The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-29
A CHRISTIAN NATION.


the government is not exerted for the sup
port or benefit OF any particular form of re-
ligion or church, as in those countries where
there is an ecclesiastical Establishment.
From the absence of this governmental re-
cogniuon of special church forms there has
developed an idea more or less prevalent,
that the nation practically ignores God and
His law-an idea utterly at variance with
the history of the country. and repugnant
to its fundamental and pervading spirit.
This is a Christian nation, putting the
saying as bluntly and broadly as may be.
The statement may not suit every one, may
arouse the antagonism of the few who affect
to sneer at the Christian religion, and who
assert that because this country guarantees
religious freedom to every man, of whatever
belief or of no belief, that therefore, an ac-
affairs of the government. But neve4 he
less, the fact remains that the United States
is Christian nation, founded upon the Jaw
of God, recognizing His divine guidance and
SONSIHLiNllI III dll tulHSSf anu QV pSAuSIb
upon His gracious favor for continued ex-
istence and prosperity. No other proof of
this fact is at all necessary than the annual
recurrence of national Thanksgiving Day.
recognized in law, ordained by legal au-
thorty, enjoyed devoutly by millions upon
millions of people, and observed, as a neces-
sity if not a privilege, by every citizen
within a domain that embraces continent
This national anniversary day is not OF
great age; it came into general observance
only during the late war, when the hearts
OF the people were peculiarly turned toward
power higher than themselves; but its
prompt acceptance in every State in the re-
stored Union, and its lively continuance is
remarkable testimony to the underlying
spirit of the people, Bnt from the begin
ming this has been Christian country. The
settlements at jamestown were made by adj
venturers bent only upon personal ag
grandizement; but the real settlement of the
United States, the one that is recognized as
germinal to the nation, was at Plymouth, by
men who bore an open Bible as the chart of
the government, and who dedicated the
new world by prayer and fasting to the glory
of God and the enjoyment of religious free
DOM The prayer of Elder Brewster on the
MayAower was the conservation of America,
and the great painting in the rotunda of the
national capitol representing that first formal
act of dedication is the sign and seal of the
| nations charter.
| 1t is WELL upon day like this, to go back
for moment to the beginning of things, and
| take inspiration from the spirit in which the
nation was conceived for strength to conduct
it to natural and harmonious development.
1t will not be out of place, in view of the
centennial celebration just passed, of the last
act in the drama of the revolution and the
first act in the great epic of national exist
ence to take counsel with Washington, who
is justly honored as no other American is
honored. Standing upon the same stone on
which George William Curtis stood on Mon
day last, in front of the sub-treasury in Wall
street-then occupied by the city hall, where
the First Congress convened-George Wash
ington delivered his inaugural address as
the first President of the republic. In that
address he said:
Il dwell on this prospect 1.-THE future of
the nation] with every satisfaction which an
ardent love for my country can inspire; since
there is no truth more thoroughly established
than that there exists in the economy and
course of nature an indissoluble union be-
tween virtue and happiness, between duty
and advantage, between the genuine maxims
of an honest and magnanimous policy and
the solid rewards of public prosperity and
felicity; since we ought to be no less per-
suaded that the prOpitious smiles of Heaven
can never be expected on nation that disre
CARDS the eternal rules of order and right
which Heaven itself has ordained"
This is paragraph fit to be blazoned on
the door-posts of capitol aud State-house,
and to be iterated and reiterated in every in
augural and message, so long as the nation
endures.
In the farewell address, which is a classic
in every American home, there occurs this
passage:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity religion and
morality are indispensable supports. In vain
would that man claim the tribute of patriot |
ism who should labor to uDvert these great
pillars of human happiness, these frmest
props of the duties OF men and citizens The |
mere politician, equally with the pous man.
ought to respect and cherish them. A vol |
ume could not trace all their connections
with private and public felicity. Let it SIM |
ply be asked where is the security for prop
erty, for reputation, for life, Ii the sense OF
religious obligation desert the oaths which |
are the instruments ofinvestgation in courts
of justice? And let US with caution indulge |
the suppostion that morality can be main |
tanned without religion. Whatever may be /!
conceded to the influence of refined educa- |
ton on minds of peculiar struct-
mud aYnnri1st,cn ho.th