Roman Catholicism Slays

ROMAN CATHOLICISM SLAYS

LESTER SUMRALL, the author of this volume, received a Divine urge to enter the evangelistic ministry at the early age of seventeen years. The acceptance and following of this call to Christian Service, has led him throughout the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Canada to Mexico. In 1934, in company with Howard Carter of London, England, he traveled through more than thirty lands on an extensive evangelistic-missionary tour. Such remote parts of the globe as Tahiti and Raratonga were touched. The island of Java was thoroughly covered by a few thousand miles travel, while speaking in twenty-three towns and cities. Far hinterland China, Manchuria, Siberia, Poland, Brazil and other interiors were penetrated. Special revival meetings and conventions were held where possible; resulting in many souls receiving a changed life by regeneration, and others being blessed by a spiritual refreshing. Twenty-one means of conveyance were needed to take them around the globe. These contrasted from the camel, a Tibetan pack-mule, the Russian springless wagon, three-wheel taxi in Java, with an occasional trip through the sky in a luxurious airplane. Twenty-two foreign languages were used to convey their message to the peoples of the earth. The assistance of ninety-five different interpreters made this possible. Over four hundred cities of the world have been the parish of Evangelist Sumrall. 

Much of the contents of this treatise is taken from his observances of the Roman Church in other lands. This volume is being published simultaneously in two languages - English and Spanish. 

INTRODUCTION

THE FACTS AND COMMENTS embodied in this treatise have been gathered from various sources over a period of years. The final and vital conclusions arrived at were mainly determined from personal observation of the Roman hierarchy while traveling in other lands. 

The author does not offer this treatise as an ex-haustive argument on the suggested subject. Much de-tail and description have been eliminated to keep the volume small. Neither does he desire the reader to peruse its pages seeking for literary excellencies. The writer has only anticipated a compassionate appeal to your heart and reason upon this very necessary topic. Hosea, the prophet, cried to an apostate nation, "My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge." I feel the same regarding our people today! 

Thus, my heart breathes a prayer to the Lord for each reader of these pages, petitioning Him to illuminate your heart and give you sufficient spiritual stamina to clasp and hold to the TRUE LIGHT OF CHRISTIANITY! 

L. F. S.

THE CHURCH OF ROME is very diligent to hide from the world at large her past history and present activity in many lands; which record reveals a sanguine play in politics, intrigue, immorality, and inquisition. When the plain truth is broadcast to the world-as this treatise endeavors to do-she raises her deceitful hands and loudly exclaims that her spiritual sensibilities are shocked! 

Before discussing this momentous subject, I wish to say to every reader who is Romanish by faith, in all loving kindness and tenderness, that I have no animosity in my heart against you. My purpose in writing is not to make you angry but to enlighten you to the true nature of the Church of Rome. 

Further, Romanish friend, every fact or statement in this treatise can be unbiasly proved to contain full orbed truth. Therefore, I admonish you to read this volume to the last word and then make the decision that our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would have you make. 

To be assured that the enclosed information is simple and understandable in outline, let us consider the Church of Rome PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, and her workings in each epoch!

CHAPTER I 

ROMAN CATHOLICISM SLAYS 

PAST 

How did the Church of Rome come into being? And how old is the Romanist Church? Will the reader please note that I do not refer to the aforementioned society as the Roman CATHOLIC Church? The reason for this is because the word "Catholic" means universal, and this society is not universal in sympathy or government. It is positively and irrefutably an Italian society of religion. It might amaze you to know there has not been a non-Italian pope on the papal throne for over four hundred years! Further, there can never be one until the Italian majority of cardinals is removed from office. 

The first Pentecostal, apostolic revival that descended from heaven on the Day of Pentecost, almost two thousand years ago (Acts 2) created the Christian church. From that glorious upper room infilling of the Holy Spirit, has spread the true hope of salvation for every human being. 

During the first century after the birth of the Christian church, she was involved in a deadly struggle with Judaism and paganism. Persecution, even to death, was the price of following the Saviour of mankind! In 64 A.D.,the proud and haughty city of Rome was re-duced to ashes. This criminal deed was fiendishly blamed upon the Christians. Inevitably, this diabolical intrigue intensified the persecution! Like a horrible scourge, directed by the devil, the Roman state spon-sored a deadly fight against the Christians. They were crucified, fed to wild, vicious animals, while a beastly pagan society and puppet officials sat and glared at them with hellish glee! This contemplation presents vistas of heart-rending scenes in the catacombs, amphi-theaters, and public executions that we have not the space to describe here. 

By the second century, the Christian persecution had abated to some extent. Yet it was a real disgrace to be a despised follower of the Christ. Only the ignoble, and the the poor, and the really God-hungry openly confessed Christ as their Redeemer. 

During the third century, the Christian church be came more powerful. She had influential bishops stationed in the great metropolises of the known world. She wielded a great influence over multitudes of both prominent and wealthy citizens. 

Then, with the dawning of the fourth century, persecution then being over, the emperor of pagan-corrupt Rome, in order to consolidate his empire, embraced the Christian religion. The leading clergymen of the age, seeing an unparalleled opportunity for political prestige and fabulous wealth, sold their Savior-just like Judas! What a pity that they were not as honor able as Judas and followed him who went to his own place. 

What resulted in this dastardly cohesion of church and state? Did pagan Rome become Christian? No! Christianity changed! ROME NEVER! 

It was Constantine the Great who instigated the birth of the Church of Rome. He became "converted" in A.D. 319. After the presumed conversion of Emperor Constantine (who is hailed bishop of bishops) history records that he brutally murdered his brother-in-law, Licionius. Then he madly sentenced his eleven-year-old nephew to death. Later, his bestial passions called for the execution of his eldest son, Crespus. Besides this, he plotted and barbarously brought about the death of his second wife! This man is the progenitor, or father of the Church of Rome. Thus we see that the Church of Rome was born wallowing in the blood of innocent folk.

From this spiritually illegal and prostituted union of state and church, the colossal papal system of today has evolved. Obviously, when the state and church married, the devil performed the ceremony! God was barred out! This opened the door leading into the awful Dark Ages. Beyond contradiction, the darkest centuries of human history are those of absolute rule of terror by the sinister dictators in their gorgeous thousand-room palace situated by the River Tiber! 

To the question that we are answering regarding the age of Romanism, let every conscientious adherent of Romanism realize that it is a dreadful lie for present-day papalism to claim to be the only authorized dispenser of Christianity because their popes date back to Peter. It was in the fourth century after Christ before there was an official pope! The very foundation of this claim is unreliable. The church claims that Peter spent the last twenty-five years of his life in Rome as bishop. This is practically impossible for Peter was at Jerusalem for the great "Council of Circumcision," which most scholars agree was held about A.D. 51. The Romanists publish the fact that Peter was martyred in 65 or 67 A.D. There are only fourteen to sixteen years left for him to be in Italy! History cannot prove that he was ever in Rome; and tradition is not sufficient for intelligent folk of this age. Furthermore, no bishop for hundreds of years after Peter attempted to usurp universal authority over the Christian church. Every assembly was sovereign and indigenous until the time of Constantine. It was A.D. 325 that the first church council was held. It convened at Nicea and was summoned by a civil ruler and not by a pope! 

I trust that this clears every difficulty regarding the birth and age of the CHURCH OF ROME. 

As soon as the now state Church of Rome found herself invested with great civil power, she became intoxicated with bigotry. The meek Christlike spirit turned into rapacious furiosity. She took the cross from her heart and tied it around her neck and began a bloody fight against any who dared to resist her supremacy!

It was. a desperate and long battle that followed. There were other powerful centers of Christianity which would not bow to the ecclesiastical tyranny in Rome. There were sections of Christianity that never yielded to her polluted influence. The Waldensians are a good example of this. They revolted against popes and traditions of elders, claiming only Christ as a High Priest, and the writings of the Apostles for instruction. For this stand the Church of Rome persecuted them all over Europe. 

We shall now scrupulously note how Rome's religious doctrines have evolved! Then watch how her superb political machine grew. We must remember it took hundreds of years for the "traditions of the holy fathers" to become law and gospel. Then, too, it took some time for her to usurp authority over the political giants of the nations. 

Romanism's doctrines evidently sprang from greed of "filthy lucre," desire for temporal power, or else they were borrowed from pagan and heathen rituals. This is a fact that any unbiased reader can find for himself/herself by searching the legal documents of church history. May I very briefly name a few of these non-Christian doctrines held by the Roman Church? 

Foremost in Roman error is the office of pope; his coronation and presumed infallibility. The word "pope" is Latin, and means papa or father. Primarily, it was a title granted to all bishops. This began in the fourth and fifth centuries. It was Leo I (440-46) Bishop of Rome, who first claimed universal leader-ship and supremacy over the four patrioches, i.e., Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. He was THE FIRST TO CLAIM THE PETRINE successorship! This assumption was naturally resisted by the other bishops, especially by the Bishop of Constantinople. It was not until the seventh century after Christ that the bishops of Rome succeeded in making Christendom believe they were invested with universal authority. 

History records the amazing truth that it was as late as 1869 that Pope Pius IX, at a council in the Vatican, declared it eternally true that a pope cannot make a mistake. This was actively resisted by high church-men in Germany, France, and the United States. This same pope, in his encyclical letter in 1864, declared: "The eternal salvation of any out of the true Church of Christ is not even to be hoped for." The Scripture teaches us that Christ is our HOPE and not a man-made church organization! 

If you, reader friend, will peruse the pages of Roman history, a striking truth that will present itself is that the popes are not only very human but many Roman history, a striking truth that will present it self is that the popes are not only very human but many of them were depraved and base men. In 882, Pope John VIII was assassinated because of his gross wickedness. Pope John X from 914 to 922 laid aside his priestly garments altogether and marshalled an army to battle, he going before them as general. Do you think Jesus condoned that? Pope John XII was so vile that Otto I of Germany compelled him to abdicate the papal throne. Benedict XI was so corrupt that the people of the city of Rome forced him out of the Vatican! In the light of history any unbiased person can see that the pope is not immaculate or infallible! 

Further, the "Sacrifice of the Mass" is totally unChristian. Its claims made by the priest are even unreasonable. Non-attendance to the mass is not a mortal sin. Attendance does not assure you temporal and spiritual benediction for a week regardless of the life you otherwise live. When Christ said on the cross, "It is finished," a complete and eternal salvation was accomplished. In regard to Christ saying,"This is my body," He also said in John 15,"I am the true VINE."Did this make Him become a vital part of the vegetable kingdom? Just as much as it makes Him a piece of biscuit! The Holy Scriptures say that Christ has gloriously arisen and that He has jubilantly ascended upon high and now rules in sublime majesty. 

Do you think a human priest can say "hocus-pocus" and make our glorious Lord to be transubstantiated into a bit of dough that a filthy rat can steal (as they have done) and devour our PEERLESS, GLORIFIED LORD?I cry No! No! A million times No! The truth is this: The Lord Jesus is present in the ordinance, but not in the elements of the Christian Passover. It should amaze you to realize that it was the fifth century after Christ before such mysticism as "Sacrifice of the Mass" became associated with the Lord's Supper! A very strong argument against this false doctrine is the fact that Rome has sentenced thousands of pro-tes-tants to death for disagreeing with the doctrine. True Chris-tianity conquers with LOVE, and not a sword! 

Then, let us consider the "purgatory racket." It is heathen in origin.The Buddhist temples that we saw near the Tibetan border had many purgatories in bas-relief to frighten the poor, ignorant people into submission to the priest. It is merely a fraudulent process of getting money under false pretense. There are hundreds of people behind prison bars for defrauding the public: why not jail every Romanist priest?