The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-08
THE ONLY PROPER METHOD
Judge W. E. NibIack Lectures Upon the
Relation of Church and State.
Success of the American Idea of Complete
Separation and TOlerance-ReligiO-
Political Problems in Europe.

Judge w. e. Niblack spoke last evening
in the St Georges Chapel lecture course
his subject being, Relations Which Have
Existed Between the Church and the
State" In the beginning of his remarks
he referred to the fact that before the adj
vent of the Christian religion the religions
of the world were almost exclusively dis
tinctively national or race religions. Each
race or nation had q religion of its own,
which usually constituted a part of the
governing force of the country. generally
the domna ting force With the introduc-
ton of the Christian religion the purpose
was manifested to establish q religion
which was applicable to all races classes
and conditions Of men and to all forms of
government.
The Judge went on to say that the condi-
tion of the world was such, socially, intel
lectually and politically, that no new re-
ligion could be introduced or established
without the cooperation and assistance of
governments which might be induced to
embrace it. In point of fact. emperors,
kings and princes. those who CO ntrolled
governments had very much to do With
the introduction of Christianity. in that
way the Christian religion, like those
which had preceded it, became united with
the state. The Roman empire became
Christian through the conversion OF one of
Its .emperors In the seventh century
vladimir, who ruled the region we now
call Russia, hesItated between MOham-
mechanism and Christianity, but eventually
embraced the Christian religion. for the
reason as history tells US. that 1t permitted
the use of wine whereas Mohammedanism
did The Rmnira which had thai
remarkable beginning In Christianity has
become the bulwark of what Is known as
the Greek or Eastern Church.
The Judge. continuing. said that some
how. as people became more intelli gent, and
education more extended. there has been n
tendency to break away from the estab-
lished order of things in the religious af-
fairs of the world. and for some centuries
nations and the churches which they have
promoted have been disturbed and unset
tied. In Great Britain the attempt TO
break away from the Established Church
has been going on for centuries. Disestab-
lishment is now seriously threatened. and
liable to occur In the not distant future. In
Germany the relations between the church
and state have long been anomalous and
delicate. but of late there has been such
q palpable breaking oil from the
old order of things that the Young
Emperor has become thoroughly alarmed,
and has been actively endeavoring
TO better the condition of affairs: He has
introduced into the German Parliament q
bill requiring all children in the schools to
be taught in the Lutheran OF the Catholic
religion. The opposition to this has been
so violent that recently he has required the
measure to be withdrawn. The matter
goes over for time, but the outcome is not
clear. In Italy the relations between
church and state are unprecedented in the
history of the world. These relations are.
to large extent. European question, and
in Inh In n .t~x-
have not largely entered. but after all 1t
may be one in which they will be- to
greater or less extent. interested.
He also referred to France where the re-
ligious problem is one the solution and out
come of which can not bs predicted. In
the United States the plan of separating
church and state has been complete sue
cess. The people of this free land are not
agitated as are those countries which are
trying to keep church and state together.
Our theory is very beautiful one. We
protect all, and establish and maintain
none. Our courts and our laws protect
church property and the civil right of
members of the church without interfer-
ence with any matter of faith, matter
which belongs to religion proper. The civil
power recognizes the decisions of the church
In matters of faith as final between
its members. When property. becomes in
volved the courts make that the rule of de-
clsion In dIsposing of property. There is
no subject upon which citizens of this Re-
public ought to be more ready to congratu-
late themselves than upon this exemption
from religious connections which have
been so often the terror of Europe and of
the Christian world generally. Churches,
as well as the state. have entered upon q
new career from which they cannot recede
If they would. The tendency IS toward
liberty of conscience as well as liberty of
action. The anathemas of the church have
no longer the terror they once inspired.
The Presbyterian Church Is modifying ia
ancient dogmas and the interest the Pope
is taking in social questions Is a recogni-
ton of the progress that Is being made
Men ore no longer enslaved in this world
under pretense of saving their souls in the
next.