extent, and with shame and sorrow confess and lament it. They see that every possible effort is made by the various sectarian organizations to please the world and to court its favor and secure its patronage.

Elegant and costly church edifices, lofty spires, chiming bells, grand organs, fine furnishings, artistic choirs, polished orators, fairs, festivals, concerts, plays, lotteries and questionable amusements and pastimes are all arranged with a view to securing the world’s approval and support. The grand and wholesome doctrines of Christ are thrust to the background. False doctrines and sensational topics take their place in the pulpit. The truth is ignored and forgotten, and the spirit of it lost. In these particulars how truly the daughters resemble the mother organization!

As one among numerous evidences of the freedom and even pride with which this relationship of the Protestant sects to Papacy is owned, we give the following sentiments of a Presbyterian clergyman, quoted from one of his sermons as published by the daily press. The gentleman said:

"Wince as you will, you must admit that this (the Catholic Church) is the Mother Church. She possesses an unbroken history extending back to the time of the apostles. [Yes, that is where the apostasy began. 2 Thess. 2:7,8] For every fragment of religious truth which we prize, we are indebted to her as the depository. If she has no claims to being the true Church, then are we bastards and not sons.

"Talk about missionaries to labor amongst Romanists! I would as soon think of sending missionaries amongst Methodists and Episcopalians and United Presbyterians and Lutherans for the purpose of converting them into Presbyterians."

Yes, nearly all the doctrinal errors so tenaciously held by Protestants were brought with them from Rome, though beyond the gross errors of Papacy, such as the sacrifice of the mass, the worship of saints, of the virgin Mary and of images, the auricular confession, the granting of indulgences, etc. Considerable progress was made by each of the reform movements.

But alas! Protestants of today are not only willing, but anxious, to make almost any compromise to secure the favor and assistance of the old "mother" from whose tyranny and villainy their fathers fled three centuries ago. Even those principles of truth which at first formed the ground of protest are being gradually forgotten or openly repudiated. The very foundation doctrine of "justification by faith" in the "continual sacrifice" is rapidly giving way to the old Papal dogma of justification by works and by the sacrilegious sacrifice of the mass. Numbers both in pulpits and in pews now openly declare that they have no faith in the efficacy of the precious blood of Christ as the ransom-price for sinners.

The claims of apostolic succession and clerical authority are almost as presumptuously set forth by some of the Protestant clergy as by the Papal priesthood. The right of individual private judgment — the very fundamental principle of the protest against Papacy, which led to the Great Reformation — is now almost as strenuously opposed by Protestants as by Papists. Yet Protestants are fully aware that it was in the exercise of the right of private judgment that the Reformation was begun and for a short time carried forward. Later a presumptuous domination of recognized leaders retarded the wheels of progress, and has, ever since, kept them strictly within the traditional lines and put a ban upon all who fearlessly step beyond them.

Protestantism is no longer a protest against the mother church, as at first. As a writer for the press recently remarked — "The ism is still with us, but what has become of the protest?" Protestants seem to have forgotten — for they truly ignore — the very grounds of the original protest. As systems, they are fast drifting back toward the open arms of the "Holy (?) Mother Church," where they are freely invited and assured of a cordial reception.

"Let us hold out to you our hand affectionately" (says Pope Leo to Protestants in his noted Encyclical addressed "To The Princes and Peoples of the Earth"), "and invite you to the unity which never failed the Catholic church, and which never can fail. Long has our common mother called you to her breast; long have all the Catholics of the Universe awaited you with the anxiety of brotherly love. ...Our heart, more even than our voice, calls to you, dear brethren, who for three centuries past have been at issue with us in the Christian faith."

Again, in his Encyclical to the Roman church in America, Pope Leo says, "Our thoughts now turn to those who dissent from us in matters of Christian faith...How solicitous we are of their salvation; with what ardor of soul we wish that they should be at length restored to the embrace of the Church, the common mother of all!...Surely we ought not to leave them to their fancies, but with mildness and charity draw them over, using every means of persuasion to induce them to examine closely every part of the Catholic doctrine and to free themselves from preconceived notions."

In his "Apostolic Letter to the English People" (1895) he gives utterance to the following prayer, "O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England... O sorrowful Mother, intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son" — i.e., himself, the Pope.

In furtherance of this same plan, "Missions for Protestants" have been started under the charge of what are known as the "Paulist Fathers." These meetings have been and are being held in the large cities. They are conducted along lines of conciliation and explanation. Written questions from Protestants are requested and answered publicly; and tracts for Protestants are freely distributed. Protestants are practically conceding the Romish position, and really have no answer to make. Any one who can and does answer, and refers to facts, is denounced as a disturber by both Protestants and Catholics.

Every intelligent person can see how easily Protestantism is being ensnared by this cunning craftiness, and how perceptibly the popular current is set toward the Church of Rome, which is changed indeed in voice and power, but unchanged in heart. Rome is still justifying the Inquisition and other of her methods of the dark ages by claiming her right, as ruler of earth, to punish heretics as she pleases.

It is clear that while many faithful souls, ignorant of the real state of the case, have reverently and devoutly worshiped God within these Babylon systems, nevertheless, this does not alter the fact that they are, one and all, "harlot" systems. Confusion reigns in them all. The name Babylon aptly fits the entire family-mother, daughters and accomplices, the nations styled Christendom. Rev. 18:7; 17:2-6,18

In the great politico-ecclesiastical systems which men call Christendom, but which God calls Babylon, we have not only the foundation but also the superstructure and the crowning pinnacle, of the present social order. This is implied in the generally accepted term, Christendom, which of late is applied, not only to those nations which support Christian sects by legislation and taxation, but also to all nations which show tolerance to Christianity without in any definite manner favoring or supporting it.

The doctrine of "the divine right of kings," taught or supported by almost every sect, is the foundation of the old civil system, and had long given authority, dignity and stability to the kingdoms of Europe. The doctrine of the divine appointment and authority of the clergy has hindered God’s children from progressing in divine things and bound them by the chains of superstition and ignorance to the veneration and adoration of fallible fellow-beings, and to their doctrines, traditions and interpretations of God’s Word. It is this entire order of things that is to fall and pass away in the battle of this great day — the order of things which for centuries has held the people docile under the ruling powers, civil, social and religious.