Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-02
THE NATIONAL CONSCIENCE
Is Re,te,ous Freedou, a FaiIureP

Is Religious Freedom q FaIIureg
CINCINNATI, Feb. 1.-The Nationa
Convention in favor of religious amend
I1ent to the constitution met this morning
DR.. Browne, of Titusville, in the chair.
Abb0tt's Protest.
The Committee on Business reported il
favor Of allowing the remembrance of F
E. Abbott to be read. Mr.. Abbott did no
read his IemonstTance but made few re
marks indicating its character, to which th'
Rev. a. D. Mayo briefly replied. The dis
cussion was then stopped by motion t
have the remonstrance referred to DR.
Mayo with instructions to present it witt
his reply for publication together.
The substance of AbbGtt's remonstranct
was that this proposed amenGi1ent would
have a tendency to create an aristoeracy o
Christians; would incite prosecution; wOQlt
render incapable of holding Office all citi-
zens who could not subscribe to the princi-
pies of Christianity; and warned the dele
gates that the surest way to secure the ruin
of the country and of the Christian religion
itself was to engraft its creed in the con-
stitutiOn of States.
The resolutions presented last evening
were then taken up seriatim, discussed and
passed with slight amendments. In the
third resolution the word State was stricken
out so as not limit it to State laws.
The Bible in Schools. .
The discussion on the resolution in regard
to the Bible in schools was somewhat ex-
tended. Rev. H. II. George made point
that the question of the legality of the re-
quirement to have the Bible read in the
public schools was now pending in the SUI
preme Court of Ohio and would if possible
be taken to the Supreme Court ofthe United
States, where, although Justice Strong, the
chairman Of this Convention and other
Christian men were on the bench DESTROYS
Of giving the Bible to the children Of the
country, yet they would be obliged to de-
eide the matter according TO constitu-
ti0nal law, and in the Constitution of the
United States there is no clause recognizing
religion and morality, and therefore, the
enemies of the Bible have much to hope
when the question comes before that court.
Adjourned till Up. NJ.
Abbott Answered.
At the evening session Rev. a. D. Mayo
replied to Mr.. Abbot. He said that this
protest contained the gist of the popular
objection to this movement, that the nation
will be bound to deny all political right to
all who do not believe in Christianity, and
will cause persecution and finally bloody
war. 1t seemed strange that such calami-
ties should be fOretOld, for what this con-
ventiOn asks is but to put in the Federal
Constitution what is already incorporated
in nearly all State Constitutions. The con-
stitution of OhiO,S under which Mr.. Abbott
lives, contains every idea proposed
for the national charter. Has
he suffered persecution? The trouble
with Mr.. AbbOtt's class of thinkers
was that they do not understand the char
acter Of the American people or that the
Government is not a logic machine that
takes out one abstract proposition from the
constitution and without regard to the
genius, history or character of a people,
rides that out to chaos. The American
Government is practical. SOifar from being
oppressive, no Government ever acbnowl-
edged the complete spiritual and political
rights OF man till Christianity, with its law
If universal love and liberty, had inspired
he souls of the people of the United States
o make a Government under which Mr..
Abbott can denOunce Christianity and even
threaten a new rebellion with no one to mo-
est him or make him afraid. The people
II the United States say, leave religion to
he churches, 50 faras creeds and eCClesiasti-
al polity are concerned; but they acknowl-
,dge the obligation of obedience to God and
o live up to the highest morality known
o mana State which under the influence
If christianity has made christian morality
he ideal of every civilized State. Missouri
lfter the rebellion formed a new cOnStitu-
ION, and put in its preamble a more full
of dependence on GOD
han any other State-even thanked God
or saving them from rebellion. They did
lOt disfranChise disbelievers, but enfran-
,hised the very Rebels they thanked God
or delivering them from. No union of
Church and State followed, for they gave
he most tremendous guarantees of re-
igious liberty. This the people of the
United States viii finally do. They viii
,ersecute no man save him who seeks to
estrOy the Inheritance Of American free
om, and he will be destroyed. [Applause.l
Money.
Mr.. McAlister introduced the subject of |
he necessity of money.
Prof. Milligau said it would be cOwardly |
0 turn back now, but forward movement |
equired money The sum of $3.50 was
objected.
A Spiritual Seance.
Pending the collection, Rev. Chauncey |
Sarnes, Of Athens, Ohio, took the stand, /
nd was proceeding to show by chart the |
rinciples that belong to the practical gov
Of Christ. One Of the peculiarities
f this was, that the preachers should have |
10 salaries. He was called to order.
Prof. Sloane said his chart was an absurd !
y.
MIR. Barnes hoped the spirit of prejudice
rould be cast out of the convention. He was
peaking Of what God had moved him to |
o. REV. Mr.. Barnes has built spiritual
It temple in Athens county, /
the spirit of Ged, which actuated the |
nan in Athens county, would move the |
cart Of the persons present, the cOntribu-
on would be more liberal.
A VOice-What church do you belong |
}?
Barnes-DOn't belong to any of your |
lrthly man-given governments. l believe |
l the government Of tie Lord Jesus Christ, |
want you to understand. ! am talking |
gainst the spirit of prejudice.
The Chairman called him to order. A .
Gene of disorder prevailed. Ores of "Stop |
i'm" "Put him out"
When quiet was restored, Mr.. Barnes
aid he had been excited, and as Paul said |
ad been caught up, he would now come
own. Laughter
A Centralized State.
Extracts from paper prepared by
rOf Taylor Lewis, of Union College, New |
,Ork, on the impossibility of State |
in morals and religion were read. |
he State he defined as a power claiming
nd exercising supreme jurisdiction over a
ertain portion of the earth, acknowledging
o superior unless it be God. It assumes |
} determine the public good and claims
ne prerOgative of sovereigntyIi controls
ne person, defines crimes, makes ar I'M
mited use Of force, banishes, i'm
riSOns, puts to death. 1t must
9gulate social relations, may raise
r elevate the family, may favor beastly
instead Of the institution that
-od had appointed as the conservative be-
Ond all others of human virtue. The
tate must of necessity be for or against re-
giOn and Christianity. IrIeligion would
OF allow neutrality. The logic Of events for
lie last 30 years have shown this. The as
lults Of unbelef are assuming monstrous
inns. Unbelief assails the very being of