Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-03-04
PROPOSED RELIGIOUS AMEND
MENT TO THE u. S. CONSTITU-
TION.

AS most of our readers are probably |
aware, movement has been inaugurated
by a number of leading divines, the OBJ
ject of which is to secure an amendment
to the United States Constitution recog-
nizing the following fundamental princi-
pies: l. A nation is the creature of God
2. 1t is clothed with authority derived
from God 3. 1t owes allegiance to Jesus
Christ, the appointed ruler of nations
4. 1t is subject to the authority of the
bible. Among those interested in secur-
ing it we note the names of such eminent
divines as Bishop Simpson, Bishop Ker-
foot Bishop Huntington, Professor Tay-
lor Lewis, and others. From a private
note of the latter gentleman we extract
the following brief statement of the gen.
eral ground on which this amendment is
urged:
My DEAR SIR The subject on which
you request my views in the Christian
Weekly is one of superlative Importance,
''for or against which all christians
must, before long, commit Themselves
There are difficulties in the way, but
still greater difficulties in an opposite
course. [ consider the question, aside
from all technicalities and formalities, to
be substantially this; Shall we have as
something to be referred to as standard
of morals (and authoritative on all ques-
lions of morals growing out of our polit-
ical relations and duties) recognition
of that Higher Law of which our re-
ligious men and many of our politicians
and philanthropists have said so much ?
There must be something unamendable
underlying our Constitution, and this
must either be some acknowledged divine
law-be it ever so generator the pop
ular sentiment for the time being-or
to state it more truly, the worst form OF
that popular sentiment claiming a veto
as against everything else that interferes
with its views.
The need of such standard has not
heretofore been seen, because of the gen
eral acquiescence in the idea that we
were christian nation. Now this is
assailed at every point, while the ques-
tons of the Sabbath, of education, of
marriage, of divorce, of legislation
against immoralities, of property even,
are presenting the issue of which L speak,
that is, "Higher Law" or "No Higher
Law, in manner which makes it i'm
possible that it should be long evaded.
To this general statement may be adj.
ded the further consideration that the
ancient government established by God
over the Jews, the only one directly
framed by him, was distinctly based on
religious principles, and that the apostle
as explicitly bases the duty of obedience
to the civil powers on the ground thai
they are ordained of God.
The objections to this amendment may
be for the most part classed under three
general heads: l. That it is impracti
cable; that however wise such a provis
ion might have been originally it is to,
late now to secure it, and that to en-
deavor to do so is waste of energies
2. That it is undesirable; that nation
is not made christian by inserting chris
t tianity in its Constitution, but by imbu
ing Herewith the hearts of its citizens
| and that the labor expended in gettin
| the clauses in the written document ha
e better be expended in getting persona
: faith in these principles into the heart
e of the people And 3. That it tends tc
P wards fusion of church and state, an
It indirectly prescribes religious tests as
!; condition of Office, since every importar
U ofhce-holder must swear to support tn
d Constitution of the United States, which
II If 1t were SO amended, conscientior
d Jew or unbeliever could not do.
Ii Our purpose on this page is less |
discuss current questions than to inforl
our readers respecting them, and v
think it enough now to give them thu
briefly the state of the question withol
y entering into discussion of it.--Chr1
4 tan Weekly