The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-08-23

God at all for that blessing. He also
prophesied that "the consequence Of
such a provision the amendment |
would eventually destroy this Repub-
lic."
Judge Hoadly suggested to him that
Santa Anna closed all his proclama-
tions with the words, "God and the
people," and said, II will ask if that is
not the custom of every scoundrel of
that kind in the world?" A little
later he asked, SIS it not rather the
diminution of religious confidence. is
it not rather the belief that religion
cannot take care of itself, and needs
some statute to keep it alive, that
causes this amendments" It was
made perfectly clear, in the subsequent
discussion, that the amendment recog-
nized no particular sect or religion;
that it prescribed no form of worship
to any man, and made no statement
that could not be fully endorsed by
any man in, America who was not an
atheist. 1t merely expressed-as our
readers may see at a glance-a belief
in the existence and power Of God.
1t was to this expression that Mr..
Hoadly objected; and against it he
made the speech from which we quo
ted the extracts which so panied the
Advertiser He said in that speech,
plainly and emphatically, that he did
not believe God would answer prayers
for temporal gifts. Now every Chris
tian knows that the direct teaching of
the Bible is that God aoiU answer such
prayers. Here it is a case between
Mr.. Hoadly and the Bible. Again
the Judge remarks, II protest against
the right of this Convention, or the
people Of Ohio, to place in this Con-
stitution religious doctrine which l
disavow. 1t is a religious doctrine
which is proposed to be placed here,
that [ and mine do not believe to be
true religion; and therefore l most
sincerely deprecate any mention of it
in the Constitution"
Now it is plain to any man of COM
mon intelligence, that there is but
one religious doctrine" involved in
the amendment which Mr.. Hoadly so
bitterly opposed. That is, the exis-
tence of God. There is no hint Of
any other doctrine there; nor was
there any such hint in the accompa-
nying discussion. Mr.. Hoadly is too
intelligent man to have fancied for
moment that there was anything
about Gods readiness to answer pray
ers for temporal blessings. He knew,
as every school-boy who should read
that amendment would know, that
there was no talk of prayer at all, and
no mention Of temporal blessings.
1t was simply an expression of reli-
ance on Gods favor in the future as
in the past; and that is what Mr..
Hoadly could not swallow. He
thought all the credit Of the nations
prosperity belonged to the people, and
he didn't wish any Of it stolen by
God.
Still further, Mr.. Hoadly rejects
the Biblical account Of the Creation,
for he ranks himself, in this speech,
with those who believe ''this world
and all that it contains is now in the
orderly process of evolution" &c.
Add to the foregoing utterances-
which Christians will find difficult to
reconcile with any creed but infdelity
the undisputed fact that Judge
Hoadly is vice president Of the Free
Religious Association "a body which
expressly EXCLUDES from its fellow
ship all societies bearing the Christian
name and specially emphasizing By
creed or ceremony a personal deity"
Add that he was prominent in a
movement among atheists protesting
against the insertion of religious ac-
acknowledgement in the Constitution"
see Debates Ohio Convention, 1873;
Vol. 2, part 1, pages 419, 42O.
Add that he bent all his energies to
opposing a plain, simple recognition
Of the deity, under the gauzy pretext
that such recognition was sectarian
and bigoted attempt on the part of
fanatics to make honest and sensible"
atheists conform to their creeds-and
we think there is little need Of fur
ther argument. The Advertiser may
continue to maintain that this shows
Mr.. Hoadly to be fully orthodox; but
the intelligent people at large will
take no stock in such theory.