The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-09
A CRANKY PREACHER.

Among other things said by Parson
Newman in his Thanksgiving sermon
last month, was that nobody ought to
he allowed TO be an American citizen
upless a protesting Christian, and that
all Roman Catholics should be required
to specifically renounce allegiance 10
the Pope before being allowed 10 par
ticipate in the privileges OF citizenship
Men who talk like Newman forget how
this nation came into existence, and do
not understand the true character OF
the government; or else they think our
forefathers made a mistake when they
founded the republic on principles
broad enough to include all mankind,
and tore down sll barriers against any
particular religion. Mr.. Newman, when
he would require all 10 profess
Christianity, foTgets that God Is not
even mentioned in the Constitution,
and that in order 10 compel the acknow-
Judgement OF Christ, as a requisite to
citizenship, the fundamental law OF the
Iand would have to be radically changed.
an the very theory Of the government
transformed. He seemingly does not
know. though every school-body should,
If he does not, understand, that what
he wants put into the Constitution and
laws. was purposely lett ont, so a 10
defeat the designs OF just such c-anks
as he, and make the prosecutions which
Newman and his fanatic Tx would
inaugurate. impossible. Ii the Parson
we're as familiar With the history of the
founding of the government rs
every American should be, he would
know that Isany Of the fra. aers
of tue Constitution. we're OF pro-
fessorS OF any religion o. religious
creed, snd that it is generally conceded
that the man who wrote the sacred
instrument was a pear approach 70 The
pronounced infdel. The nation was
founded ia the Interests OF humanity.
and not in the interest Of creed; the
sim Of the men who devised the plan CT
government and put the scheme into
shape. was 10 protec. man in al his
rights-his right TO life. liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; his right 20 Eor-
ship God as a Methodist. Q .sker OF 5
Roman Catholic; his right 70 deny God
il be wanted to, without 5eiGg perse-
cu;ed for it, Moreover. men Of
every creed end ali faiths, and
men OF no religious belief whatever,
Joined in establishing the nation.
and they then united II al invita- on
10 those who were oppressed in other
countries because OF iheir religion, to
those who were msitceaied because
Z hey had no religion. % those of any
and every religious faith and profession,
to come here and enjoy the Sbsolute
freedom OF the government which vas
formed to meet the requirements Of
man in his individual and in his COM
munistic characters. That inYitStion
has never been recalled, aud to-day
stands out to Christian, Turk, Pagan
and inidel, and 10 al alike. Il would
be better for the nation. Just IS 1t
would be better for every other country
on the globe, If al us citizens were
sincere Christians: bat because II
was understood that sll would not
accept Christianity, this government
was formulated on the theory tha: the
infdel must be protected in his right OF
non-belief equally with the CarisiiAa in
his belief. When the United States
shall assume to interfere with any
mans religion or 70 prescribe faith
for him. there viii be violation OF the
written and unvrittea Law .! the land;
and the man Who WI advocate such
interference cannot be a good citizen.