And perfect circulation depends upon perfect breathing more than upon anything else. Now, it is a perfectly fair proposition, that God has not given to any person more lung capacity than that person needs to keep him in such condition of health as God made him to have, and as God wants him to enjoy. I suppose this will not be disputed by any one. It follows, then, plainly enough, that if all the lung capacity which God has given to you is not used, you will not have the health which God made you to have. Just to the extent that you come short of using all the lung capacity which God has given you, in the same proportion you will come short of having the health that the Lord made you to have. And I do not believe that it is to the glory of God to give any one health by a miracle, and keep him in it by the miracle constantly maintained, when the cause of the ill health is the neglect of the very things within himself which are given to insure good health. It is not prayer but conformity to nature’s laws, which are God’s laws, that is needed in such cases. I can see no room for a prayer of faith to heal the sick, when that person has made himself or herself sick by wrong habits of eating, or by shutting off the life-giving air of heaven by tight lacing or wrong habits of breathing.HOMI February 1894, page 34.3

As perfect circulation depends so largely upon perfect breathing; as perfect breathing is only the use of the full lung capacity which God has given; and as the Lord has shown us both in our very make-up and in his Testimonies how to do this, there is certainly no excuse for any of us having imperfect health because of imperfect circulation. As perfect health depends upon perfect circulation let us study a little while—HOMI February 1894, page 34.4

THE CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD

that we may gather as far as possible what perfect circulation is.HOMI February 1894, page 34.5

The passages through which the circulation is carried on, are the arteries and the veins. The arteries are the passages along which the good blood is sent by the heart to all parts of the system to supply its wants. The veins are the passages along which the exhausted blood is carried back to the heart to be sent to the lungs to be purified. The life-blood is sent out by the heart in two directions—toward the head and all the upper parts of the body, and toward the feet and all the lower parts of the body. Where the blood leaves the heart there are but two of these arteries and they, of course, are therefore very large. But as the blood goes farther and farther from the heart, these two large arteries are divided and sub-divided and so become smaller and smaller until they become as small as the finest silken fibers and so numerous that you cannot penetrate the skin anywhere, even with the sharpest needle, without touching these and drawing blood. These small, hair-like blood-vessels are called capillaries. Where the capillaries of the arteries end, there the capillaries of the veins begin. The capillaries of the veins take up the blood which has been exhausted here from the capillaries of the arteries, and carry it to the small veins; these carry it to the larger veins, and these to the largest, which empty it into the heart. The heart sends it into the lungs, there to receive the life-giving property of the air, which purifies it and so makes life-blood of it, which is drawn back into the heart and is sent on its way again through the arteries, and so on around and around. This is the process of the circulation of the blood.HOMI February 1894, page 34.6

Now let us look at it again and see the purpose of the circulation.HOMI February 1894, page 34.7

Every motion, voluntary or involuntary, within the human system, exhausts human tissue. The thinking of a single thought exhausts some tissues of the brain. And so with every part of the system, any motion of any part exhausts some of the tissues of which that part is composed. Therefore food must be taken to furnish material to supply good tissue to take the place of this constant waste. But how is this done?HOMI February 1894, page 35.1

Let us take our stand at the heart as it is laden with its supply of good life-giving blood. Every corpuscle, that is, every part of every drop of this blood is laden with material to supply good tissue in the place of that which has been exhausted by the motions of the different parts of the system.HOMI February 1894, page 35.2

As the heart throbs, this blood is dashed through the arteries into the capillaries all over the system in every part. Through the capillaries the corpuscles deposit their load wherever the material is needed, depositing most where most is needed—as where there is a cut, a bruise, or an abrasion. When the blood has thus deposited its load, its value is gone. In unloading its material to take the place of exhausted tissue, it has become exhausted blood. Then it passes on from the capillaries of the arteries into the capillaries of the veins, and so through the veins back to the heart, receiving on the way the nutrient properties of the food, and all passing into the lungs where the impurities are thrown off, and the blood receives the vitalizing property of the air which makes it good life-blood again. This is taken up by the heart and again sent on its glad, life-giving way. Thus the circulation is carried on in its ceaseless round from birth to death.HOMI February 1894, page 35.3

Now let us look at this exhausted, this lifeless blood, as it is thrown into the lungs to be vitalized, that is, to be given life. Bear in mind that God has not given to any person more lung capacity than that person needs to keep the blood that is in him as pure as it must be in order that he may have the health that God made him to have. If then, a part of the lungs is not used, if some of the air chambers cannot be reached by the blood or the air, then a portion of the blood will return to the heart impure as it came from the veins, to be sent out impure through the arteries and capillaries. This causes the blood to become sluggish; it will not pass easily through the capillaries, and the heart is not only compelled to work harder than it ought, but the sluggish, impure blood breeds boils, pimples, sores, and disease. Therefore that the blood may be kept pure and full of life, all the lung capacity must be used in breathing. And in order that all the lung capacity may be brought into use there must be full, deep breathing, and this can be accomplished only by the use of the abdominal muscles, as shown in the previous lessons. And thus it is that, as perfect health depends upon perfect circulation, perfect circulation depends upon perfect breathing.HOMI February 1894, page 35.4

There are other elements, it is true, which enter into the keeping up of perfect circulation. These are: (a) keeping the extremities—the hands and feet, wrists and ankles—properly clothed that the blood may not be driven back upon itself, and chilled by the cold; (b) eating good food, etc. For, even though you breathe properly, if you eat pork, overfed turkey, “high” meats, and such impure and gross things, it is impossible for any amount of air to make pure and good the blood which comes from such victuals. Yet on the other hand, even though you eat only the very best of food, which will make the purest and best of blood, it is impossible to keep even this blood pure and good without using all the lung capacity which the Lord has given you, which can be done only by the deep breathing caused by the free and full use of the abdominal muscles. So that it remains true that, taken all around, perfect circulation depends first and most of all, upon perfect breathing.HOMI February 1894, page 35.5

Not let us to a little farther in this. You will remember that in one of these lessons we read the statement from the Testimonies, that “stomach, liver, lungs, and brain suffer for want of deep, full inspirations of air,” etc. Let us read that again and study how this is. Here is the passage:—HOMI February 1894, page 35.6

“He breathes only from the top of his lungs. It is seldom that he exercises the abdominal muscles in the act of breathing. Stomach, liver, lungs, and brain, are suffering for the want of deep, full inspirations of air, which would electrify the blood and impart to it a bright, lively color, and which alone can keep it pure, and give tone and vigor to every part of the living machinery.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:67.HOMI February 1894, page 35.7

Let us take the lungs first. They are made to suffer from this kind of breathing, thus: Breathing only from the top of the lungs, all the lower part lies wholly unused. The air-chambers of this unused part of the lungs fill up with a sort of serum and finally harden. And the longer the parts remain thus unused the worse they get, and there goes on that process as before expressed of “slowly committing suicide.”HOMI February 1894, page 35.8

Next, the brain. This is made to suffer thus: As only a part of the lungs is used in breathing, part of the blood that is thrown into the lungs to be purified and vitalized returns as impure and dull as it was sent up. It then is so sluggish that it will not pass easily through the extremely delicate capillaries of the brain. The brain thus robbed of the full life-current becomes wearied by a little exertion, there is dullness of mind, depression of spirit, and if an attempt it made to force the brain to do work, there will be sleepiness or headache.HOMI February 1894, page 35.9

The stomach is made to suffer in more ways than one. First, like the brain, being robbed of a good quality of blood, it is in a measure robbed of the strength which it needs in order to do the work which it must do, and thus a weak stomach and from that indigestion will result. Secondly, there being no motion of the abdominal muscles, the stomach is held tightly in place, tucked up under the diaphragm, and when filled with food is distended and thus more tightly held, and as the consequence it is deprived of that free movement which is essential to easy and good digestion.HOMI February 1894, page 36.1

The liver is made to suffer in the same way. Lying close alongside the stomach, it, too, by there being no motion of the abdominal muscles, is held closely in place, tucked up under the diaphragm, and being thus deprived of any free action, not only cannot perform its normal function, but torpid liver is induced.HOMI February 1894, page 36.2

In addition to all this the heart by being compelled constantly to drive impure and sluggish blood through the course of circulation, is overworked and thus weakened, and then, with a little unusual exertion, there is irregularity and palpitation of the heart.HOMI February 1894, page 36.3

Oh! with the human system compelled to endure the abuses that it is, it is a standing proof of the mercy of the beneficent Creator that so many people live as long as they do.HOMI February 1894, page 36.4

Look, however, at the other side of the picture. Let the abdominal muscles be always exercised in deep breathing. Then every part of the lung capacity is used; every air chamber is opened to the free entrance of the life-giving air of heaven. The impure blood which is thrown up to these chambers is at once purified and vivified by the life property of the oxygen which enters its corpuscles “as free as air.” It being thus “electrified,” the heart takes it up gladly, and cheerily sends it fairly dancing to the farthest extremity of every capillary in the system. The brain, receiving about one fifth of all the blood of the body, is clear, ready, and vigorous, and capable of any task. The abdominal muscles, moving fully and regularly, give to the stomach and liver and all the digestive apparatus and intestines that easy, free, regular, and full motion that is the most efficient aid to the performance of all their functions. Thus “tone and vigor” are given to every part of the “living machinery.” This is health. Thank the Lord. Take it, take it, and enjoy it to the glory and praise of Him who wishes “above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health.”HOMI February 1894, page 36.5

ALONZO T. JONES.

“Rome’s Scheme for the United States and the World; and the End of It” The Home Missionary, 6, 2, pp. 39-42.

ATJ

In previous lessons we have studied how apostate Protestantism in the United States has succeeded in betraying the government into the hands of the papacy, and how that Rome now adopts all their claims and arguments and turns them to her own advantage; by them proves that this is a Catholic Christian nation; and assumes possession of it as such, “by right of original discovery and possession.” These are the arguments unanswerable by those Protestants because they are their own arguments, which Rome now asserts and spreads before the people of the United States, and not only that, but Leo XIII has become very affectionate just now toward the people of the United States, and the government of the United States, and the Constitution of the United States. The papacy had no affection at all for the people, or the Constitution of the United States so long as it was understood to stand as our fathers intended it, to keep the people from being led back to the Church of Rome. But when the Supreme Court reversed that whole order of things and really subverted the Constitution of the United States, by declaring that the meaning of the Constitution is that “this is a Christian nation,” then Leo suddenly became very friendly, and even affectionate, to the people and the Constitution of the United States. He loves us all very much, “Protestants and all.” He has said so himself. And he proposes to do great things for us; but he proposes to do greater things with us. And this, with its results, is what we are now to study.HOMI February 1894, page 39.1

Just while these things were going on which subverted the United States government to the principles of the papacy, only a little while after the Supreme Court decision was rendered, and just as the time when Congress had set up Sunday in the place of the Sabbath of the Lord, a letter was published in the United States, from the Vatican, giving the views of Leo XIII, with respect to the government of the United States. Before reading that letter, however, I will read a little passage here from Dr. Schaff’s “Church and State in the United States,” that we may see what effect the principles of the government of the United States, as our fathers established it, have had upon other nations, and through this upon the papacy:—HOMI February 1894, page 40.1

“We must briefly survey the influence of the American system upon foreign countries and churches within the present generation, the principles of religious liberty and equality, with a corresponding realization of a bond of union of Church and State has made steady and irresistible progress amongst the leading nations or Europe, and has been embodied more or less in written constitutions. The successful working of the principle of religious freedom in the United States has stimulated this progress without any official interference by advocates of the voluntary principle of the separation of churches and religion, and of the separation of Church and State in Europe, pointed to the example of this country as their strongest practical argument.”HOMI February 1894, page 40.2

Thus the influence of the government of the United States under the constitution and principles which our fathers named when the government was made, was carrying all the nations of the earth away from Rome. And in the one hundred years and more which the government had been in existence, it had succeeded in carrying every nation on the earth, to a greater or less degree, away from the principles of Rome, and was instilling into them, steadily and irresistibly, the principles of religious freedom and equality. To such an extent was this done that although the papacy, under Pius IX, and through him, had declared that toleration is one of the principal errors of the age, yet Spain herself grants “toleration.” And everybody knows that there is not a nation on earth which is confessedly connected with Rome to support her in her work, and in her ambition, as it was in the dark ages when she ruled the world before. So that the effect of the principles of the government of the United States upon the world and the nations of the earth, have been to carry then away from Rome. She saw this going on and lamented it accordingly. What was left for her to do? As the example of the United States under its Constitution and principles was carrying the nations away from Rome, what should she do but work for the subversion of those principles and get this government committed to her principles, and thus as its influence had been before to draw the nations away from Rome, its influence when subverted would be to draw the nations back to Rome.HOMI February 1894, page 40.3

That is the scheme which she had started to carry out. And now that the Protestants have for her subverted all these principles and have committed the government of the United States to the maintenance of religion and her own chief institution—Sunday—particularly, she proposes now to take advantage of this, and run the United States government in all things, in the interests of the Catholic Church, and through this bring all the nations back under the wing of Rome once more. That is her scheme now. I outline it before you so that you can see more plainly the proposition that is made in Leo’s letter. This letter has been read to you already, but that you may see to better advantage what is to follow in this lesson, I take the liberty to read it again.HOMI February 1894, page 40.4

The title of the letter as it was printed in the New York Sun, July 11, 1892, “The Papacy a Nationality: Pope Leo and the United States.” It speaks first of some of the divisions and contentions that were going on in the Catholic Church in this country and the aims of certain papists in the church, then it says: “Leo XIII has a still higher aim” than to settle this contention in the church itself.HOMI February 1894, page 40.5

His appeal for national unification is founded upon a traditional conception of the Holy See. “In his view the United States has reached a period when it becomes necessary to bring about the fusion of all the heterogeneous elements in one homogeneous and indissoluble nation. America feels the urgent need of this work of internal fusion. Formed of a mosaic of races and nationalities, she wants to be a nation, a collective being, one strong and united. What the church has done in the past for others, she will do for the United States.”HOMI February 1894, page 40.6

That is the place which the church has set for the United States and the people of the United States. What she has done in the past for other nations, she now proposes to do for the United States. We know what she has done in the past for other nations. She has been a continual curse to them while she had any connection with them, and has ruined them in the end, if her connection was not broken off. And there is not the least doubt that that is what she will now do for this nation.HOMI February 1894, page 40.7

That is why the Holy See encourages the American clergy to guard jealously the solidarity, and to labor for the fusion of all the foreign and heterogeneous elements in one vast national family. The American churches furnish and must furnish at the present time the proof that Christianity is the school of patriotism and of national sentiment. By continuing to favor this work of unification if (the church) will form the grandeur of the United States and will demonstrate the degree to which religion and the church are the generators of political and patriotic independence.HOMI February 1894, page 41.1

“As the approaching danger to the United States lies in fractionizing the republic into centrifugal and hostile parties, the Catholics will appear, through their co-operation in national concentration, the best sons of the land and the upholders of political unity. The pope will impose upon all the American motto, E pluribus unum, applied to the subject we are treating.HOMI February 1894, page 41.2

“Finally, Leo XIII desires to see strength in unity. [To be sure he does.] Like all intuitive souls, he hails in the united American States, and in their young and flourishing church, the source of a new life for Europeans.”HOMI February 1894, page 41.3

See his scheme? What he has done in the past for other nations, he will do now for the United States, and in this way infuse new life into European nations.HOMI February 1894, page 41.4

He wants America to be powerful in order that Europe may regain strength “from borrowing a rejuvenated type.” Why does he want the United States to be strong in his hands?—So that he may have Europe again strong in his hands. It is a huge scheme, and the mischief of it is, it is succeeding.HOMI February 1894, page 41.5

“Europe is closely watching the United States.” [She always has been.] Henceforth we will need authors who will place themselves upon the ground [and ask this question], ‘What can we borrow, and what ought we to borrow from the United States for our political, social, and ecclesiastical reorganization?’”HOMI February 1894, page 41.6

Until 1892, when the Congress of the United States directly discussed a religious question, legislated upon a religious subject, and established a religious institution, and the Executive signed it, and the Supreme Court of the United States cited the same thing to prove that this is a Christian nation, and declared it so to be,—until that year, and until those things were done, what could any nation on the earth ever have borrowed from the United States for ecclesiastical reorganization? They could have borrowed nothing. Ecclesiasticism was completely, avowedly, and on principle, separated from the government of the United States until 1892. But when in that year, Leo saw all that which was done, done immediately, he issued this pronunciamento to the people of the United States, stating what he proposes to do with that which had already been done in the United States. I read on:—HOMI February 1894, page 41.7

“The answer to these questions depends in a great measure upon the development of American destinies.”HOMI February 1894, page 41.8

And Archbishop Satolli was sent over here, and fixed as permanent apostolic delegate to shape and develop American destinies. I shall read presently his own words saying that that is what he is here for.HOMI February 1894, page 41.9

“If the United States succeeds in solving the many problems that puzzle us, Europe will follow their example, and this outpouring of light will mark a date in the history, not only of the United States, but of all humanity.”HOMI February 1894, page 41.10

See the scheme? It embraces the world; it embraces “all humanity.” And he proposes to accomplish it even to its finality, through the success that is already gained in the United States, through the evil work of the National Reform combination.HOMI February 1894, page 41.11

That is why the Holy Father, anxious for peace and strength, collaborates with passion in the work of consolidation and development in American affairs.HOMI February 1894, page 41.12

According to him, the Church ought to be the chosen crucible for the moulding and the absorption of races into one united family. And that especially is the reason why he labors at the codification of ecclesiastical affairs, in order that this distant member of Christianity (that is, the United States) “may infuse new blood into the old organism.”HOMI February 1894, page 41.13

So, as the government of the United States, by its principles, when those principles were adhered to, had carried all the nations away from Rome; now Rome is working this scheme of getting the United States into her hands, that by this same influence she may bring all the nations back to Rome.HOMI February 1894, page 41.14

Here is Archbishop Satolli’s speech at the Catholic Congress in Chicago, Sept. 1893. It is worth reading also again, because it is the complement of the pope’s announcement as to his plans concerning the United States, and shows that that is exactly what Satolli is here for. When the World’s Fair was to be dedication, that presented a very plausible excuse for the pope to send Satolli over as his personal representative, to take part in the dedication simply. But when he had arrived here and the dedication was over, then the contentions in the Catholic Church here were the next plausible excuse for having him remain here for a little while as apostolic delegate temporarily. And then when he was established as temporary apostolic delegate, that was sufficient excuse for a letter to come, and a commission, establishing him as permanent apostolic delegate—the pope giving the word beforehand, “sealed with the seal of the Fisherman’s Ring,” that from what Archbishop Satolli decides or does in his official capacity, there shall be no appeal, it shall be as though done by the pope himself. That is his position here. That is what he is here for.HOMI February 1894, page 41.15

Now to his words. I read the report just as it is given in the paper:—HOMI February 1894, page 42.1

“In the name of Leo XIII, I salute the great American Republic. Go forward, in one hand bearing the book of Christian truth, and in the other the Constitution of the United States. The papal delegate, Satolli, wrapping the purple robes of office tightly about him and speaking with a burning intensity of feeling..... delivered this message to-day in the Catholic Congress. The scene was dramatic in the extreme. The papal delegate had a moment before been received with a thunderous burst of applause when he was seen mounting the platform with Archbishop Ryan, and the personal representative of the Roman pontiff to the United States was literally shaking under the stress of the excitement of the occasion, which was his first public appearance at a national gathering since his appointment to office.”HOMI February 1894, page 42.2

“Literally shaking” with the excitement under which he labored. There is not the least doubt of it, and all because of the fair prospect in that moment spread before him, that all the pope’s bright schemes, and grand ambitions were to be realized, and that he was here to carry them out. No wonder he trembled. Why, it is said that even the crocodile sheds tears as he is about to grasp his prey. No wonder that Satolli trembled on this occasion. Now I read his words:—HOMI February 1894, page 42.3

“To-day the duty of Catholics is to bring into the world the fullness of supernatural truth and supernatural life. This especially is the duty of a Catholic Congress. There are the nations who have never separated from the church, but who have neglected often to apply in full degree the lessons of the gospel. There are the nations who have gone out from the church. [And the United States is the chiefest one of them and the leader of all.]HOMI February 1894, page 42.4

“There are the nations who have gone out from the church, bringing with them many of her treasures, and because of what they have brought out still shedding partial light; but, cut of [sic.] the source, unless that source is brought again into close contact with them, there is danger for the future. Bring them into contact with their past by your action and teaching. Bring your countrymen, bring your country, into immediate contact with that great secret of blessedness, Christ and his church, and in this manner shall it come to pass, the word of the psalmist shall be fulfilled: ‘Mercy and justice have met with one another, justice and peace have kissed.’ Let us restore among men as we can, justice and charity. Let us teach men to be ever prompt to make sacrifice of self for the common good. This is the foundation of all elevating social movement. Now, all these great principles have been marked out in most luminous lines in the encyclicals of the great pontiff, Leo XIII. Study those encyclicals. Hold fast to them as the safest anchorage, and all will be well. These social questions are being studied the world over. It is well they be studied in America, for here in America we find more than elsewhere the key of the future. [Applause.] Here in America you have a country, blessed specially by Providence in the fertility of field, and the liberty of its institutions. [Loud applause.] Here you have a country which will repay all efforts [Loud and prolonged applause], not merely tenfold, but, aye, a hundredfold.”HOMI February 1894, page 42.5

Thus the pope and Archbishop Satolli, his personal representative, assure the Catholics that here all their efforts to bring this country and their countrymen back to the Church of Rome, will be repaid a hundredfold.HOMI February 1894, page 42.6

“This no one understands better than the immortal Leo, and he charges me, his delegate, to speak out to America words of hope and blessing, words of joy. Go forward, in one hand bearing the book of Christian truth, the Bible, and in the other, the Constitution of the United States. [Tremendous applause, the people rising to their feet.] Christian truth and American liberty will make you free, happy, and prosperous. They will put you on the road to progress. May your steps ever persevere on that road. Again I salute you with all my heart; again I express my delight to be with you, and again I speak to you in strongest and sweetest tones, the love of your spiritual father, Leo XIII.”HOMI February 1894, page 42.7

That is what Rome is doing. That is her scheme for this country, and for the world. And that scheme is going to succeed in this country and in the world. This is the truth. The Bible says so.HOMI February 1894, page 42.8

Now I want to read to you from the Bible the scriptures which show that very scheme that is mapped out now by Leo XIII, and which is being carried out by Satolli, right before the eyes of the American people and the world. I want you to see that the Bible showed from 1800 to 2500 years ago that that very thing would be done, and that is how we know it is going to succeed. And then we shall find out whose funeral it is.HOMI February 1894, page 42.9

(Concluded next month)

January 1894

March 1894