, 1875-10-08
RELIGIOUS CORRESPONDENCE.


To the Editor Of Tha Chicago tribune:
CHICAGO. Oct. 5.-Tht oxtont Of tho privilege
contcnda,1 for by to frlcnds Of the Bible Ia that
provided by tue former Board Of EducutIon,
Thoy think that tho readlng OF portion Of
Scripture aud repeating tho Lords prayor at tho
opening exercises lad hoallhfuI influence.
some Of your readers think It hardly IN Accord
nnte with tho genius Of our government aud
spoak Of 1t as Bectarinn. Some OF those who
thus speak arc gentlemen OF high repute and
great intluonco. II thoy arc right VIC aro
wrong. II tho reading Of tho Diblo, without
note or comment. IL sectarian within tho moan
ing OF that word, as uncd in oEr State ConBs!tu-
ton, It should settle tho matter, aud tue friends
OF tho Diblo, as law-abiding cilizens, should
chcerfulIy yield.
but is 1t sootarisn? "A sect Arian," says
Worcester, "is one who belongs to scot" A
sect Is ~ body Of porsona united In some settled
tsnots !" ~ religious denomination" It ia used
In contradstnoton from nll other donomIna-
tions. We thlnk 1t Is used in this sonBo In tho
Constitutions OF all tho States. and that all OF
them In their onactmonts Oh tlls subject had tho
same end In view. A single Tefcrence to the
facts existing at tho time Of their formation will
tend to illustrate. Prior 10 tho formation Of
this Government tho Colonies wore under tho
Jurisdiction Of Great britain. where religious
tests werp required - qualification for Office,
and tho Eptscopal Church bad q preference over
all others. This not boiug approved by tho
framorb Of our Government, they pro.
vidod asainst It in tho third section Of
tho sixth article Of tho Constitution.
In the spirit ali tho original Btatss in their Con-
slttutops provided that preference should bo Hvon
to QUO dennnaaton urer another. Thus Maaaa-
shusests sail. livery asaon,'aation u Christians
and
tect'pa Of he law, aud subordlnaon Of any sect Or
Connecticut s4ld, "No psaferuncz shai 10 sissu by
York n Art. !. seo .; Now Jsrrsy IN At. III penu-
sylysnia IN Art. .. Aoc. Delaware In Art Becs.
soltl ta 4 ipin% II IN A. a y%. Il i At
1ouncs substantially ths ldra Tbs uano gr1ural
ssates. VIZ: That ono denomination sha iu any
csss he prrferzr4 10 another.
What thsy ula.u by sectaEaan, therefore. Is tho
claim aHaiuAt tue Dlhe sgainss tbs Christian
tgou. but thsy teach tAs botA should bo fo4tesu1.
Ihus. in the Constitution Ut Yernuat, 1t " sail;
ttans ought to atsarse the lorda day, aud knsp up
sts1u most sgrecabls 10 tho revealed word Of Cod"
6sfsral q tho otler Htstes language to s!u,ar
an.usns cntrs liberty Of cot4cir,.ce sn modg of wor
ship III no caae encourages tbs Abandonment Of zag
tou Or neglect of sosi .aoras. Thus III Art Hse.
of the Constitution of HsW York, it IL said .Iho
ll9ssty q con.ennee hereby sae.rd shall not be 80
rsrtices Inconsistent will tho peace and safsty Ut tho
H4tt."
Our own Constitution while guarding the s.mo right.
Was careful not ta shut out Ne recognition of 0ul and
Ills manifold bleasings 10 Ia ~ reup1s, Hence a tho
prs1lnllo Moy saa: y" w the ,,aops Vt tho staa oi
tIlino!s grateful IL Almi1hl 0oI fu1 tic civil poll !ca
aud ss8iaus liberty wAteh liz hah " long Isruiltef
us " u.iJYy, and looking ~ Him for blessing upou
our osevoss to secuEs luI transmit tho saus uluI
paired 10 succt aliag generAtiuut "lu urlan, atr.
kpW II We RhAt out the UlLe shut out (iDd, fur
fron II seveiss A tlcas u Iii. maulto,d 6!uss
in4a.
: II " not from Auy pretssanco have !4r .uy do
uoon.'iun that WI ssk That It niay 10 read. but b.
cauAo 1t los Al the foundation u XDl4 Luoras aud
betl o1yE. Its teAdrrJ ~ to chuck cfins aud
yirtuS. W. would ta ~ tender VI ths tnxGieIce4 Ut
othts4 ark st III 10 IL tn II the Catholic pre-
isr tLu Qo1Ay tcFtI, wIulu rrau UalJ such pan-
eXas ~ aEe Hltku iu 10th svfsiut. II te Jew ID W.
Rtcsod BY Ersfcreue1 fur tbs Nnx Test.leu rather
than 10 without IL would he Gnutst With passsges
from thu Ola Testament, such ibe Ten CUmtuand-
n!3us. anal othsrs u. which Juw and Geuin aso Auks
sxrted.-raAs4ses which ncuess srtar, purify. hon.