The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-27
The Noble Trainers Of tho Republic
Criticised and Dissected.
KISSES AND PLAUDITS
Resolutions Strong i'm Words and
Smooth i'm Rhetoric.
THE SCRIPTURES IN THE SCHOOLS.
Eloquent and Earnest Oratorioal Efforts
by Delegates in the Afternoon
and Evening Sessions.

The ninth annual convention OF the advocates OF
the religious amendment OF the constitution
namely, the insertion OF clause relating to the
recognition OF God-was begun yesterday afternoon
In the great hall of the Cooper Institute. About
five hundred people were present. a large lumber,
not being delegates and coming from mere curios-
ity, forming the seditious portion or the assem-
blage. Among those who were apparently repre-
sentatives were several ladies, with faces con-
spicuOusly marked by intellect and piety I'm
doubleday the extreme radical school OF morality
OF the country was well represented, whether,
as is believed by the majority of the people, their
opinions are those of 1anaticism or not. Among
the foremost seats were several colored delegates
two ladies and two gentlemen, one of the latter
having hair and beard fringed with gray. They
attracted considerable attention. Scattered
throughout the house might be seen surprising
number of white-cr0wned and venerable heads,
whose snowy cOronals lent to the sober body an
air of great sagacity and dignity-appearanc
which are not OF small value, because of the inl-
preston which they commonly produce upon I'M
sophisticated minds.
THE CONVENTION OPENS.
At hafpast two the congregated and clerical
looking representatives of the great moral senti-
ment OF intolerance began to grow impatient Of
sedate idleness, and the magnates OF the Conven.
ton, who were basking in their own glory In the
committee room, were reminded emphatically, by
repeated and loud stamping Of feet, that it would
be well for them to appear upon the platform and
show their seraphic faces to the light and the
throng Out of tenderness, 1t was whispered for
their regulations for promptltude-a gody virtue
they accordingly came forth amid feeble applause
and took their places.
Mr. lave oF
tall, elderly gentleman, wearing black clothes and
two pairs Of godbowed eyeglasses, walked to the
desk, with great ivory-headed cane under his
arm. and called the Convention to order. AS he
then announced, the Rev. DR.. Milligan delivered
an appropriate prayer.
COMMITTEES
The following Committee on Enrolment of Dele
gates was then appointed to examine the creden-
tials OF all persons claiming to be such, ana to
admit others, as ir might be desirable who had
not those qualifications The Revs. J. r. Thomp-
son, e. II. Tanning, w. H. Knox, S. H. Graham E.
b. Wilson, and Messrs. Albert L. Kelly Lewis Rem.
field, John B. Caldwell, Robert Taylor, John Love
and L. Chestnut.
committee on permanent organization was
then appointed, comprising the following gentle
men:-The Revs A. J. Kenyon, Alexander Cal
houn, Alpheus G. Bolt and J. J. Stanwix.
COMMON LAW RECOGNIZING CHRISTIANITY. .sa
They retired and the temporary Chairman OF the
Convention then introduced the general Secretary
OF the National Association, the Rev. Dr. McAllis-
ter, who delivered long and argumentative ad-
dress. He advocated the incorporation of Chris.
tianity into all the constitutions Of our coun.
try; He referred to the words OF Daniel
this government in religion, morality and
liberty. wa, It . not true that that religion
which prevailed throughout the country should
have an Acknowledgement in the constitution
When 1t was considered that the Bible had been IN
the public schools for so long time, that prayer
was said by Christian ministers in our legislative
bodies, when the Christian Sabbath was enforced
by law, why should not Christianity be acknowl-
that written constitution was an attempt to
translate the unwritten or accepted and preva-
be- as literal tTansaen a. aVa as snTu as
sibe; It should represent the moral forces
which at the period have the strongest existence
force operating In the werld was that OF Christi
anity. Applause.) But the theory that was now
becoming prominent was that the government Rad
no connection with religion, and that Christianity
should be put upon level with all other religions
with atheism, inndeity, Judaism, paganism and
papacy. AT one time II was decided in the Courts
in relation to any Sunday laws that Christianity
was part OF the common law of the land. In
the opposite rulings were made.
RELIGION AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
According to one construction OF the constitu-
ton we had 1t stated that civil government has
nothing to DO with with Christian religion but ac-
cording TO another and the vital Interpretation,
the civil government has much to do with Chris
tlanity. While there had been great deal OF mis-
Interpretation of their aims, the friends OF this
political movement were greatly encouraged when
Christians understood, as they were beginning to
understand that IN fighting for this reform they
were opposing the enemies of Christianity. theyy
would ceme forward to join In this movement with
eagerness and zeal.
when mon in T rOS gsEA Go c; NJ 10 cu, .,
inality, as in the last four weeks we had known
they can De, ~ was time to put INTO the constitu
We wanted a new system OF Civil Services reform
which would not c0untenance men who were cor
rupt who toek brides, but would enable the pco-
pie to put them out Of positions which they had
PERMANENT ORGANIZATIONS
The committee on Permanent Organization here
reported the names Of the following officers, which
were warmly applauded:-F. II. Brunot, President;
New Gesey Of
Alpheus c. Bolt of New York; the Rev. A. A. Miner,
Of Massachusetts,; l.. M Phillips, or Illinois,; the
Rev. DR.. Barnard, OF New Jersey; the Rev. ). II.
Tying, ID. D., OF New York; James Virgins, OF New
YORK the i Key. j. Edwards, o. d.; Of illinois; the
Miller Of New YORK, and David Boyd Of Ohio, Vice
Secretary; the Rev. N r. Johnson, the Rev. W. Il.
Tiffany and the Rev. W. Q. Knox Assistant Secrs-
taries
Mr.. BRuNor, . tall gentleman, with long white
HAIR, was greeted BY applause, and in a speech
upon him. They had met, he said not as repre-
sentatyes OF any political religious society or
party, but as citizens who united to support the
great fundamental law which underlIes all true
civic and domestic morality. They believed that
the religious amendment to the constitution was
essential TO the preservation OF our liberties.
No human work was ever ct It's origin
absolutely perfect nor was the constitu-
ton an exception The great men who
framed 1t recognized this fact when they provided
for Its amendment. In serving God we should serve
our country. They assembled for legitimate and
PATRIOTS purpose. DR.. Wines had said that govern
ment in State and Church was OF God. The law OF
nature was the law OF nations, and the law Of
nature was but the law Of God. Blackstone said
that man must be subject to the law Of his Creator
Plato declared that all laws came from
God; no mortal man was the devlser OF
law. II any truth could be established by the
concurrence OF human authorities this then must
be established This view Of the first origin OF law
was not inconsistent with the proposition that all
power of government should be inherent In the
people. But II this assertion were made without