Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-26
Church end state.

Church md State.
One of the most important results fol
lowing the events of the last twelve months
in Europe is the change about TO take
place in the relations between the church
and the State. A remarkable coincidence
which no religious mind can attribute to
chance alone marks the PRONUNCIATION OF
the dogma of Papal infaliibility. At the
vary moment that lis advocates expected
Il to increase the temporal and spiritual
power of their Church, that nation which
had been for twenty years the only sup
port OF the temporal power OF the Pope,
was advancing to her own destruction, and
her swift and terrible ruin was instantly
followed by the abolition of the temporal
power.
We are of those who believe that the
Roman Catholic Church, far from suffer
ing detriment, will, on the contrary, be
greatly the gamer by this change. No
Church ever acquired political power
without declining in consequence. The
decay of pure Christianity in the early
Church began from the time that the
Church became a power in the State.
The collapse of the temporal power
seems to have given an impetus 10 the idea
OF the separation Of Church and State.
It would be great error to suppose that
all those who advocate this idea are hostile
10 religion. Some Of them, no doubt, are,
especially in France, Italy and Spain.
But multitudes of earnest, sincere and re-
liRious men have always been of opinion
that the connection between Church aud
State 10 injurious to both. It is impOssi-
BILE for the Church to be SO connected,
without being, to some extent, the servant
Of the State or else usurping some OF the
powers of the State and forgetting III
politics the sacrcdness of it's mission. On
the Continent If Europe, the established
Church has generally been the instrument
and advocate OF tyranny; hence the hos
aility too frequently exhibited towards her
in times of popular commotion.
An established Church is Objectionable
30 men OF the world became it is q means
OF government patronage, and especially
because it compels large portion Of the
people { support worship which they
dislike, and which is perhaps against their
conscience while it puts upon them the
double burden Of supporting their own
worship by voluntary contribution. On
the other hand, Jealous Christians object
TO 10, because it makes the clergy State Off
cials, paid by the State, and frequently
forced upon unwilling congregations by
government Appointment. Moreover, the
Church becomes a field of ambi ton. Men
enter the ministry as they would the army
or the navy, without any vocation, but
for the prizes which the profession Offers
certain, if they possess sufficient political
influence, to obtain bi-hoprio or dean
cry, or some other high ecclesiastical pre-
ferment. It is thus that the Church of
God becomes prevented to worldly pur-
poses and turned into a political engine
by its connection with the State.
Many enlightened Christians in various
years ago. q large portion Of the EstablisL ed
Church of Scotland separated and formed
the Independent Church Of Scotland, not
because OF any difference in doctrine, but
to be independent of the State ; and this
separation cost an immense sacrifice OF
position and worldly comforts to the con-
ecientious men who effected it. A similar,
though less general, movement took place
in the Reform Church of France. The re
suits of these movements and the example |
OF the United States IN which the Church |
has prospered so wonderfully, incomplete
independence of the State, have inspired
thinking men all over the world with the
desire OF severing q connection iniurious |
30 both parties.
The question has just been brought up |
in Parliament and has been defeated. But
all great reforms are defeated in England
many times before they succeed. This
one will be proposed and defeated over
and over again until public opinion can
no longer be disregarded, and then it will |
pass. The separation of Church and |
State in France would have been q fixed |
fact but for the reaction produced by the
Rouge rebellion. In Germany, in Aus
tria, in Italy and Spain the question is al
ready proposed, and is daily gaining favor
with the people, and even with the gov
ernments. It's solution. in a progressive
sense, will undoubtedly lead to the promo
ton OF true religion and liberty, and it |
cAnaet be postponed many years.