Paul S. L. Johnson On The Divine Right of Kings And Aristocrats (1919)

Paul S. L. Johnson,

The Present Truth and Herald of Christ's Epiphany,

July 1, 1919, p. 130, 131.

ʻThe doctrines of the Divine Right of Kings and Aristocrats have received some severe shocks of late.

In Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Servia [Serbia, ed.] and Montenegro, as far as practical purposes are concerned, these doctrines are dead; and in most other countries they are theoretically dead.

Officially and publicly Turkey and Japan, almost alone of the war powers, hold to these teachings, which are undoubtedly more responsible for the great war just ended than any other teachings except that of the Divine right of the Clergy.

This latter theory in a sense gave power to the other two doctrines, all three of which are a triplet of error, resulting in untold damage to the human family.

We are glad that in America our revolutionary forefathers killed all three of these doctrines, as far as our country is concerned.

And we believe that the day is not far distant in which they will be universally rejected in this world.

One news item tells us that through the war 278 members of various royal families have lost their royal positions and incomes.

Another item tells of 600 of the Russian nobility escaping from Russia to allied countries with but a mere shadow of their former wealth.

It is assuredly true, that literally thousands of the aristocracy in various war countries have perished, and many others are financially embarrassed, and still others are reduced to poverty, and are being compelled to work for a living. Their lot is especially a sad one in Bolshevik Russia and Hungary.ʼ

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