Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-05-28
W f>bffraft0n 10 .sckitowfcdg,
Nod Ia the Constitution or fhs
fnifed gfofeS.s'

Nod Ia the CoasfifuitOn OF fhs
fnfcd states"
We have received two papers upon
thIt subject one by DR. H. r. Cra.
Won. and the other by J. IL Mcllvanc,
pfviessor Political science in Prince.
ton Colegc. Both are circulated in
behalf of "a National Association,
orfanized for the purpose Of cfIecting
nn' amendment Of the Constitution by
tho Insertion of clause, acknowledge
iDQ God as the Lord of the Nation" 7"
Every man who believes in God
must desire to honor his holy and ven
orablc name in all possible ways aud
places To believe in God is to de-
eIrc that the people shall reverence
and fear and obey Him and if it
were probable that putting forth n
formula of public religion in the Con.
etitution would tend TO cause the peo-
plo TO listen to his commands, repent
of their sins, cease from their unright-
eousness, and do the things that are
inst and honest-we, and all who de-
sire snch blessed change in public
feeling and conduct, would cooperate
heartily with the National Associa-
tion Ind DIR. Craven and PROT. Nell
vane TO get the saving clause insert
ed as soon as possible But, if there
ss no probability or expectation that
tho I0rmal Introduction of the name
Of God into the Constitution will be
atiended with any purpose and effort
n the people or their rulers, or any
number of either, to be more godly
or less goddess than before if there
Is 10 be no corresponding turning
from Sin; il, when the gift is brought
10 the altar, the quarrels with broth
ers arc to be left unreconciled if the
honrt is to have no part in this mat
ter-~then we decidedly decline to
have anything to do with an act,
which is expressly reprobated by
God himself and which is founded
upon views Of his sovereignty, not
Christian but Pagan.
When God began to reveal himself
to the nations He ordained that
thoy should not take His name IN
rain not only that they should not
blaspheme it, but that they should
not nse it idly, without suitable OBJ
jects, conditions of mind and regard
to The limitations of its use prescribed
By himself They were forbidden.
thcr5fore, TO use it as a charm They
we're not to invoke God at their will
and for their own purposes, command
ing Him, as magicians commanded
supposed obedient spirits, by offer.
Ings and invocations, which, of them
selves, controlled ;he supernatural
agency. 1t was TO take the name of
God IN vain, to draw nigh Him with
the lips while the heart was far from
Him; to say Lord, Lord, and not to
do the things he commanded-iau rain,
for God so called, did not answer, and
considered himself insul.ed to be
called upon to do the bidding of men,
whose real God was their own pride |
ndpropensities. A thoughtful glance
o1er Scriptures and heather histories
will show how diametrically opposite
is the position taken by Jehovah to
that given to the idols of the nations.
Formal acknowledgment, lip-service,
the notion Of pleasing God by some |
external homage or ostentatious CON-
pliment paid to Him by any Offering
intended to crafty Him, as though |
He were man TO be pleased with
personal attentions and won by adul-
alton -all this God Indignantly reiec-
ted. His favor was to be won only
by Keeping His commandments and
these commandments were Justice,
kindness, love to one another, in view
and Under the authority of Him, who
was the common Lord and Father of
all. Our readers certainly will not
require us to prove this position.
The Bible is so full of the evidence
thatall ofthem must be familiar within.
The sin of taking the name of God
in vain is already one of the grossest
that defiles the land. Official profan
ity, blasphemy by statute, is already
sbockingly provided for in our public
busIness. Every custom-house, every
tax-gatherer's booth, every hall of leg
islation, every voters poll is thick
with fiippant and false mouthing of
the Holy and Reverend name. To
collect revenue: to gather votes for n
party or disperse them; to give for
NAL Introduction to office; to con
firm testimony about civil, political
and criminal matters, from the trial
Of q President to a dispute about n
dog-hght; from the national services
Of COnover to the friendly perjury
Of helper to naturaIzation-fo ali.
the great name of God is as freely
used as though il were, as it really
has conc to be in most cases, q mere
form Incident to the enforcement of a
possible penalty for falsehood. No
body expects a Congressman or Sen.
afor TO consider his oath when it
comes into collision with the obliga-
tiqns to his party, or the foregone
conclusions OF his preiudices. Itseems
70 as that we have already too much ,
OF that official recognition that has ,
deKfaded the awful name to tho work
Of ringing the whiskey-tax out of
cheating distillcrs, only to be appro- |
priAted by thieving officials, who |
make them deliver in the name Of God. {
0urwicked war was black with this
horr'd profanity. Petty yprovost-m :
s1nls, made up often of the waste of /
the worst of society-tho foulest exc. !
custions of a diseased community I
freely bound the Almighty, as witness {
20 and vindicator of every villainous }
IA 20 d.