The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-11-10

recognition OF Christ or Christianity; the latter
ignoring oven the existence OF God.
IL was the aim OF our forefathers TO establish
a government broad ashumanity itself, pure
teelng TO Jew and Mohammedan, Christian and
lnndol, the same rights. But there are n set
OF narrow-mlnded fanatics n our land who are
endcavoring 20 compress this grand work by
having their religion recognized as THE re-
ligion; who denominate this the "Christian Re-
public,,' aud who are az this moment plotting
TO have the Constitution recognize Il as such.
But this l. not Christian Republic, and II
never VIII De; i, is the great tepu6lie OF hui
and brave enough 10 preserve II as such. There
are many Christian names associated with its
history which we delight 10 honor, but who
wero the great men that most contributed TO
make II glorioug
Whose magic pen FIRST wrote THE Free and
the inspiring genius that thrilled the American
heart with the lrst glad notes OF liberty-that
first implanted 10 the patriots mind liked re-
solve to do or dley A Christian MOI
Who wrote that immortal instrument that
urst proclaimed our nations birthf-the Dec
laration Of American Independence
who was the colossus OF tho Continental
Cosgrcss-the master spirit OF that ever
memorable debate-tho man whose rugged elo-
qucnce bore down all opposition and secured
the unanimous adoption OF this Instrument
A church member Mo-
Who, through sunshine and shadow, through
bloody reVorses and brilliant successes, led the
SS no! army 10 "n"i '''u"pn' a '"''''''"'
when the sun OF hope was fast sinking be
meath the dark horizon OF despair, who, with
untiring zeal and rare diplomatic skill, secured
the intervention of a foreign power and thus
made certain what TIL then seemed doubtfulY
Whom victory had perohed upon our banner
and that banner fioated over free land, yet,
alas land without agovornment capable OF
perpetuating that freedom, who headed the
movement that was successful In securing for
us that second and better Magma Charta, the
american Constitution church MEMBER
when that instrument was submitted 20 the
several states for tholr approval or objection,
who was Its abest Championship was the
lending fundamentally IN securing It's adop-
| tom A church member? mol
When an offended member OF our Federal
family threatened to withdraw from tho Union,
who so promptly demonstrated the power OF
/ the Central government 20 enforce obedience
| to Its lsws-estahlishing a precedent that we
! trust insures the perpetuty of our Republic
| A church memberY MOL
All men had been declared free and equal,
while part still toiled In bondage. The blight
| ing curse OF slavery hung like a death-pall
| over the faircst portion OF the continent walt
| ing for some strong hand TO tear It's folds
NOT Not N"' '''' '''''' '1' VIM v" '''''"
When treason raised her giant form aud
sought through tratrioldal strife the Unions
| Acknowledgement. who clutched tho monster In
| his iron grasp and hurled her crushed and life
| less to the earth2 A church memberl mol
Paine, jefferson, Adams, W ashington, Frank
| lin, Madison, Hamilton, jackson, Lincoln,
6rant-how light would be the volume OF
| OF these illustrious mcn-how frail the temple
| OF American liberty without these 10 grand
| pillars These are the landmarks that mark
the successive stages In tho founding and de-
| velopment OF our Republic-the great central
ngures around which cluster the most that is
| grand and glorious In our country's history
! the brightest stars that glitter In the broad
/ field OF our political armament. And yet, not
| one of these great names appeared upon the
| class-roll OF n Christian church.
When will our people learn that priestcraft
Is a curse, that Christianity IL but gilded
fraud, that all the churchs claims are. fasef
To disabusc the public mind OF this great error
Is no easy aud no thankful task. And yet Il
must be done, and we must do our part.
when survey the dark, sad centuries Of the
past-wher dwell upon the bloody deeds and
frightful wrongs committed by this cruel
churoh-when see liberty In chains Justice a
stranger In every court, and science wearing
the brand OF nfamy upon her brow-when
witness the unrequieted soils and sufferings OF
those who have lived and died for the right
when see the beautiful and learned Hypatia
dragged naked through the streets of Alexan-
| dria aud foully murdered by christian" priests
when behold the merciless flames cnvelop-
| ing the manly body of Giordano Bruno-when
| look upon gray-haircd Calico crouched upon
a dungeon noor-when listen TO the piteous
groans of burning Servotus, and hear the iend.
ish laughter OF the priest who holds alofi
Fanlni's bleeding tongue-when | see the
bones OF Voltaire dragged from their resting
place. and calumnies piled m fountain high upon
| the grave of Thomas Paine--when | see an In.
solent and crafty priesthood preying upon the
human hopes and fears, holding In bondage
the brains of my fellow-men, and filling the
| land with superstition, misery, and crime
when all this rises up before the vision of my
mind, feel an honest aspiration to contribute
something toward fastening tho time wher
world, aud prlestcraft with It's churches be nj
more.