San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-05-18
RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION
As Proposed by the National Re
form Association.


committee of crusaders. Their time
will be devoted to the defense of
American institutions, the preser-
walton of the United States Con-
stitutiOn as it is, so far as regards
religion or religious tests, and the
maintenance of human rights, both
civil and religious.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
We believe in the religion taught
by Jesus Christ.
We believe in temperance.
We believe in supporting the
civil government, and submitting
to its authority.
We deny the right of any civil
government to legislate on reli-
giOus questions.
We believe it is right,and should
be the privilege, of every man to
worship according to the dictate of
his own conscience.
We also believe it to be our duty
to use every lawful and honorable
means to prevent religious legisla-
ton by the civil government; that
we and our fellow citizens may en-
Joy the inestimable blessing of
both religious and civil liberty.
OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY.
The object of this society shall
be to promote needed reforms in
the action of the government,
touching the Sabbath, the religious
element in education, and to secure
such an amendment to the consti-
tuition of the United States as will
declare the nations allegiance to
Jesus Christ, and place all the
Christian laws, institutions and
uSages of our government on an
undeniable legal basis in the fun
damental law of the land.-Art. ii
of Constitution.
WHAT EMINENT MEN HAVE SAID.
Rev. David Greggin, the Chris
tian Statesman of June D, 1885,
speaking of civil government, said:
at has a right to be, and the right
to command the consciences of
men,"
Rev. f. b. Graham, a vice-prpsi-
dent of the National Reform asso-
citation, in an address delivered at
York, Nebraska, said: 1--WE
might add in all justice, if the OPP
pOnents of the bible do not like our
government and its Christian fea-
lures, let them go to some wild,
desolate land, and in the name of
the devil, and for the sake of the
devil, subdue it, and set up a gov
eminent of their own on intidel
and atheistic ideas, and then if
they can stand it, stay there till
they die."-Christian Statesman,
May q, 1885.
In speech in National Reform
convention held in New York city,
February 26, y, 1873, Jonathan
Edwards, ID. D., said: 1--WE want
State and religion and we are 60
ing to have it. Tolerate atheism,
sir? There is nothing out of hell
that | would not tolerate as soon.
Let us repeat, atheism and Chris
tianity are contradictory terms.
They are incompatible systems.
They cannot dwell together on the
same cOntinent."-Idem.
"What are the rights of the athe-
list? / would tolerate him as |
would couspirator. The atheist
is dangerous man."
"To be perfectly plain, / believe
that the existence of Christian |
Constitution would disfranchise
every logically consistent infidel."
Rev. w. j. Coleman, in Christian
Statesman, Nov. |, 1888.
"Every man who conducts him
self as a good citizen is accountable
alone to God for his religious faith,
and should be protected in wOr-
Shipping God according to the die
tates of his own conscience."-
George Washington.
"Religion is not in the purview
of human government. Religion
is essentially distinct from gov
eminent and exempt from its cog
niZance. A connection between
them is injurious to both."-James
Madison.
Leave the matter of religion to
the family altar, the church, and
the private school, supported en-
tirely by private contribution.
Keep the state and the church for
ever separate."-U. S. Grant.