Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-09-30

IF THE Geghan Bill is truthfully
represented by Thurman, as granting
nothing more than is covered by the
Constitution, nothing for good or harm
to any one, it only stultifies the Demo-
cratic Legislature, or brands the legis-
lators as pack Of gamblers in the peo-
pies money and time. This plea for
them is bad enough, were it true. But
this falsely represents this Bill of abomi-
nations. 1t is pregnant with evils re.
quiring time only to bring forth
l.. 1t grants, at the demand of sect,
what no religious sect enjoyed by eth
er organic or statute law.
2. 1t binds officers of the State, to
support sectarianism as they were new
er bound before.
3. 1t imposes tax on the citizens by
statute law to support sectariani5m as
they were never taxed before.
Before proving our statements, lest
We be misunderstood, we promise the
following
We make no objection to the time
honored usage in providing chaplains
for our army and navy, and for all oul
State prisons, &c. Nor do we object to
the usage of prayer, and the reading oi
the Scriptures in our State schools, nor
to moral instruction. The State has
the perfect right to establish and gov.
ern free State schools Independently OF
all Church interference whatever. The
Church may have her parochial and
sectarian schouls, AMI enjoy the protec-
ton of law, as guaranteed to her worship
by the Constitution. Beyond protec-
tion the State can do nothing Constitu-
tionally for any sect. Just 80 far as
State aid is provided BY statute for any
sect, so far is the Constitution violated,
by thus far establishing religion. What
the State may do she must do for the
benefit of citizens, as such, not for the
Church, or for the christian, as for a
sect. The Church deals with the chris
tian; the State with the citizen. The
Church is supported voluntarily by her
members, for their benefit; the State is
supported by the taxation of her citi'
zens, by force of law, and for the bene.
fit of citizens as such. Then, it follows
That to legislate for the benefit of a
sect, binding officers of the State to ad.
minister, and citizens to support by
taxation, is in direct violation of the
Constitution. These being true, Thur.
mans statement is false. Let US see.
Thurman says, after citing the Con.
stitution-''Now, this constitutional
provision completely covers the Geghan
law" and now, let the tsrms OF the
covering constitution, and the terms
of the Geghan law settle where the
falsehood lies. The Constitution reads
thus
mo person shall be compelled to at.
tend, erect or support any place OF wor,
ship, or maintain any form of worship
against his consent. Religion, morality
and knowledge, however, being essen.
tial to good government, it shall be the
duty of the General Assembly to pass
suitable laws to protect every religious
denomination in the peaceable enjoy
ment Of its own mode of public wor-
ship."-Art. 1, Sec. Z.
The Constitutional covering here o.
sects and their modes of worship, ex
tends to protection only, not one par
ticle beyond. Now let Us see what the
Geghan law covers. Ponder the fol.
lowing covering
"And it shall be the duty of every
director, trustee, superintendent oI
other person having in charge any such
institution, to furnish ample ard equa
facilities to all sEch persons for receiv,
ing the ministrations OF the authorized
clergyman of their own religious de
nominations or persuasiOns, under such
, reasonable rules and regulations as the
trustees, directors, managers or super
intendents shall make; but no such
rules shall be so construed as to pre-
vent the clergyman of any denomina
ton from fully administering the rite:
f of his denomination to such inmates
provided such ministration entail NJ
expense on the public treasury"
Then, our first proposition is true
The Geghan law gives to Catholic
more than the protection granted il
the Constitution. 1t grants, in add
ton, privilege of place for worship anC
: ministration of religious rites-it grant
| facilities for carrying out, in place
:. provided by the State, any ceremon.
of worship as any sect may ordain
S This law is, to all intents and purposes
0 an enabling act authorizing every sec
!. at will to use for sectarian purpose
:, State prisons, Asylums, &C., in whicl
y they ars to have legally furnished facil
y titles for administering every rite c
e their church. Should prisoners desir
@ and demand a score of different secta
;, rian clergyman, and the administrator
. of as many different sectarian rites, o
every Sabbath day, this law secure
o ample facilities for all,-Catbolics tn
o right to secret confessional, tor altal
~ and facilities for mass, DC. Baptist
:, , can claim the facility OF a Baptisms
l. Font for the immersion of every pri
ID oner who may choose to demand th
=, privilese e of that rite. All these sects, i
addition to the State Chaplain, hav
5. the legal right to fully administer th
rites of his denomination" with ever
facility. These, with all implied
lie them, are legalized by the Geghan Bill
n extra the Constitution.
le So, our second proposition is tru
This law binds State officers to religion
= duties not contemplated in the Const
a. tution-to perform ecclesiastical Sc
e, vice, not recognized in the organic lay
ID as church deacons, sections, trustees
ST yestrymen; and to furnish ample facil
: ties for religious ministrations foreig
IL to civil functions recognized in I'll
D. Constitution. If this be not 80, the
e, the terms of this law have no meaning
nc Thurman and small DamOcratS a