The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-10

civil reform have been uniformly the adbe-
rents of an establishment. Union Of Church
and State, by an memorable logic, leads to the
| riyhtness of ahsolutism. StateSmen and
churchmen unite for mutual help and de.
fence. The State offers u premium to hy.
pocrisv. Moral principle Is eradlcated when
men affect conversion to get hop0rs and
emoluments.
| 2. The union is a wrong to other denomi
nations. What is called "society," with 1t:
intolerance. is transferred to the establish
ment. Government elects portion of Its
citizens, dishonors their religion, and puts a
! penalty on their form Of worship, and de
grades them at the bar, in the pulpit, in
places of honor and trust.
8. 1t Is wrong to citizens generally, pro-
| scribes merit, and makes another qualifica.
| ton than fitness for Office. It deprives citi.
zens of an equal participation Of rights and
privileges because they cannot conform to q
religious standard set up by men not selected
for piety or theological aptitudes. 1t robs
citizens of property to support denomina-
| ton not of their choice. 1t luis men into a
ffatH- security by membership in national
church, and becomes accessory to spiritual
murder.
4. 1t is wrong to our holy religion. In
fidelity takes refuge in an establishment.
Corrupt and disaolute men become clergy
men. The Christian religion is degraded by
being made dependent Oh civil power. The
Holy Spirit is dishonored; humility and
spirituality are not encouraged, and other
elements of strength are sought besides
righteousness and JOY and peace in the Holy
Ghost.
5. 1t is injurious to the denomination in
alliance. Unjust determinations engender
discDntent, irritation, resentment, hostility.
Patronage is invariably source OF corrup-
ton. The system Of presentation to bene-
fees is an affective malady. State favor di-
verts attention from things spiritual. TO
make citizenship and church membership
identical introduces fermalty and wicked
ness into churches. 1t is easier to foster
"Simon Magus than Simon Peter" Union
of Church and State furnished teeth and
claws to the inqusitions, the confraternity
of Loyola, and mutlated the Reformation.
6. The union is unscriplural. Religion is
personal, and cannot be vicarious or compul-
sorry. A national religion is a solcelsm.
| God regenerates by units. A creed may he
prescribed and outwardly enforced, but the
| mind and heart cannot be fettered. Chrst's
kingdom is not of this world, and He is the
absolute and single Head. No earthly poten-
| tate has spiritual jurisdiction over His sub.
jccts. Christ and His disciples asserted soul
liberty, and preferred imprisonment and
death to submission to the claim to control
Christ COMMISSIONED his disciples to preach
the gospel in all the world, and union has
barred out preachers from half of Europe
Early churches were plan'ed, and they pros
pered under the principle Of absolute scpa
ration from Government. Inspiration en-
Joins cheerful and voluntary giving as an ac
of worship, and Christ never authorized
civil rulers to make assessments and collect
money for His kingdom.
| Mush improvement IN public opinion in
hundred years; much reform is needed
disabilities are still imposed; Governments
| undertake to regulate and support religion
| and still persecule. One object of this ALI
| ance is to "assst the cause of religious free
dom and to hold up the supreme authority
of the word of God" Religious freedom il
misnomer while Church and State arc
united. The longer such unions exist, thu
more difficult Of solution the problems
growing out of them, and the less success
full the labors Of this Alliance in assisting
the cause of religious freedom.