Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-14
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RELIGIOUS TESTS IN ENGLAND.
The British House Of Commons has hsd another
discussion Of the periodical question, whether the
words on the true faith Of Christian shall be
striker from the oath administered to each member
Of Parliament before taking his seat The object of
the proposed change is 70 relieve the Jews from
form Of oath repugnant to their cOnseienees. and
thus to adEt them to the National Legislature, from
which their religious sorupes against submitting to
such test have hitherto excluded them. The dis
cussion, which teOk place on the 22d utimo result
ed in majority Of two to one in favor Of the pro-
posed bill It win, however, probably be defeated
IN the House Of Lords which has invariably reject
ed like bills passed by the House Of Commons, in
which rePeated majOrities have from time to time
armed the principle that Jews are entitled to equal
privileges with other British citizens.
The discussion in the House took very wide range,
embracing the utmost extremes of liberality and il
literally Of religious and political faith It was
urged that Jews should not be put on an equality
with Christians, because the Jewish religion is de-
moralizing its distinguishing feature being isO-
lation repulsive to persons Of other creeds. The
authority Of DR.. McCaul an English divine,
cited to prove that moral obligations lOosened by
the oral law, by which the Jews are guided that
rl'der its operation may retain possession Of
what does not belong to him, provided it be the
property Of q Gentle; and that it fosters system
Of intolerance by justifying the conversion of all
Gentle nations by the sword. On the authority Of
Coningsby, novel by DIsraeli, it was declared that
the first Jesuits we're Jews, and the Jewish race
should therefore never be allowed to take part in
Protestant legislation
On the other side, it was urged that the teaching
that should do to others as We would have others
do to US requires the grant of equal liberty to men
Of s religious professions, long their conduct
as citizens is ireproachable that the existing law
is either idle unmesning; either totally ineffective
as q security for good government, because under
stood as having only nominal force with those sub
ject to it, who can as readily comply with it when
infdels as when orthodox Christians, or gross
violation Of the rights of conscience by its violation
Of the practice Of society and the spirit Of modern
legislation.
The Times said: Z" the man who calls himself a
Christian man may never enter church, or any
place Of Christian Worshp he may utterly disbelieve
every miracle of the New Testament, and only refer
to that book for allusiOn phrase to illustrate
some very secular idea" Yet it WAS argued, such
mans well as such infidels as Gibbon, Boiling
broke, and others equally scePtioal who have
pied undisputed seats in the House-may swear
anything con the true faith of Christian" when re-
CURED by law to do So without any discredit; while
the Jew, who believes far more Of the fundamental
principles Of the Christian system, is excluded,
simply because he is sufficiently sincere and con-
soientiOus to reject an oath conflicting with his
religious belief but which would not stand at all in
his way if he we're 8 total unbeliever.
1t was argued by the friends of exclusion, that
though many take the oath who are not Christians,
yet the form Of taking Christian Data is a homage
paid to Christianity If this be SO, it was wittiy
replied, it is on the same principle that hypocrisy
is the homage vice pays to virtue.
Such are the various opinions of The representa-
tves of the people of Great Britain the prOprety
of the removal of the unjust restriction so long i'm
posed on their Jewish fellOW-citizens. In view of
the far greater oppression practeed upon these
useful and innocent people, net only in public but
also in private life, friends of liberty have good
cause to rejoice at the great progress of the Eng
fish in the principles Of civil and religious liberty,
which now shine among them in bright contrast
with the thick darkness of centuries ago.
Whatever may be the fate IF the present Oaths
bill, its final success within few years is certain;
for there are unmstskable indications Of a rapid
advance of the spirit of tolerance that must at last
put down all opposition, both among Lords and
Commons, and give equal rights to all.
Happily for our people, the trainers of our Federal
Constitution, Pro6ting by the lessons Of the miser
les Of religious prescription bitterly taught in the
old nations Of the world, wisely guarded our OOun-
try against religious persecution in public life by
directing that no religious test should ever be i'm
posed as q publication for Office. May we never be
so far blinded by temporary passion and prejudice
as to attempt to fetter the ConscienCes of men.