The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-09
ACROSS THE CANADIAN LINE.

There is big debt of gratitude due to the
men who engineered the separation of the
American colonies from British rule. How
great this debt is few of our people realize.
They have become SO accustomed to the
existing order that they forget that any
other ever prevailed. 1t seems incredible
to them that Washington, the Adanses,
Madison and their confreres were reared
and lived in conformity with the English
rule OF an established religion"
One of the greatest boons conferred by in
dependence was the striking down OF this
absurdity. During the first succeeding
generation it was highly appreciated. But
now there are few who ever stop to consider
that as to freedom of religious belief and
equality before the law for all
religious beliefs, it was not lever
thus" Once in a while, however,
for those who travel abroad or who
read foreign papers, there comes lively
reminder.
Recently there has been one such re.
minder from just across the border. 1t
is reported in the New Westminster, B. c..
Columbian. of September 4. In 1878 two
members of the Reformed Episcopal
church were married. The husband, James
William Douglas. died in 1888, leaving a
will in which he appointed ]. S. Helmcken.
d. r. Hams and Mrs. Douglas his executors
and the guardians of his children, but did
not in any way allude to their religious
training, but during the life of Douglas his
two children were baptised in the church
of which he was member. Subsequently
the widow removed to California. taking
the children with her. embraced the Cath
olic religion and in 1887 had the children
baptised in that church.
Returning to British Columbia with her
children, her co-guardian, Helmcken, con-
ceived it to be his duty to make complaint
against Mrs. Douglas for acting CONTRARY
to the duty she owed to her children. and
contrary to her duty as guardian" and OBJ.
tanned an order from the Chief Justice re-
straining her from carrying QUE her pur-
pose of removing the children, aged Q
and IL years respectively, to England. for
the purpose of aftording them better edu-
cational advantages.
An application was made to Justice
Drake to set aside this order of the Chief
Justice, and the Columbian publishes the
decision of that learned judge" who de-
mics the application. The British Empire
undertakes to decide what must be the re-.
ligious belief of these little ones. Unless
they are to be taught by the mother to be-
heye as the British Empire and DIR.
Helmcken profess TO believe, they must be
wrested from her care and placed in charge
of those who will teach them TO profess TO
believe as the British Empire, and the
LEARNED judge" and the Honorable Chief
Justice and DR.. Helmcken profess to be.
lieve.
Which impresses the lesson that il Mrs
Douglas valued religious freedom she was
very foolish TO put herself and children
within the clutches of the British Emnire
And how lucky we were in having fore.
fathers who had the wisdom and COURAGE
TO get out of those clutches. And how
silly it Is for any lovers of religious liberty
to remain within those clutches when
they can find asylum under the stars and
stripes.