The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-22


the accidents of birth, wealth or government
al favors. Government elects portion OF
its citizens, sometimes the majority, and sub
iects them to inferiority, dishonors them IN
their religion, puts penalty on their form
of worship, degrades them at the bar, In the
college, in the pulpit, in Parliament, and IN
all places of honor and trust. Dissenter is
a term of reproach, and such person is I'M
der stigma, and in state of uniform deg
radiation. This vexatious, prolonged, cor
roding insult is not relieved by acts of toler-
alton. federation, by government, of the
God-given, indefeasible right of worship is an
implication of the right to Withhold liberty of
conscience, and is singing insult, loath-
some adherence, wickedness in the sight
Of God. 1t makes worship an act of pollt-
ical grace, apd is a palpable contradiction, a
license to neglect duty and run in the teeth
of the constituted civil authorities.
49, 1t is a wrong to citizens generally
1t proscribes merit and makes another quail
fcation than fitness for Office. In England,
under Henry VIII, good subject ''accep-
ted the mass without the Pope; under Ed,
ward VI. he eschewed both; under Mary he
took back the mass, and after while the
Pope to boot; under Elizabeth he gave them
both up again., during the interreguum, Pres
byterianism was established and the pray
er book was interdicted in private houses
as we'll as in churches after the Restora-
ton, Parliament reinstated the Episcopal
system; and now in Great Britain, the union
of Church and State makes citizen turn
coat if, in crossing the border, he would keep
pace with "the corporate reason" 1t de-
prives citizens of an equal participation ID
rights and privileges, because they cannot
conform to a religious standard set up by men
who have no theological aptitude8, and who
were not selected for their piety. 1t makes
diploma of college, commission in the
army or navy, foreign mission, crown,
dependent on being loyal to the sect which
happens, for the nonce, to be the IA
vorite of the government, 1t compels sup
port of denomination which has not the
approval of the taxpayers. Itrobs of prop
erty, for whenever government takes from
| it's citizens more than is necessary for a just
and economical administration of its legiti-
mate affairs, it commits robbery. In making
| itself party to monstrous imposture, gov
eminent leads its own people into most ia
tai delusion, causes them to neglect personal
regeneration, lulls them into a false security
| by their membership in a national church,
and thus makes itself an accessory to the
spiritual murder of scores of those whom 1t
governs.
"A An Establishment is wrong to our
holy religion. Much of what has been said,
especially concerning the identity of citi-
zenship and church membership, has equal
pertinency to this point. Public profession
of State religion is sometimes cOnjOined
with private incredulity. Infdelity has
taken refuge under cover of an Establish
ment, abounds where religion is enforced by
law. Germany and France with their scep
ticism are not persuasive of an Establish
ment. All the sovereigns of England, from
Henry VIII. to James H., during period of
40 years, the boy Edward VI. excepted,
employed their supremacy to extinguish vital
religion. (Noers Union of Church and
State, 59) Froude states that at one time
ordinations were bestowed on men of lewd
life and corrupt behaviour. Moral defects
were accepted in consideration Of spiritual
complacency. The Cornh5U Magazine, of a
late date, says, Il quote not to indor8e but
to show tendencies:) "The Church of Eng
land is broad as to rationalism, high as to
Romanism, and low as to Dissent; feeds all
alike with the dew of her fairness, and dec
crates each indifferently with her ecclesias-
tical honors." Bishop ColensO holds official
connection with national church, Union
of Church and State degrades the Christian
religion by making it dependent on civil
power. 1t submits questions of eternal sig
nifcance, involving the essence of Divine
truth and mans personal relations to his
Creator, to men of most varied characters.
They may be men of high principle or Of
no principle; religious or prOfane; young
men of gayety and fashion, or old men OF
inveterate immortality; taey may be wealthy
or STEPPED in debt; absolutists or democrats;
sportsmen ever foremost at the death of the
fox, or keener civic hunters after gold lovers
of pleasure, whose employments are seldom
more serious than the opera or the race
track or lovers of party, whose highest
ambition may be to keep one minister in, or
turn another out" 1t dishonors the Holy
Spirit by doubling His omnipotence 1t
calls in the sword to do the work of spiritual
weapons it encourages distrust of God and
promotes weakness of faith it is adverse
to humility and spirituality, and seeks for
other elements of strength than righteous
ness, peace and JOY in the Holy Ghost.
81 1t is injurious to the denomination in
alliance. If the strength of church or a
denomination be in its spirituality, what has
been said may be sufficient to demonstrate
the ipiuriousness of alliance. An Establish
ment is injustice and oppression. No argu-
ment is needed to show to an assembly of
Christians that injustice and oppression in
lure the wrong-doer as much as the sufferer.
Thrust determinations engender discomfort,
irritation, resentment, hospitality, sometimes
aversion and hatred. Patronage is invaria,
bly, source of corruption; and the history
of State religions shows that religious com
munjties are not exempt from its evil conse-
uuences. An endowment secularizes de-
nomination, and attracts the worldly, the
selfish, the ambitious.
The system of presentation to benefCeS is
an affective malady. AdVowsons are regu-
lar articles of merchandise, advertised in the
newspapers and sold at public outcry or
private sale. From this legal right of pre-
sentiment, regardless of the consent of the
inhabitants of the parish, have come non
residence, huge salaries, starving incomes,
sporting and absolute clergy. Men of frivo-
lous characters, of infdel principles, hold
living8 as property, and beStow them for
other considerations than a desire to save
so,Is or nromota the Redeemer's kinodom