Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-19
Chicago National Reform Convention.

This Convention met in Farwell
Hall, Tuesday and Wednesday, Apr.
10th and 18th, with over hundred
deega tes from Illinois, Indiana, Wis
consin, and Iowa. Jonathan Edwards,
D. d., L. l.. d., was chosen Chair
man, and DR.. r. B. Cannon, of Wis.
consin, Secretary. Addresses were
delivered by d. McAllister, DIR. Ed
wards, DR.. w. w. EYerts, Prof. e. a.
Blanchard, and others. The follow
in resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
/. That it is Of the utmost import
ance in the present stage of our ma
tional history to emphasize the fact
that this country was settled by
Christians who came hither with
free and open Bible and founded
free institutions of government on the
basis Of the principles OF the Christian
religion.
2. That the most vital national
issues of to-day involve the relations
of Christianity and the State: and that
the truth which Christianity teaches
concerning these relations never de
handed clearer assertion than now,
viz: That Almighty God is the ulti-
mate source Of all authority in civil
government that Jesus Christ as
ruler of nations has given a moral
standard for their conduct, and that
the standard of His word is their su.
preme law.
3. That we perceive with grave APP
prehensions the determined and often
successful attempts which are made
to eypel the Bible from our public
schools, to abolish the oath, prayer in
our National and State Legislatures,
days of fasting and thanksgiving, and
other Christian institutions of our
State and Nation, and so to divorce
the American government from all
connection with Christianity
f. That written constitution, as
fundamental law, ought to provide an
explicit and undeniable basis for the
vital institutions of the nation for
which it is formed; and the fact that
the Constitution of the United States
may be, and is, used against the ex-
listing institutions of our government
constitutes the best reason for relg-
ious amendment.
5. That such an amendment of our
national constitution, harmonizing as
it would with all the precedents of
our early history, and with religious
acknowledgements in many Of our
state constitutions, could not conflict
with any individual rights of con-
science, Just as the establishment of a
state education does not conflict with
the rights of citizens who believe that
education belongs only to the family
and church, or the constitutional au.
Identification of the war power does
not conflict with the rights of those
who denounce even defensive war as
sin; and further if there be any plea
for rights of conscience it must be en-
tered against the Christian laws and
institutions rather than against con-
stitutional basis on which they might
rest.
6. That the Indifference of many
protesting Christians, as well as the
assaults of open enemies, calls i'm
peratively on all who discern the dan
ger that threatens our Christian in
stitutions of government, to unite and
labor earnestly for their maintenance;
and that, taking courage from a re-
view of the past, and pledging our
selves to God and to one another, we
shall use.all means in our power to up
hold, perfect, and hand down to pos
testify the inheritance bequeathed to
us by our fathers.