Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-17
Proposed Christian Amendments TO the
C5nStitutiOn.--The Columbus Con-
VentiOn.

Proposed Christian Amendments TO the
Constitutions The Columbus Con-
VentiOn.
In response to q call which had been
widely circulated through the State of
Ohio, a convention assembled in the
/ Town street Methodist Episcopal
church, of Columbus, at , o'clock, p.
! NJ, February I'd. to consider the claims
of God and the Christian Religion on
our State and nation. One hundred
delegates enrolled thcir names, repre-
senting various parts of the State and
different religious denominations In
this list we observe the names of Rev.
Samuel Wallace, of Piqua, who was
elected permanent President; Rev. II.
K. Foster. of London, who was Sec
retary of the Convention; Prof. o. n.
Stoddard, LII. D., of Miami Universi-
ty, Prof. Cowles, of Oberlin, Rev.
Prof. Sloane and Rev. A. NJ. Milligan,
of Allegheny, Pa, Rev. ]. Tracy, of
Cincinnati, and Rev. J. p. Lytle, of
New Concord, who composed the Bus
iness Committee Rev. Samuel Will
son, d. D., of Xenia; Rev. 7. p. Ste
venson, of Philadelphia, Pa, Cores
ponding Secretary of the National
Association to secure certain Religious
Amendments t. the Constitution Of
the United. States; Rev. Willard
Burr, of Oberlin; Rev. y. Hawley, of
Olney, Illinois; Rev. ]. 5. t. Milligan,
of Southfield, Michigan; Rev. J.
Crozier, of indianapolis. Ind; besides.
thirty other elergymen from the State
of Ohio, and a large number of lay
delegates. The following resolutions
! were adopted unanimously after thor
ough and spirited discussion: n.
1ResoIUed, That we hold the follow
ing principles to be in accordance with
the Scriptures and with right reason:
l. Civil government is a divine in
stitution. The State has its origin in
the will and arrangement of God, and
its powers and functions are deter
mined by Him.
.. Nations are moral persons and
are bound by the moral law. The
Commonwealth wields moral power,
and subserves moral ends, analogous
to those of tine family, and, like the
family, the nation may and ought to
worship God.
8. God has manifested Himself to
the world through Jesus Christ, and
made Him Supreme Ruler of nations
through Him, national homage is TO
be paid to God, and national blessings,
and the forgiveness of national sins,
are to be sought.
(. The Holy Scriptures, as revela-
tian of the will Of God to men for
their guidance in all the relations of
life, are of supreme authority, and to
them all human constitutions, in their
ethical principles, ought to conform.
ResolUed, That the great moral
truths embodied in the above state
ments, are not recognized in that 9TH
erwise noble instrument, the Consti-
tuition of the United States; and the
omission, as We verify believe, cannot
be continued without peril TO all those
interests which government was estab-
lished to protect, and which are so
dear to every patriot.
ReSolued, That the acknowledge
ment by the State of these same truths
requires the adoption of 10 denomina-
tional creed, nor participation in any
specific religious rite rs a qualification
for office; it imposes no restrictions
upon liberty of conscience, and has
not the slightest tendency towards the
union of Church and State-a union
corrupting to both parties and destruc-
tive of the highest ends OF both.
The Convention took, steps for the
of State Association,
to the National Association,
whose object is to secure an acknowl-
edgment of the above principles in
the National Constitution. Rev. J.
Crozier, Prof. Stoddard, and Rev.
Marcus Ormond, of Oxford, Rev. DR..
of Hamilton, Rev. II. II. 4
George, of Cincinnati, Rev. J. II.
Cooper, of Morning Sun, Rev. d. a. :
D. D., of Columbus, Rev. |
Samuel Wallace, of Piqua, and Rev.
H. X. Foster, of London, were ap-
lointed q Committee to draft a Con-
stitution and report at q subsequent
to be called by them at the
earliest practicable day. A Commit !
tee was appointed to urge upon the /
various ecclesiastical bodies the duty !
Of bringing the subject before their
people. The Convention recommend
ed for general circulation the CHRIS
rIAN STATESMAN, published in behalf
Of this cause in Philadelphia, at one
dollar per annnm. From letter laid |
before the Convention, by B. f. Ro- |
maine, of the American Colonization |
it appears thati the COnsti-
tuition of the Republic of Liberia are
found these words:
Therefore, we the people of the |
of Liberia, in Africa,
lOith deUout gratitude, /
ne goodness Of God an granting US /
blessings Of the CYiriStidT religion, and /
If political, religious and civil liberty, |
10, an order to secure these blessings for .
ourselves and postey-it5j, and to estab-
ish justice, insure domestic peace and /
promote the general welfare, hereby |
Iolemnly associate and constitute our
selves a free, sovereign and independ-
ent State"
After petitioning Congress for the
amendments, the Conven-
ion adjourned sine die. The meeting /
s declared, by those present, to have 4
been characterized by entire unanimi /
" of sentiment and by an earnest /
patriotic and religious spirit.