Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-05
THE RUTLAND HERALD
SATURDAY, APRIL 80, 1870.
The Teachings of Religion and
civil Rights.

There seems to be prevalent spirit to
lessen the teachings of religion in their
relation to civil rights, growing out of
the materialistic tendencies of the age
and in the endeavors to cast them aside
from the religious training in our schools.
1t is time that this subject should awaken
us to study of the connection of relig-
ious training with civil government. The
teachings of religion have an important
and intimate connection with the preser-
walton of our civil rights and the per-
formance of our civil duties. The Bible
furnishes the most perfect code of morals
that has ever been published to man. It's
beautiful and comprehensive morality is
adapted to all ranks and conditions of So
ciety, to all the relations, civil, social and
domestic, and to all the circumstances of
an ever changing world. 1t teaches the
true dignity of man and the proper
purposes of life, and points out the
path by which they can be
most certainly attained. 1t in :
culcates a genuine and exalted self-re-
spect not inconsistent with the meekness
and humility demanded by our erring ma
ture. 1t breathes of charity, goodwill,
Observation-Disclosures, philanthropy, love and
peace; and any one who will square his
life by its simple rules, whatever may be
his rewards hereafter, will feel himself to
be better and more usefal man. 1t
teaches the practical duties of life and
the wisdom which should guide our con-
duct, and wherever its doctrines have
been taught in their purity and simplici-
ty, has ever been found an important ally
in the great cause of human liberty. The
cause of Christian morality should then
ever find countenance and support from
the citizsns of free republic. 1t will
pay back to them for the aid they give,
order, peace, virtue. and harmony. The
institutions Of religion considered merely
as civil institutions, and the teaching OF
the Bible, are great support .and essen
tial safeguard of the civil institu-
tions of free government. The
spread of the Bible land the diffu-
sion of the principles of the Christian
religion, should be promoted by every
citizen for its benign and salutary infu-
ence upon its political institutions. We
are thankful that there is no ill-assorted
connection between church and State.
There is no human power that can here
prescribe to any individual what shall
be his religious belief. There should not
be any such power or connection. Free
religion rejects the one and repudiates the
other, and yet there are some in our land,
yea even in our own community, who are
not Papists that would discard the Bible
Surely, the teaching of the pure and
practical morality of the Bible, as it is |
taught here, independent of civil power
and without authority to enforce modes
of belief or forms of faith, cannot fail to
make better citizens, and exercise an i'm
portant and healthful influence upon the
whole frame of society. In edu-
cation there must be moral
training as well as intellectual
culture. The heart must be improved as
well as the head informed, and the SUBJ
stantial virtues must be nourished, grow
and blossom, and bear fruit in this great
field of human hopes. They are essential
to the strength, security and permanence
Of republican institutions, and we may be |
certain that so far as we use respect for
and relax the practice of the essential vir-
tues taught, just so far are we advancing
in our progress towards corruption and
decay.