New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10
tants who would dream that we are to DO saved By
rendering these convictions.
STATE AID REJECTED,

such are the settled convictions OF tho country. II
now one ask the religious all Protestant
whether they would accept OF State sup
port TO religion given in the least Objectionable form
than OF general to be devoted in the ratio OF
bers to all denominaons-or even to all Protestant
Ones they would think, with voice say no This
fixed sentiment OF American Christians may, think, be
expressed under the following heads with fairness anu
| exactness: 49,
dtons OF society the Church might, wlGhous evil TO
itself have connection with the state, the various
forms Of fath and worship In this country calling thom
selves Christian could never consent 10 any
other relation except one In which all would be equal
Nay, any one OF the Protestant scots opuld attain 10
tine rank OF State religion the in eyory one Of
them would be. am convinced most decidedly against
superiority over tue rest both evil 10 Itself ana ms
| unjust towards them. Still further not ono OF them
wOud consent to have ROmanism forced upon them by
| State law
2 That tho absolutely voluntary system answers TO
political system, and best serves the spread Of re-
lgion IN country even enlargIng itself like this.
That the evils OF this system such as competition Of
sects, Increased sectarian spirit pr0seyting and en-
CrOachmeht upon one anOthePs Provinces; tho weak
| OF new churches IN new settlements consequent
upon the number OF ecs, and the stiffness and
OF religious preudices. while they felt to be
evils and great ones, are not to be compared with the
impotence aud deadness OF exclusive STATE churches.
That our system lays great and sautarY respon-
sibIty ON Christian people for spreading the Gospel,
aud that much OF the religious ire OF tue nation ex-
act feeling that instant action Ia to pre-
serve aud extend Chrstendom in the land into which
| motives Of immense power.
g. That another but absolutely voluntary system is
who have suspicion dislike OF the remoes tie
between IL and the State woulduter such complaints
to make 1t believed that their rights were injured.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE BENEFICIAL.
have intended in what has been said to express tho
con yicons Of the great OF thoughtful religious
men. 1t ought TO DO said, however that these feelings
have always existed with equal strength since the
days when full religious equality began. In tho earlier
parts Of the century it the opinion OF many
or two OF the States that the Commonwealth ht by
law provide for the support OF Ministers in such
that eli pastors OF all sects in the towns could have their
propOrOnate share In the taxes Laid for that purpose.
DR. Dwight, President OF Yale College. wise ana large
minded man. died In 1915, while an agitation was going
on in Connecticut, which destroyed In 1878 the last faint
trace of State rohGion IN that Commonwealth. can re
memben bOy. that thought that the foundations
OF religion were giving way and In TINS feeling OF Ms
there were mingled no clements OF secarianlsm. 50
ageOus, selfrelyng Or the crisis be writes,
being pastor OF an important church In the state
cause OF Christ. then supposed irrepaulbe.
For several days suffered what tongue tell
cut the Churches loose from dependence state sup
port II threw them wholly on their resources and
Is they have gained by voluntary efforts So
cietes missions. and reyivas they exert deeper iunu
ence than they could by queues and shOebuckes.
and cooked hdtsand gold headed canes" While II pro
vokes a smile TO think that small change rs tnat
from the parish laws then existing 70 perfect freedom I'm
supporting public worship should have awakened great
alarms, we admire those strong religious convictions
and energies which very soon converted tie appre-
hended curse INTO blessing. Fer that 1t was blessing
10 religion all unite in believing and all facts show.
While thus gon Is entirely divorced from the state
IL Is not altogether outside OF law Worship in church
organizations need houses of worship that are common
property the minister must be supported out of fund
or by contribution generally stipulated beforehand;
subsidiary religious Institutions snch cemeteries and
parish schools. need special funds. Thus the rights
of property and OF contract, which add that
OF projection against disturbance OF worship and others
come under the control of public laws Again, there
jealousy OF large religious corporations and Of minis
representing them and thus another class ci laws
may be called FORTH and still again the State may judge
that certain truths OF natural or revealed religion IN
their separate FORMS independently OF any Church OF
ecceiastca power are necessary for the well being OF
the civil community, and may engratt them In some
shape into constitution. i shall devote few words
10 each OF these points, beginning with the as ani rer
ring those who wish 10 at at largo Dr.
Joseph p ThOmpson's Church and State in the United
states OF America. published IN Berlin in the German
language few months since and more recently IN En-
glish IN this country.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
l. While most of the States say nothing OF religion
even Of what Is called natural religion, their consu
lions. several withhold civil office from atheists, from
dsbelevers in future rewards and punshments and
even from disbeevers In the Christian religion (lssis-
sppi, Tennessee. Arkansas North Carolina, Pennsyl-
vana, and perhaps others one few years since dis
luaied Jews from holding civil office. But, II am not
ia an error, every Obhterates all old
recOgntOns Of religious truth from the constitutions
as being dead letter. or az inconsistent Win Tue po-
cal equality OF persons against whom no criminal charge
IT. In MANY constitutions jealousy "a shown OF or
ganized religious power, and precautions taken
against the disturbance of religious equality. Sixteen
censt,ntons an least declare I'm Il rent forms of words
that no preference shall be given any religious
lI5hment mode Of worship In others the Legislature
restrained from passing any law requiring author
izng any religious society the people OF district
levy any for the repair or any house OF lDiJ
worship or the support OF any church or ministry.
Others again forbid the Legislatures to compel any one
to attend erect or support any place OF Religious wOr
ship tthes taxes or other rates for the support
OF any minister OF tho Gospel In one or two states
money be constutonaly appropriated To any re-
ligiOns society theological or religious seminary
Nilchigan, Wisconsin, Mnnesota). The constitutions OF
two provide that gift devise To any ecce
sasca person such shall be valid (ilary land, Mis-
sour1) SO also State limits tine amount OF real prop
erty which churcn, parsonage, or buiia-ground can
hold TO five acres. Again. the amount OF income nom
real and personal property which the trustees Of any
hgous denomination acquire and hold IL limited by
act OF New-Iork, OF 1873 W 5000 per aunun lew
exceptions made 10 the operation OF this act III the
act itself from its provisions. aud IN 1868 general eKcep
ton made In favor OF Roman Catholic churches or
cations excluding church buildings, ptrsOndscs.
schools with land for the same ana Durynpaces from
the provisions OF tnls act put Otherwise cOhIonhS 10
the earlier law. IL ia probable that such limitations Of
the power OF holding property WIN become extensive
through the states, owing partly to Jealousy Oh tue
Roman Catholics partly 10 still less detensOe Jealousy
OF all religious organized power partly 10 that regard
the right OF family Inheritance which has Introduced
the principle OF the Roman queretd ~ 0HcsOS eSameHH
into tho legislation OF France anu Prussia.
UNJUST DETERMINATIONS REMOVED
An unjust discrimination is made, made, in the
earlier constitutions of the States all Of these Southern
against cergymen ministers or the Gospel They
were made incapable Of serving in the Legislature
the ground that such service calls them away from
their proper duties This disqualification of old stand
ing receiy sarcastic rebuke from Dr. WltherspOOn
President OF Nassau Hall. He suggested an amendment
to the constitution OF the state Ihat II the clergy
should be deprived OF his clerical character by those who
invested him with IT, on account Tor instance Oh ours
ing aud swearing, drunkenness or uuceanness, he |
should thereupOn fully restored TO all privileges
OF free citizen, and become eligible to the Senate
House OF Representatives,, apd be treated with all the
respect due his brethren and tho other members OF
the Assembly" Works ~, 1917
With few such for the most part not unreasonable
RESTRICTIONS the States by their Laws and courts protect
the outward forms OF religion Churches RELIEF So
eietles hold property. make contracts with mnl
ters exercise discipline according 20 the rules OF the
denomination, in short do everything necessary for the
purposes for which outward and associated religion Is
and actually exists-In ali this the
and do I'LL LghInl LIIn