The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-05

The Approaching Religious Anniversaries
In spite of the smallness and obscurity of its
origin, the fierce and ruthless prosecutions to
which in earlier times it was subjected, and
Notwithstanding in later years the irony of
Voltaire, the sneers of Gibbon, the subtlety
Of Hume, the indecent assaults OF . Paine,
the searching, soulless criticism Of Strauss, the
refined sentimental rationalism OF Renan,
not to speak Of the less open but not perhaps
less mischievous attacks Of the author OF "Ecce
Homo" and others-in spite, we say, of all
that has been and is still being done to defeat
its influence and sap its very foundation,
Christianity has grown, and Is now indis-
putably the mightiest and most aggressive
power in human affairs, Wherever life, activity,
energy, enterprise most reveal themselves;
wherever heroism, nobleness, self-sacriice are
dominant characteristics; wherever real, genuine
progress Is most distinctly visible, Christianity
is found to be there, and Is to be credited with
the result Wherever, on the other hand, life
is reduced to the last point Of dulness I;
wherever sslHshnesS rules and public spirit is
wanting; wherever prGsress reveals itself by
backward and not by Sarward movement,
Christianity Is either not there, or is SO over
laid and mixed up with human devices and SO
cramped In its energies that it is practically
dead.
In no country in the world, either in past or
present times, has Christianity had so fair q
field Gall the more fair that 1t has not been ia
vored) as she has had in the United States; and
in no other country has her energizing and life
giving power been more distinctly or more
fully felt The American republic was the
first, on q large scale at least, not only to see
but to correct the error of Constantine;
and as the result the republic has not only
been spared the envy and jealousy and strife
from which other and older nations have suE
fered, and from which they must suffer more
and more but has reaped in substantial form
the precious fruits of q wiser policy. A State
church is consistent on no other principle than
on that Of uniformity Of faith and practice. But
uniformity is inconsistent alike with the spirit
and mind Of man and with the genius Of Chris
tianity itself No two minds are precisely the
same No two disciples ever received sys-
tenn Of doctrines in precisely the same sense,
formulated them in precisely the same words,
or reduced them to practice in precisely the
same manner. The thing is impossible. What
ever may have been done in the name of Chris
tianity-and much certainly has been done
which had better been left undone-it Is not
her mission, as it was not the object of her
founder, to accomplish the impossible. The
spirit Of Christianity is doubtless one, but that
unity Is not violated by diversity Of form, and
even by large divergence in minor matters of
detail. A State church overlooks or disre-
CARDS these fundamental principles. In this
have consisted, and stili consist, the error and
the weakness Of church established by Law,
endorsed by and identified with the govern
ment Of the nation; and it is this which render
the existence Of all such institutions incompati-
BILE with an enlightened spirit 81 independence
and with the Intellectual growth Of the race.
Church establishments are doomed; and though
in old communities, where they are interviewer
with the whole framework of government, the
struggle may be long and severe, nothing can
save them. 1t ia cause Of gratitude to every
citizen of this great and growing republic that
from all the evils insepatable from such insti-
tutions we have ever been happily free. No
where is the wisdom of the trainers of the con-
stitution more distinctly revealed than where it
is declared that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion or pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof" and for
few things in the constitution will successive
generations Of the American people have more
occasion to be lastingly grateful.
In the free soil of the republic Christianity
has firmly fixed its roots. In her free atmos-
phere and under her bracing winds and genial
sunshine it has shot up and become goodly
tree. The branches are many; some of them
are larger, some of them are smaller, but all
Of them are healthful, vigorous and fruitbear-
ing, according to their measure. The month of
May Is the harvest season when the fruit is
looked for. This week will make it plain to
the world what that fruit is-whether il is
larger or smaller than in previous years. We
wish the anniversary meetings al success. We
shall be glad to learn that congregations have
been multiplied, that large accessions have
been made TO the different memberships, that
contributions larger than ever have been
poured into the treasury, that stipends have
been augmented, and that vice and immortality
have proportionately decreased. We shall be
glad to hear good reports of the brethren,
whether in solemn council assembled or visit
ing and Inspecting the lions Of the Empire
City. Prosperity and pure record are not
bad wish in any circumstances, and we heartily
express It, not merely for all the Christian
societies whose annual meeting will be be Id
this week in this city, but for all other Chris
tian organizations which are accomplishing
good work throughout the United States.
The Iujupctien Cases Before the Suprene
Ceurs.
We published yesterday, as part Of the his