Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-18
DEITY.
Convention TO Advocate rho Recognition of(;oa
in the Constitution OF the United States.
COLUMBUS, o., March 10.

| 7 COLUMBUS, o., March 10.
The Convention to advocate religi-
Gus samendment to the Constitution of
the United States met at the Opera
House tonight. Samuel Wilson, d.
D., of Xenia, was made Chairman.
About 200 ladies and gentlemen were
present, those belonging to Columbus
being of high character and respecta-
billy, and such, no doubt, was the tone
Of the entire convention. J. r. W.
Sloane, of Allgheney, addressed the
body. He took the ground that as the
Constitution stands there is no author
ity for Christian legislation at all. 1t
may be objected that We seek to cstab-
lish Christian religion by authority of
State. Let it be so. We are for Chris
tian religion, as opposed to all others,
and for its establishment everywhere
we will battle as long as life shall last.
The Christian religion is the conserva-
tive element which, if absent, will re-
suit in the destruction of our nation as
sure as the sun shines, but, if present in
the organic law and other laws, will
give the nation vigor and virtue to eX-
ist as long as its rivers and its hills.
Corruption is creeping into the veins
of the republic. Great statesmen are
rare; wise unselfish politicians are still
rarer in the halls of the Stale. Evil
cenfronts us everywhere, and unless
something be done TO arrest it, the ma
ton will die. We believe that what
we propose will save it as sure as God
reigns, and as the moral principle is
stronger than any other power.
The speaker, in order to make his
point, drew very, dark picture of our
national condition, too dark, indeed,
to be strictly correct. The Christian
principle, he continued, has saved us
thus far and will continue to save until
it is Overborne. We are determined it
shall not be OverEorne, but elevated to
the highest places of power in the na-
tinn and made forever the nations gui-
ding star.
Such were the principal points Of
Mr.. SlOane's address, which he iliustra-
ted and enforced with ability and skill.
He closed by declaring his belief in the
entire practicability of the work in
the entire practicability of the work in
which he was engaged. "Humble a.
We now appear, we shall kindle fire
in this nation that will consume every
vestige of atheism and 'infidelity and
shine with the radiance of the face of
God" Applause.1
The Committee on Permanent Or
no n zat rQnnrfoH tho follnvuinnr AH
GERS:
President-The Hon. Felix r. Bru-
not, of Pittsburgh.
Vice Presidents-The Hon. A. Arm
strong, of Guernsey county, Ohio; Prof.
o. N. StOddart, of Wooster; the Rev.
R. r. McNulty, of Columbus; the Rev.
r. r. Carnahan, of Carroll county; the
Rev. w. n. French, of Cincinnati;
Prof. j. McCracken, of Northwood;
R. w. Stevenson, of Columbus; DIR.
Sloane, of Pittsburgh; DIR. B. Waddle,
of Kenton; DR.. R. H. Pollock, of Woos-
ter; DIR. Wilson, of Xenia; the Rev. HI.
P. McClerkin, of Cedarville; David
Boyd, of Bellefontaine; DIR. William
Wisehart, of Ontario; the Rev. II. n.
Milligan, of Pittsburgh; Prof. William
MilrOy, of NOrthwood.
Secretaries-The Rev. J. F. Morton,
of Cedarville; the Rev. J. r. Hill, of
Birmingham, Mich.
Committee on Resolutions-The Rev
McNulty, the Rev. J. P. Lytle, of
county; Mr.. Carahan, the
Rev. Homer Mcfarland, Of Putnam
county, and Henry Martin, of Cincin-
natl.
The report was adopted,
Mr.. BrunOt then read an elaborate
giving history of the con-
yention that framed the Constitution
of the United States, which he descri-
bed in the main body of unbelievers
and atheists, hence the omission of re-
ligion, and even the name of God from !
the instrement they framed, yet the ma
ton was itself overwhelmingly theis-
tic and Christian. Fortunately an
open door WAS left 10 the constitution
al temple by which we may supply the
omitted cornerstone. Mr.. BrunOt show
history of the nation proves it to be O |
Christian nation, and that the omission
in its Constitution ought in simple con-
sistency to be supplied. If mot supplied,
the Constitution will be held to ex-
clude the Bible from schools, to over
throw the Christian Sunday, and, one
by one, to destroy our characteristics
and privileges SIS Christian people.
The Committee on Resolutions re-
ported series embodying the views
Ofthe convention, and demanding re-
cognition ofthe Deity and of the Chris.
tian religion in the Constitution as ne
cessary to harmonize that instrument |
with the nature of the Government and
of the people.