The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-02-07

When the first Convention was held several
years ago, for agitatng this amendment, the
Central Presbyterian denounced it, as attempt.
ing dangerous and nisehievOus project. We
warned our readers to watch the movement,
as one founded in error, and leading logically to
worse error The present aspect Of 1t justlies our
verdict A call for another Convention to press
an amendment has been sent US: signed or support
ed by some eighty or ninety Right Reys., d. Dis,
Governors Honorablas, and other preachers, and
laymen, supposed Tor slpposing themselves to be
eminent in the land, proposing meeting IN Gin
cinnati, Wedussday. January 3lst. This call tells
&c. rnat the Constitution Of the United States
fails 10 make an acknowledgment of God as the
Author Of the existence OF civil government and
source Of its authority, Of Jesus Christ as its ruler
and of the Bible as the fountain Of its laws and
the supreme rule of its conduct. The National As
ISOLATION has been formed forthe purpose ofsecur-
ing such an amendment to the Constitution, as Will
remedy this great defect and indicate that this Is
a Christian nation, and place all Christian laws,
institutions and usages in our government on an
undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law OF
the nation" The mapipulaters Of this machinery
also inform US in another card, that they design to
have the following theses ventilated and asserted ID
addresses, on the important occasion: IL The
Moral Accountability, or the Moral Personality OF
the Nation" Ill The Impossibilty OF Neu
traHty in our Government towards Christianity.
". The Relation of Education to Religion.
V. "The Distinctly Christian Character OK the
Proposed Amendment or the Political Messiah
ship Of Jesus" VIII TIE practical value and
effect Of the proposed Amendment" "
The thoughtful reader, who is accustomed "to
put this and that together" viii agree with US, in
thinking, when be connects these theses with each
other and the auteeedents of their advocates, that
"the murder is pretty well out. This National
Association &C., probably includes three sorts Of
people. The first is Of those tussy and restless In
divduas, who like to agitate for the sake Of agita
ton, and are in the habit Of seizing upon every
movement that has ereditabe seeming, to get to
themselves uotoriety. The second is Of some zeal
Gus, but ineonsiderate gOOdish people, who, be-
cause they know that the Christian religion is
good thing, devOutly jump to the conclusion
that it ought to be intruded everywhere. But
the third is a very different Sort composed
Of men who, having observed the potency Of re-
lgious excitements and preiudices are deliberate
" preparing the way for the usurpation OF this
tremendous force as their lever for political effects
These last are 1.-THE brair of the whole move
ment, and use the other two classes as their cats
paws, land especially, the deyout class
Let us recall to our readers minds few recent
facts. When the "free-soiI' agitation E2s troub-
ling the gountry, the dsoFgaslzIEg iaoles e 2efla
eratey invoked the aid of this spirit Of religious
Gnadeism, to advance their political projects
One result, which viii be remembered, was, that
monster petition against the constitutional settle
ment, signed by three thousand parsons, was trun-
died into Congress. The other result was the
pestilent prevalence Of political preaching and
praying in some sections to the maddeniug OF the
pubhek mind; until the whole subject became IN
manageable by patriotic statesmen. Thus was
precipitated the war. Then the same religious
fanaticism was found equally valuable, to inaame
the spirit of strife, and urge on the conquest Of
the Constitution.
g The pulpit, drum ecclesiastic."
g Was beat with fist, instead Of stick
to such purpose, that the faction carried an un-
willing majority through all the losses, anguish,
and crimes Of their war; Then followed, as the
work If the same faction, the revolution which
has destroyed the constitution Of the United
States, and converted federal Union of States
into consolidated Christian Nation. Ac-
eording to the constitution Of our fathers, there
was no nation, christian, or non christian; but
Union of States" the very word, nation, was
carefully disalloWed. The States, in many cases
gave a theistic, or even Christian basis to their
State constitutions: but the same statesmen who
had done this, consistently judged that there was
no prOprety in giving such a basis to the general
agent created BY them for transaetng certain Inn
tied, common interests But now, it is Ma.
ton, and must be christanizedl This then is
simply one Of the natural steps for consolidating
the imperial despotism.
We are then very candidly told that legal ba-
Sis is to be provided in the new constitution ITSELF
"for all christian laws, institutions and usageS in
the government" IF this means anything, it
means that way is to be opened for the Congress
to launch into such usurpations as it may see fit
20 make Of either secular or spiritual rights, uu
der the name and pre,ezt Of christian laws and
usages, drawn from the fountain of the Bible;
as expOunded by Congress, of course, under the
teachings of such doctors and rabbis as General
Butler or Thaddeus Stevens. The peOple and
lawmakers are then to be taught that 1.-THE Ma
tiOn" is Moral Personality, subject to a moral
Accountability But as the Bible IS " the supreme
rule of Its conduct, this moral Personality Is none
other than a christian one. Then this Nation
must assume, as such, christian character
That is its official acts not merely the individual
moral responsibilities Of its legislators and ser
wants, must assume christian character
Doubtless, 1.-THE National Association will assent
with emphasis, to this obvious consequence. Well
then; this is precisely the basis on which Mr..
Gladstone, in his able work Church and State,
built his argument for religious tests, and strict
union of Church and State. He shows that if the
official acts and character Of the commonwealth
are TO be christian, it is inevitable that the Com
monwealth, in the persons Of It's officials, shall
make a christian profession, that it shall become
religious teacher to Its citizens, and that it shall
WELD its secular powers to repress spiritual offences
against christianity. The third Thesis, if it has
any meaning, accepts these consequences. 1t is
impossible for our government to be neutral"
Of course It should not be adverse; therefore it
must, in its official capacity, promote christianity?
How? Men know Of no way, except by teaching
or disciplined The 6f,h thesis is to declare that
Chris;'s meSsiahship is political" He himself
declared to Plate John xviii: 36,l Ny kingdom
Is not Of this worli:" but the National Associa
ito" knows better. The Bible teaches that the
Messiah is 'anointei TO preach the pospel unto
the pOor;' luke ": Isl the National AssO-