The New York herald., 1876-02-21
FLEET STREET CHURCH.
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Is IT HEATHE


THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, Is IT HEATHEN
on cHRIsT1AN?--sERGoN OF ItEy W. G.
STEELE
The evening services OF the Fleet street Methodist
Episcopal church, Brooklyn, attended by about
250 members Of the Order OF United American Aechan'
ics and others who attracted there by the an
nouncement that the pastor, Rev. W. C. Steele, would
preach TO that Order upon the subject OF government
Affected by religion The reverend gentleman took
for his text Proverbs xiv, 3l-"Justce ex-
slteth nation; but sin maketh nations miserable lie
said God is not Indifferent the welfare of man, aud
He therefore declares positive law with reference TO
His dealings with all nations. II nation Is true to
HIS laws, and honors and obeys Him it will
inevitably receive the reward OF righteousness; SO,
the other hand, will He assuredy punish the nation
which unholy The nation is incapable of being pun
ished body except in its aggregation OF individuals
that hoec who transgress divine law will be afflicted
in their individual capacity The speaker among other
illustrations adduced TO show the decay nations which
had forgotten gory God cited the case Of the chill
drcn Of Israel and said had the Jews continued faithful
to God there can bo but little doubt that Jerusalem
would have been the capital OF the world to-day But
their punishment has been great and lasting for their
unlaithfulness. Though the Jews in New York have
money and influence sufficient TO purchase Palestine,
vet thoy be Incapable OF again uniting as ma
lion Fornulism and the rejection OF Christianity has
always led to national disaster. Look at the con-
dition of Spain to-day in verl1caLion of this
fact The relation Of the State to the Church was next
considered and the reverend gentleman conended
that the union Of the two distinctly forbidden from
the nature Of the kingdom OF Christ Christ himself
has said, 'My Kingdom is not OF this world" " He
traded not in the temporal, but In the spiritual armor
union OF Church and state Is not only pronibited uy
the Word of Cod but is also contrary 10 the oons
tuition Of the United States Of America. Tho former
situation of the different States showed The necessity OF
such exclusion In somo States Episcopalians, IN
others Presbyerans in others Quakers constituted the
dominant Sect so that II was Impossible that there
should not arise political strife and jealousy on the
subject OF ecclesiastical ascendancy The only
to control Thus then, has tho whole
power over the subject Of religion horc been
left the State governments TO be acted upon accord
ing TO their sense OF justice And now the Cathohc,
the Protestant, the Cavinist the Armenian, the Jew
or the indel may sit down at the communion table IN
the national council without nqusition into his
faith or worship There had been President who was
an lnddel; there has been Chief Justice who was q
Roman Catholic; all forms Of belief had llled high
places OF trust under our glorious government SO that
u may believe whatever he peases provided that
his belief docs not interfere with the tree exercise OF
other mems belief what may be injustice 10 the
State The constitutions Of the several states coincide
with the national constitution. ANY law respecting
the establishment OF form OF religion is forbidden
So is compulsory support in religious instruction,
compulsory attendance on religious worship,
restriction in the free exercise OF any religion and
restriction upon the expression OF religious belief
It's chief principle Is equality Of human rights II has
been claimed that equality in human rights was 10
be found IN nldelty, but tha assertion had proved
woful failure IN the Reign Of Terror. when it was
clearly defined and demonstrated that 1t is impossible
found liberty any other basis than that OF Chris
tianiy. Redemption by Christianity gave republican,
ism true power humanity. History Is replete
with illustrations ampfyng this assertion and
showing the trumphs OF God in every step
OF the faithful Republic The legal recognstions
OF Christianity in the constitution OF the unned
States are found in the oath which is administered to
the President Also in the section which provides
that any act not signed by the President or returned
within ten days after its passage Sundays cxcepedl
shall become law. The Senate and the House or
Representatives have thor chapains, aud have the
army and navy. The state laws forbid the keeping
open OF liquor stores and places OF amusement on sun
days, and the Governor proclams thanksgiving and
fast days. To that extent Christianity is legally recog
nzcd Mr. Steele dwot upon the educational ques-
tion with reference to the continuance OF the Bible IN
the public schools Intelligence and morality alike de-
mandeG that the Bible should be retained, as through
its influence alone could the masses be educated The
failure OF the late effort m Spain 10 eslab
lsh q republic, was due, he considered, 10 the
want OF knowledge among the people. Tho
same applicable TO the condition OF France, which
was lacking in non-seciarian public school system
The greatest peril to be feared from the pos
s!bity of the union Of Church and State Rome claims
that power of Church over Slate. 'Wherevel that
power has been possessed 1t has been secured by our
Romsh friends" remarked the speaker, and he read
from extracts illustration OF the assertion. He con-
tended that naiibe Popo is no less nalUbo IN po-
litical than spiritual affairs and concluded with
peroraton patriotic and poetic upon tho greatness or
the country at this era and the necessity OF maintain
ing her institutions intact