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

RY, OF RIChMoND-1T CAUSES GREAT
| EXCITEMENT-DISORD SCENES
| THE READING INTERRUPTED-INTER
EsTISG ABSTRACT OF THE ADDRESS
THAT CAUSED THE EXCITEMENT.
New YORK, October 9.-In the Alliance
| to-day paper was raad on the Church and
the Nation by Rev. w. II. Ereemantle, Of
London. He favored the principle that In
| Christian nations the Church and the State
are identical, and there can be no alliance
between them. for they are not Independent,
powers. He believed that In the future the
Pulpit will speak more of civil government
and law, and Legislatures will feel more the
influence of religion. The judges and the
magistrates are the true elders Of this day,
and in the Scripture the authority OF the
| ruler Is more insisted upon than that of the
| teacher as come from God.
Another paper was read on the Influence
Of Christianity on Civil and Religious
Liberty.
Rev. J. L. NJ. Curry, LII. D., of Rich
mond, Va, followed on the same subject. He
| said : "Has not every person the right to
| worship God free from civil molestation
Liberty is not an unrestrained license. It
imposes laws and oblig 'tions as well az
guarantees privileges. The right of free
| dom OF worship is sacred. When the Church
| and State are united the State practically as
| sumes infullibility; abrogates the right to
| say what shall be the Church, and not I'M
| frequently Uses civil officers to enforce rel-
| gious discipline. Religious liberty was not
| considered by the trainers of our Consti-
tuition as anything but right. [Applause. ]
Religious liberty, with us, is no longer
an experiment, but an established fact,
| meeting the hearty approval of every
| religious denomination and political party
| throughout our broad land. Loud APP
plause.l The union Of Church and State is
| wrong in principle and injurious in practi-
| cal operation. [AppIause.] The establish
mnut of union would be an Injury
TO the State. The Church, when thus
| united, offers premium upon hypoc-
| risy, for men affect religion in or.
der to become sheriff or magistrate
or gain some civil Office. Under such union
Il mans rights 10 worship God is moi
God-givcn, but a grace. [Laughter.] \
union Is wrong TO citizens generally. 1t
robs them of their property, for when Il
| government takes from the people more than
| enough for its legitimate affairs it commits
robbery. [Applause.l 1t is Il wrong to oul
holy religion. because it makes Christianity
depend upon civil power. 1t diSowns the
Holy Spirit and SEEKS other enjoyments of
peace.
DR.. Curry had reached very interesting
part OF his discourse when the bell calico
him to order.
The audience called loudly for continue
ance.
Mr. Crook arose and stated that as many
Invited guests from abroad, entertaining en-
trclv different views, were present, he
thought il would be discourteous and un'
christian to continue the discussion.
The speakers voice was drowned in cries
for Curry" Curry" In response to which.
Dr.. Curry arose and said that as he abided
br the rule OF limitation most readily yet
be would most emphatically protest against
being termed by the chairman di>courteou>
or lnchri>tianlike. The uproar which here
ensued was terrific Loud calls for "Curry,'
Curry" were accompanied by stamping OF
feet, DC.
In the din Of voices the chairman struggled
to be heard. Finally, comparative order was
restored, and Mr.. Crooks persuaded the vast
audience to be considerable. He (Crooks)
had been informed by a visiting friend that
the discussion was very painful to him, and
he (Crooks) doubted not that he agreed with
DR.. Curry in his views upon the topic, but
respect for the views Of our friends advises
us to cease the discussion.
4 hymn was then sung.
TIE afternoon session of the Alliance, at
Association Hall, was devoted to free discus
sion of the relations of the Church to the
State.
Rev. Mr.. Bruno, of Pittsburgh, said he was
surprised that such an aggregate Of tnought
should be expressed without striking against
the thoughts of others. He said the Consti-
tuition of the United States was adopted for
all sects aud creeds-even Mohamedan-
therefore he blushcd for it. He believed in
a c ser unity of Church with State.
Rev. MIR. Stevenson, of Philadelphia, fol-
lowed, and said that many European nations
are trying to work up to our American
model. If this be true, it concerns us what
that model shall be. He said that OUR Go
ycrnment was strictly religious Govern
ment. Our law of marriage was Christian
law. Ba>phemy is an offence against statute
law and the Christian religion. Religion is q
mart of the common law. Religious
Worship is recognized by it. Our LIE
gisature and National Senate are opened
| by PRAYER; public iaSts and thanksSis-
ings are established by Government Chris
tim oath is administered in civil courts,
and by it our civil officers arc qualified. Our
system of education is purely CHRISTIAN
one; we have Bibles in our schools, except
ing a few places, where bigotry has caused
their expulsion.
Rev. George NJ. Graut, of Scotland, fol-
lowed after which the Dean of Canterbury
expressed the idea that what was practicable
in this country is not 80 in England.
Rev. MIR. Burnett, Of Iceland, and 1T. Kew.
Bishop Simpson then spoke. The latter said
that the Alliance had not assembled to make
Constitution for the United States or the
Church for England.
Especial to the Dspatch.I
Address OF Rev. DE-. Curry.
DIR. Curry, professor in Richmond Col
leoe. said the subject assigned was the right
fitness or cXpediency Of alliance betWlXt the
civil and ecclesiastical powers, or, in other
words, in an establishment proper can civil
governments rightfuIly interfere with liberty
Of conscience!
Liberty is not unrestrained license nor
social anarchy. 1t implies restraints ana
limitations, aud exists when each person Is
Guaranteed the full exercise Of his faculties
and rights so long as he does not Interfere
with like tull exercise on the part OF others.
In the assertion of the rights Of conscience
the legitimate authority of the magistrate Is
not to be impinged. Liberty does not IL
cense crimes against property or society.
Outside the United States, connection or
Christianity and civil government has been
the inyarable rule since the third century OF
the Christian era. The Papal hierarchy sub
sjdized the civil power, and the Reformation
by a fatal blunder, copied, with some modih'
cations. this wrong OF Popery. klngs
claimed to be the Head of the Church IN their
dominions, and the claim was recognized