blessings to individuals and to society. Without it missionary work would, at least in many instances, be well nigh impossible. The Church, working through a married clergy, could not possibly achieve what has been achieved. Nor would the faithful have the benefit of the high standard which a celibate priesthood holds aloft. From every point of view it is advantageous. Nor is it imposed on anyone; but is ever the free-will offering of those who, after careful scrutiny, are permitted to make it.

THE INDEX

Protestants object to the tribunal known as
the Index Expurgatorius. But it seems they can
hardly realize what it is they are objecting to.
Their churches have no such tribunal, but this
is only one of the many ways in which they man-
ifest weakness.

Every organization, dowered with the right
of promoting good morals and restraining evil
tendencies, should have an Index. As a matter
of fact, all governments have an Index in one
form or another. Every home, presided over
by good parents, has an Index. No sane man
is willing to see books of every description in
the hands of his children.

The only thing to be lamented in the premises
is that the Index can not be effective enough,
either in the Church, the nation, or the family.
Hence it is that that delightful period of exist-
ence, the years of innocence in children, is re-
duced to a minimum; and men debate whether
or not the child of eight years should not be
permitted access to the tree of knowledge of
good and evil!

He

In matters of faith, too, each fledgling is
conceded the right to think for himself.
is taught grammar, arithmetic, music, etc. But
faith, without which it is impossible to please
God, is left to his own whim or guesswork.

If the conscientious, intelligent Protestant will
carefully consider the matter his only regret
will be that the Index of the Church, of the
government, and of the home are not half as
effective as they should be.

PREJUDICE

"We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus the Son of Joseph of Nazareth. And Nathanael said to him (Philip): Can anything of good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46.) Many Jews held the conviction that "out of Galilee (in which is Nazareth) a prophet riseth not." This prejudice was used against the Saviour.

By an appeal to prejudice the silversmiths of Ephesus were able to raise such tumult against Paul and his companions as to endanger their lives. "A God not made by hands" could not receive consideration from a multitude that, stirred by cunning craftsmen, "with one voice, for the space of about two hours, cried out: 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians."" (Acts 19:34.)

Many a time and oft have the crafty ones of other lands stirred up similar demonstrations against those who brought the good Evangel to peoples. It is the weapon used everywhere by men who fear to trust their cause to the arbit

rament of reason. Sometimes, no doubt, it is not the crafty ones but their disciples and dupes that resort to the method. Perfectly honest men

take up the cry that is given them, and pass it

along, abyss answering abyss.

This dreadful agency, prejudice, no matter in whose hands, works untold mischief. It is the enemy of God and man. It distorts the relation between the Creator and the creature. God is the God of truth; Christ came to give testimony to the truth, to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. He came that we should know the truth and that "the truth should make us free." What conceivable good can falsehood render anyone? Ignorance is bad, but error is worse. If the soul is made for the truth, and it is, why stuff it with falsehood? Why shut out the light, or falsify the facts? Can it possibly be of service to any one to have an erroneous opinion of his neighbor, or of his neighbor's convictions?

Protestantism, resting upon the principle of free inquiry and private judgment, has less justification than any other system for its prejudices. It is not consistent when it refuses to understand. If it claimed to teach or to believe