Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-21


Virginia, one hundred years ago, numbered Ct
churches 20 minister's and 5000 commu nicans
1t was al this time, he said, that the Bap'i>ts
entered nDon the ruggle for religious freedom
They had already accomplished much aud had
gained powerful influence by simply gong
forward IN the exercise of their rights and then
meekly suffering the consequences.
Ihey also established General Meeting
(called first an Association ard afterwards a
Commiiiee), one objec- of which was to take
the necessary steps for bioeing an influence to
bear oa the law making power Of the State -
They appointed commissioners 10 wait upon
the Clnventlon and then on the Legislature.
20 secure equal rights for all l. this they we're
asslstrd by Madison aud Jeffer-na. As the
Dapiis's were stanch friends Of the Revolution.
SO The struggle for civil liberty aided them iu
many ways. Their patriotism and excellent
character as citizens was conspicuous. Then
he inconsistency of seeking civil liberty an
yet opposing religious liberty, was too glarine
70 be overlooked. Step by siep slowly and re-
iuctaDty The friends oil the establi .hment yield
ed the friends of religious liberty pressed for
ward La the struggle they were materially
aided by Others but 10 the crisis and pinch OF
the conflict, Others faltered and failed. The
Bapiisis alone, as a people, unanimously uni
formy. per>istently and uncomproull, ,ingiy
stood un for an entire separation OF church and
state for absolute liberty of conscience This
is a fact Of history. which cannot be gaiosayed
and 1t Is, and must be to their everlasting hon
or.
lie here entered more into detail Of the
part borue By the Bantsfs in the struggle for
religions aid civil freedom and from this ppin;
ave q literal report OF the lecture rs daily-
ed
J'ne Ge' eral Association was formed in I'LL.
and for few years held two district meetings.
one on the North and one on the Santh side ni
James River. AT he meeting held May ia,
IN Hahiaz co., letters we're receiv, d ivoIn sew
erai Bap ptist preachers then. Confined in jail,
particularly from David 1',asley then in Chester
Eej I'll. The hearts Of The delegates were
'ouched. Contributions we're raised Tor the
imprisoned, and If vas agreed TO set apart the
second and third Saturdays in June as public
fast days. in behalf f our poor blind perseou
tors, and fer the reeasement OF our brethren. y
In ITS, the two districts united. the main
q ct being TO strive together for the abolition
Of the hierarchy 10 Virginia They resolved 10
circulate petitions to the Va. Convention, or
Assembly, throughout the State for signatures
TIE prayer was hat the church estab,shi hinent
should be abolished. aud religion be left to
stand on It's own merits, and that all religious
societies should be protected is the peaceab!e
e. jos ment of their Owu religious psiIcl piles
and modes OF worship. They also declared
themselves in favor of resistance to Great Bct-
au and ready as people TO GO to war Tor in-
dependence. This was more than a year be-
tore tho declaration OF independence. A cou-
mittee was appointed 10 present these meDQrl.
ais
La Mayl776, the Virginia Conven'ion met
The address of the Bap;lsts Vas resolved, aud
J k-r Ln ,ot
duced, specially hat pari relating to civil free
dom. q; profound inn ies-ica. This Convention
framed the fanous bM Of rights, the l6:h art.
1f which secures Religious freedom. Inc -atDc
body also instructed the Va deiega es in Con
gtess to vote tor u declaration OF Jude pendenc,
Ii has generally been he that the action OF
the Virginia Convention vas not Oniy among
the earliest public move -aea's Ia lhat direc ion
butsexe cist d a potential il huence On the &C.
t,on Of Congress But, let 1t o3 remembered
20 the honor of the Va. Bapti7ts Of that ia,
that thelr action was A year prior TO that Of he
Convention and On t0ubted!y exercised p0ten
siai i;Glohce III moving he Convention aud,
through the C0noenion, Congress.
But white all .hat they asked in the matter
of religious freedom Was really Involved III the
article on that sutj set In the Btl of Rights
weary years were'o eiapse ere that article should
tlcaiiy operative
In O:t i776, the fifst Independent legisla
ture il Virgluia met. fhl5 body re iJei many
peii Us on the su' CT OF reiigi,a That of
he Bipllsts has arua ly been mentioned o.
those from the P.esbylerlaas, Mr. Foote, ihtiI
nwn historian, says. they were iar au Ii! de-
fined liberty ofconsciance what should
De d ,ne was matter of cooten'ion.' TIE
copaliaos and The Methodls;s ssrIicited the
continuance OF the estab l;hment. The Assem-
bly, repealed all laws restraining worship aud
requiring he supp ri OF the establishment; bu'
on.y suspended the taiarleS OF the clergy, and
posip0neti the ques la OF q general asse. alent
ar pubic AK to support religion. Moreve'
DiSSeGteTS were still iuccmp peieDt 10 fefi0i u
the rites o! marriage
The General Ass cia' ion of Va. baptsts con-
,inued TO memorialize he Assembly on these
>uhjecs; and Ia l779, he salaries OF the C ergy
were taken away, Z uG the Assessment EijI wa
defeated IureveI, at this session the III MS
tee on reg ed bi l. present q the iameuS Ac
| Tor e>anile hing religious trt edom. prepared BY
Mr. J fftrson, and prepared acc dine to Df
tiogeU Ia consuita. .on With he Com;iiissl nefs
| Of the iaapera ASS alton mi, Act was NC;
! then adopted, but the Commissioners CT the
| General Association reported II 10 that body
| which, after CAREFUL coas deratlon of IT.
| RtSo!rtd uuanlm1 u>y hat Il put the sutj @
| on lis proper basis, aud that 1t ought 10 pass
| and also ordered hat heir appreciation or tie
| same be published
| Thus was the establishment overthr0wn, aod
| the principles of religious freedom We're IN I
| fair way to be lully recognized and PRACTICAL,
| operative.
| But d.ssenters still labored under some dis
| abilities aud tue Episcopal Church still e. y &c
! some iavOrS.
Moreover, in 1884 the friends OF the establish
meat raiie l. anu soagHt at ieaSa a part al re-
st,la,ioa W ie the project ot z general as,ess-
| mt nc was revived aud against ibis last the
| Esaofls,s alone, as d-n0niiua lon stood ffn
| A mndifi ID act of Incorporation was granted tt
| the Episcopal Cnuich, AID tha q a-sessnent bii
well nigh pas ed. But The latter q as post.:' re
| srum time 10 time aud faa!:y The people were d y
| peaied t. on the question. Duiing the StrHggla
| he Presbyterian cielgy eXpresstd themselves
| by memorial III favor u the assessment Mr.
Madison speaks scathingiy OF Ihe contrast be-
tween their iormtr and later neforiais. aad
their baing "as ready to set up an establishment
10 take them liz as they Eere 70 putt do@n that
wniuh shut them out ne Bap ISIS alone no,
ony dsi not Yield, bat plt iorti. the most csrn
IS, and well uirec eI efforts against this uahoij
alliance batween The Churcn and State. Ii
| A.y. l1S5. the GeueIai Committee, ch iui
the sake ot c pactness had no." taken the p acc
of the General A,,oulauon, adopted The loilvw
| lug nobir TesUlutl9n.
R,soic.a, Tuat IL be recommended to hose
Counties which have not yet prepared peti io;is
70 he presented to tie gencra assembly agan,
| the engrossed bill tor general assessment iJl
the support Of the teachers Ut the Chrl>tiar
| { ttfrs