Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-30
Court and Christianity.


has publicly declared that the courts
have decided that "thls is a Christian
nation" This Is such remarkable
statement from a prof essed Christian
minister. that cannot but express a
few thoughts relative to the truth and
propficty OF such decision II ever
made.
The question arises--by virtue Of
what law could such judg-
ment DO rendered. Courts are sup.
posed to act by authority Of and to
decide all cases and questions In con-
formlty with law. Tho actions OF
courts without law would be- extrem ely
ridiculous II not positively absurd.
The Constitution Of our country
forbids the making Of any law Gre
specting an establishment OF religion. 4"
Am to suppose that the Constitution
has been wantonly violated; that
courts are acting upon uncoustitution-
al provisions? This would be 70 n the
reverend gentleman's statement be
correct. Certainly such condition OF
things could not add much to the
Christian char acter Of the country nor
to the reputation Of Its Judiciary.
The fact that neither the judicial nor
law.making departments Of the coun.
try can have anything TO do with re-
ligion In their official capacity, Is per-
hhps somewhat suggestive Of the con-
dition Of the country ~ 10 Its Chris.
tanity-a country in which II can
have no announcement from the source
Indicated. 30 far ae the courts are
concerned, inndellty or atheism IL Ju.i
IA good, and has the came rights aud
libortieA m Christianity. Why the
rev. gentleman should appeal 10 such
u source for defense OF the nations
purity In somewhat incx plicable.
Christianity, freely admit, should
be the pride and boast OF this great
nation; but we must search for and find
1t elsewhere than In Its courts.
The few Chris tians that are Ia tho
land recognize Oh rist as the Author VI
their faith; that the doctrines and
principles He taught concerning
Christianity, and the practice OF
these principles, are necessary to con-
stitute n true Christian and make men
followers OF the Christ. This admitted,
we find Ourselves nnder the necessity
OF turning 30 the Bible and 10 the
ministers u the day to find evidence
OF our nations christianity. We rely
upon the Bible as evidence OF Chrlst's
life and teachings, and by examining
closely we may be able to arrive at
Just conclusions In reference to our
country. claims.
Chrlhps mleeion 10 earth was herald.
ed with the cry u "Peace on earth,
good will 10 man." This was the
nature and cha racter OF the Gospel
taught during His ministry. Hestrove
to reconcile the children OF men TO
God, by their doing His Will; and TO
establish peace and fellowship
among men, by bringing them
all to y unity OF that faith and doctrine
which He taught. There was but one
faith, one Gospel, and one baptism, TO
which all must submit, to he recOg.
nized by Him as His disciples, obedi.
ence TO which secured TO all the same
spirit.
Having the same faith and possess
slug this same spirit, made men one,
even as lie and the Father were one.
Except yc are one We are not mine,O
II Chris's declaration TO his followers.
No matter what sect or OCcupntion
they came from, His most earnest
prayer for them was that they might
become one. Without this oneness In
faith and spirit there Is no positive,
practical evidence of Christianity.
10 believe that Christ died among
men and Ia the Parsonage he claimed |
to be, does not alone make men Chris |
tians. Men without any religion,
aud even devils, believe this |
much as well rs the professed |
Christian ministers who have lived |
both In his day and In our day. Both
history and tradition have stamped n |
belief In Chtists life upon the minds |
OF both saint and sinner;but It Is no owl. |
dence today OF n holy life for q man to |
say he believes In Christ. A life con-
iormnble Ia all things to the doctrine
aud principles He taught can hlone be
evidence OF love for Him. Gle that
hath ing commandments and keepeth |
them, he 1t lie that loveth me; II man
love me he will keep my words; and |
my Father will love him." So spake |
Jesus.
That portion OF the world called |
Christian Ia today, Us In Chrisps day, |
divided ami subdivlded into n multi. |
tude Of faiths and organizations, all nj |
variance with each other; so much 40
that many will moi commune with an
other sect or society than their own.
A similar state OF things existed |
In the time Of Christ when men were
jealous In keeping the law, but He
recognized none Of them an His In |
their divided ana dlscOrdant condition, |
lhAu Ansa.aI IN tho
spirit OF the Gospel which He taught, |
and which His followers were required |
to cherish One towards another.
From the history OF The past, and
the union required OF men in Chrisl's
day, our nation presents a most un.
chrlstianlike appearance; anu the
many sects that are crying "Lo here,
and 10 there 10 Christ" are 30 many |
evidences that they are indeed anti.
Chist In spirit, us well IA In the pIac.
tlcal development of Christian life.
Ii Christ were to come again 10 earth
in our day, He would fud ample cause
10 say to the sects, as OF yoTe, Except
ye are one ye are not niiue.n
Leaving these and many other like
scriptural evidences which might be
given IN support Of this cardinal doc.
trine OF Christ, that love, unity, fellow
ship aud perfect communion must
characterize the lives OF mon to make
them acceptable to Him, brief refer
ence must he made to the clergy OF our
day who caim to be ministers Of Christ
TO the people.
They are the class Of men who per-
sist IN maintaining this constant strife
and division, multiplying sect upon
sect society upon society, both recog.