The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18
The North Carolina Legislature SGt-
ting as an Ecclesiastical Court.
[From the Chicago Tribune.]

lrfOm the lineage ITlDuneJ
The recent action of the North Carroll
ma Legislature in expelling one of its
members. Mr.. j. w. Thorne, sort of
Quaker, on account of his disbelief in the
existence of a God, along with other his
torical incidents in the same State, should
commend North Carolina as a place of
residence to the people who advocate the
doctrine generally known as 'sGod in the
Constitution but which might be more
accurately defined as ''God in Politics"
Up to the year 1848 the God in the North
Carolina Constitution was not only a
Christian God, but also Protestant God.
Under the organic law Of the State up to
shat period, all persons who denied ssthe
truth of the Protestant religion we're
excluded from holding Office. This pro-
vision debarred Catholics and Jews, as
well as Deists, Atheists, and Infidel;.
In the Constitution of 1848 the politi.
cal notion Of Deity was modified, and the
new restriction was limited to a general
belief in God; this idea was retained in
the new Constitution of 1858. which has
clause disquaifying from holding Office,
ssfrst, all persons who shall deny the be-
ing Of Almighty God" This general DIS
qualification, however, seems to be SUBJ
ject to the special Interpretation of the
Legislature; for Mr.. Thorne was expelled
on the ground Of disbelief in the being Of
Almighty God, though he made the fol-
lowing explicit declaration of faith i'll his
speech before the Legislature "There is
but one living and true God everlasting,
without body, or parts, or passions; of
unlimited power. wisdom, and goodness;
the maker Of all things visible and invis-
ihle."
To layman and non-believer in the doc
trine Of ''God in Politics" this would be
sufficiently strong declaration of belief
in Almighty God to warrant man, 9TH
erwise unobjectionable, in holding seat
in the Legislature to which he had been
chosen by the suffrages of the people. In
addition to this declaration Mr.. Thorne
also presented number of letters show
ing that he was member in good stand
Ing Of the Progressive Order of Friends,
sect of Quakers; that he had been a
trustee in the church Of that society in
Pennsylvania. his former home; and that
he was man of good moral character.
But he had written pamphlet in which
he had spoken of the Trinity and resur-
rection as mythical or superstitious, and
said that he did not regard God as being
whose chief purpose is to torture man.
kind after death. He also stated
in the presence of the Legislature that
while he believed in God, he did not be.
lieve Sin all the characterizations attrib.
uted to Him. Thereupon member de-
clared that it was clear Thorne did not
believe in the God Of our Constitution"
and it was on this ground that Mr.. Thorne
was expelled by majority vote of the
House sitting as an ecclesiastical court.
From this instance it is plain that when
God is introduced into politics it is neces-
sary to define exactly what kind Of be-
ing is intended. 1t is doubtful whether
a Jew, or Unitarian, or even a Uniyer.
salist could pass muster in the North
Carolina Legislature.
Perhaps the expulsion Of Mr.. Thorne
from the North Carolina Legislature may
be useful in teaching that it is better to
keep cPeeds out of the constitution and
out Of politics, and permit every man t.
worship the Supreme Being in his own
temple and according to individual die
tates of conscience, faith and reason.