The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-22
ALLIANCE OF CHURCH AND STATE,
BY THIS HON. j.. L. NJ. CURRY, Ii. D., OF RICH
MOND, va.


By THE HON. j. L. NJ. CURRY, Ii. D., OF RICH
MOND, va.
The subject assigned is the expediency or
rigbtful. IS of alliance between the civil and
ecclesiastical power. Without aiming at
strict verbal accuracy, the question may be
variously stated. Is an Establishment
proper? Can civil government rightfully
interfere with liberty of conscience Has
not every rational being an inalienable right
to worship God, free from mOlestatiOn =
Has government a right to discriminate
among religions, as Mr.. Gladstone phrases
it, ''to choose the national religion p
Should religious congregations receive the
salaries of pastors from the State, and be
consequently placed under its superinten-
dence?
1t ought to be promised that liberty is
not unrestrained license nor social anarchy,
nor to be used :" for veil of wickedness.
Liberty implies restraints and limitations,
and exists where each person is guaranteed
the full exercise of his faculties and rights
so long as. and provided that he does not
interfere with q ike full exercise on the
part of others. Sic utere tho re non dllenWm
lqsdqs. In the assertion of the rights of
conscience the peace or the existence of So
ciety is not to be disturbed. The legitimate
authority of the magistrate is not to be I'M
pugned Liberty does not license crimes
against property, or society, or government
or individuals. This freedom of conscience,
this right and prerOgative Of man, Is sacred.
It is correlative with obligation on the part
of others. To disregard or interfere with
this right is to be false to duty, to violate
q sacred thing.
Christianity has been often allied with
civil government. Since the third century
of the era. such a connection has been out
side of the United States, the invariable
rule in Europe and America. Such policy
was induced, in part, by the fact that under
the old covenant a theocracy existed and
the civil government, was instituted, IN a
large degree, to maintain and foster religion.
Civil rulers for self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT subordl-
mated Christianity, or rather ecclesiastical
organizations, to their corrupt purposes
Good, but deluded men, thought 1t duty
TO foster by political support the Christian
religion. When the Papal Hierarchy be-
came dominant, it subsidized the civil pow
er, and held it in vassalage. The Betorma-
ton, which, in some respects, was protest
rather than reform, by fatal blunder,
copied, with some notifications, this wrong
of Popery. Protestant governments, to re-
sist Papacy and promote the reformed re-
hgion, took religion under their fostering
care. Kings and emperors and dukes, claim
ed to be the Head of the Church IN their
dominions, were recognized as such, and ex-
ercised some of the power that bad been
withdrawn from the Pope. In England,
the Oath of Supremacy, required Of persons
taking Office, distinctly and formally assert
Cd the right of the sovereign to be the Head
of the Church. The government claims the
right of legislating for the National Church,
and the Parliament is as supreme over the
Church as over property and lite.
When Church and State are united, the
State practically assumes infalibihty, AFRO
gates the eapabihty and the right to sit IN
Judgment upon creeds, and to determine
what is a church, what is the church, what
is true, and what is false religion. An es-
adjustment prefers one denomination 20 an
other, and throws the weight, authority,
power, and influence of the Government in
favor Of particular sect Of rehgiOnists.-
From among several denominations Govern
ment selects one to receive its discriminating
favor. lie takes this denomination into part
nership, establishes it, patronizes it, sup
ports it BIZ special laws, public property, ex-
elusive privileges, gives 1t power as State
Church in the States, and sometimes uses
civil officers to enforce ecclesiastical disci-
pine. The Government thus places nearer
the sovereign power the man or the woman
who processes a particular creed. Such a
one becomes member of privileged fra
ternity, and by sovereign djgito monstrar5
is held up as a more proper person than ms
less favored fellow. Er-eatbedra, his ortho-
doxy is certified and he stands before the
community with the imprimatlsr of the pow
ers that be. Separation Of the Church and
State is the removal of all political restraints
and political supports from a Christian de-
nomination. 1t means religious equality of
citizenship, not the place above nor below,
but on a platform of perfect equality. 1t is
the proclamation that a citizen shall not be
favored, preiudiced in property, reputation,
social or official position, or in any right or
privilege whatsoever, in consequence Of his
religion. Divorce of Church and State Is
an ascertain of the wrong of civil interior
ence in matters Of worship and an unmis
taxable declaration that 1t is better for the
Government and better for religion to render
unto Cesar the things that are Caesars, and
unto God the things that are Gods. The
distinctions between what is civil and what
is religious may be made sufficiently clear
for ali practical purposes. What is civil be-
longs to the province Of the civil govern
ment solely. What is religious is, from