Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-01

memberships now extend to every place
where Christian civilization exists.
The organization OF the American
branch Of the alliance WAS effected IN
January. 1867. The constitution then
adopted lbut revised in 1874 declares
its objects to be tomanilest and strength
en- Christian unity, and to promote re-
Igious liberty and cooperation in Chris
tian work, without interfering with the
internal affairs oil different denOmina-
tons. In October, 1873, the sixth
general or international conference of
the Alliance was held at Steinway Hall,
New York. II was the first great Cath
ollie council that ever convened in the
New World, and embraced, in its long
list Of delegates, Christians from all
known climes.
Questions of more or less secular
character, pertaining to the conditions
OF American society, were passed upon
i'm the discussions of the Alliance, and
the opinions thus expressed may be
taken as having been tacitly Endorsed
by that body. Ii was declared that the
Constitution OF the United States has,
properly, nothing whatever to do with
religion. The absolutely voluntary sys-
tenn of religion best answers To
our political system, and best
secures the spread Of religion in u
country ever enlarging itself like this.
Christianity being the religion Of the
mass OF the people, its uSages and ideas
cannot Dee separated from legislation
bv mathematical line, hut the law has
Is little 10 do with religion, and re-
ligion with the law, as possible. 1.-THE
people should all turn Mohammedans
or Mormaus, no material change would
be needed in the laws, except in those
relating TO the marriage union and to
the division OF estates.
The chief eud OF legislation is the pro-
lection OF rights. Under Christianity
We are 10 test the Sabbath by its rela-
ton to human welI-being, and to use 1t
for that end. Man has rights in connec-
ton with the fourth commandment, as
in connection with the others that refer
% relative duties. and these rights ought
% be protected by law on the same
ground IL Is not the province OF leglS-
lation 10 enforce the fourth command
meut in It's Gojwarl aspect, nor to pro-
mote religion directly, but simply to
protect men i'm their rights under great
provision male bv GoD Tor their we'll
bcing. Those who call 50 loudly Tor a
law limiting labor 90 eight hours day
cannot question the right to legislate
when the Limitation is called for 10y ana
tural law
Capital is but labor stored up for iu-
turc use. As the ny-wheel accumulates
force for the work the engine has to do,
So be who has the industry to earn and
the ,clt-denial to save becomes a capital
ist-accumulgte~ labor and converts it
into force TO move other labor. When
ever the eight hour rule shall be applied
70 all branches Of industry, either the
workmen must 10 ten hours work in
eight hourS-vhjch they have no inten-
ton Of doins-or the cost OF all pro-
ducts Of industry will be enhanced some
20 per cent, without any increase OF
means 20 purchase them.
Another of the important subjects dis
cusSed by the boiy at that session was
the question as 10 whether the govern
mrnt has a right To discriminate among
religions, OF, u other words, choose the
national religion. The sense Of the
Alliance may be- cpitomized on this sub
iect as follows
when church and State are united.
tho State practically assumes iuiallibiIity
-arrogatrs the capabjlity and the right
90 sit il Judgment upon crceds and to
determine what is true AMI what is false
religion. Separation of Church AMI State
is the removal, OF all political restraints
AMI political supports from a Christian
denomination. Il means equality of
citizenship; not the placing above or
below, but ON a Platform of perfect
equality Government Is a political
organism, and 10 is OF the essence OF
American liberty that it should DE en-
tire'y separate from churches. The
union woull br an injury to the
state, and wrong To other de-
nominations auJ % citizens generally.
u would prescribe AMI make another
qualification Tor office than fitness. In
England, under Henry Will, a good
subject accepted the mass without the
Pope; under EDWARD VI. he eschewed
both; under MARY hc took back the
mass. and after awhile the Pope to boot;
under ELIzNEErH hc gave them both "
again; during Oh, iutyrrccuum Preshy-
teriauism was established, and the
PRAYER book vus intyrlictei IN private
houses as We'll as in churches; after the
Restoration. Parliament rrinStated the
Epi~cupJ, system; and now, in Great
Britain the union OF Church and State
maNr> a citizen a turn-coat ii, in cross
ius the border, he would keep pace with
the corporate reason
The foregoing synopsis OF the former
action ot the body sufficiently indicates
ITS character and probable action at the
present session upon the great moral
problems of the dav, which will interest
Christian denominations throughout the
world.