The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-15

the case of Rev. l.. L. Hensen, who was yet
young "And If Henson were here" said
Mr.. King. 81 should say. o. Hensen. hive
forever" The paper first recited compre-
hensivelv the ancient history of the Baptist
Church and Christianity in general. includ-
inR oil the struggles of men with both pen
and sword down to the American pioneers
In religious and civil liberty. who COM
bined their forces against the leaders or
the great reformation. accepting no au-
thority but the word of God and eniight-
eped conscience.
In the course of his address he said:
IN the year 1911 the first General Baptist
church was organized In London. OF which
Thomas HeIwys was the pastor. This was a col
oDy OF refugees returned from Amsterdam,
where they had been baptized on profession OF
faith by Rev. John Smyth. the famous Separate
Baptist. who had been a clergyman of the church
OF England. IL Is positively certain that the
church was the nrstEuglish declaration in which
absolute separation OF church and state Is de-
clared 10 be tile law OF Christ. This was In 1914.
and Particular Baptists on this point are equally
explicit That OF 1914. which was the hrst pub
hshed confession OF Particular Baptists, Is out
spoken In the advocacy OF religious liberty as
the right. and of good citizenship as the duty, OF
ship of God" It declares, there is but one law
giyer. which IA able TO save and TO destroy,
Hsie9 z duty Sssa to tender the liberty Of mems con-
sciences (Which 10 the tenderest thing
unto all conscientious men. and most dear
liberties will not be- worth the naming,
much less enjoying. and to protect
sion and moIestation." Tlese words are from
the historic confession OF the seven Particular
Baptist churches. snicn constitutes the first
formulated enunciation In Christendom by q
body of associated churches OF the great doctrine
of soul liberty.
offensive, so innocent, so righteone. was regarded
then almost universally as h%eretical, dangerous
a = of tbe spiirit Of the time 70 an e a1t
greater or less. We search in vain through all
the reformation period OF English history and
the ecclesiastical divisions that followed for any
distinct utterance of full. unrestricted religious
freedom. except in the publications and confess
The history OF religious liberty In this country,
and TO whom belongs the distinguishing honor
OF its establishment on this Western continent;
Is too well known to neec more than a BRIEF
statement. When the life or England, affected
as II WAS perceptibly by the thought. and life,
and institutions OF the Dutch Republic, was
transplanted TO these new chores, IL was still
hampered by narrow and erroneous views.
Great and noble as was the spirit OF our Purf-
tan ancestors. and heroic as were their achieve
ments and suferings, they had no thought be,
yond q theocracy for themselves. They still
believed in the union OF church and state. and In
the use OF violent, repressive measures to pre-
serve uniformity OF religious belief. The Bible
was IN their right hand and the sword in their
lert hand. imprisonment, lines, banishments.
whippings, hanglngs, these were the weapons or
their warfare. They had no design OF establishing
religious liberty. The language of DR.. Ellis is
warranted by the facts or history-'Intolerance
was q necessary condition or their enterprise.
They feared and hated religious liberty"
As We have seen, Roger Williams did not
originate the idea OF soul liberty. 1t had been
many Voices. that We're siIenced only in death.
But he was the divinely appointed instrument
IN securing In this new world its incorporation
into the organic laws OF states. So. then, In the
words or President Strong. "Baptists frst an
nounced the principle OF religious liberty in
Switzerland; Baptists first advocated 1t in Eng
land; n Baptist frst established IL In America"
But its acceptance even in America was u mat
TER OF Sl8 3Sr6 s1SS onpo 81 naa i To q GsnS n ass M@y an 10
legallzed wrong. The last vestige OF oppressive
religious LEGISLATION vas not rs%0yed from ,d the
1884. In Massachusetts and Virginia
the intolerance was most severe
mined labor. which have led 70 the complete
triumph OF religious liberty In this Nation.
They were the PRINCIPAL agents In securing the
adoption OF the rrntcis In the national 0onss,
also In accomplishing the enactment OF the i'm
mortal first amendment.
They have sought earnestly to wipe out all
traces or the union or church and state In Our
Individual commemorative. and on principle
have protested against the use OF public funds
and loudly demanded liberty. not tolerance;
freedom. not sufferance; full, absolute RELIGIOUS
liberty, not for themselves alone, but for all the
people.
IL s not claimed that they have been the only
advocates OF this freedom in America, and thai
to them should be ascribed the undivided honor
or it's establishment here. There have been 9th
Frs who accepted the principle more or less fully
aad gave to its advancement the weight OF theil
personal influence, which. In some instances, has
been 10 Inconsiderable factor in securing iii
reeognition anc triumph: But the Baptists are
sScred. to hase taken the lead I'm all movements
to eliminate from human statutes any restriction
OF soul liberty, and have stood, individually aC
collectively. consistently, persistently, elm
phatically and obstrusively." for that doctrine
which is now recognized as the chief glory OF ON
Republic. Sueh has been their peculiar attitud.
from the beginning OF their visible history unit
now; such their unbroken unity. their inrelligen
advocacy ana their conscientious aud deter
mined zeal that the language OF Mr.. Bancroft
seems fully justified when he says: Freedom o
conscience. unlimited freedom of mind, was
from the first. the trophy OF the 6aptists."
Treasurer j. o. Staples. of Chicago. wa
called upon for his report, but the repOr
was not ready. As following DR.. King
address the chairman announced that !
would be appropriate to sing one verse o.
the song My Country. tbs of Thee" which
was done.
sALUTING THE FLAGS.
DR.. F. l.. Wilkins took charge of tn,
ceremonies OF the salutation of the flags
The delegations were csnvassed. 1t wa
found that speakers for each State wer,
ready. This required several minutes
Seats were vacated and arranged on tb,
stage for the representative speakers q
occupy. The song Onward, Christian Sol
dIers," was then struck MP and the marci
tn the rostrum begun. This was @ YER,
lively. enthusiastic feature of the day
Zach speaker was gwen one minute by
the watch 10 tell of his State and Its work
The time was not imposed upon in very
many cases.
representing Arxsnsos. c. L. Taylor
said he was the only one present from hi
State. but was proud TO state that Arken
sss was one of the first States in the UnioI
TO organize Its young people. The merit o.
the enterprise was no longer an expert
ment. but had proven q success through
out.
l.. b. Inskeep, % California. said they
had organized IN 1851. and had held theil
third snnusl convention. Their work had
crystsilIzed into fruitful results already
The young people were there taught thai
they were expected not only TO supper
young peoples ORGANIZATIONS, but tn,
church as well.
Platt, OF Connecticut, said that State hat
been organized in 1892. The Christian En-
desvor forces We're strong In Connecticut
but the b. Y. L. u. A. had moved slowly
but prophesied better success in the future
Gillesple. of Chicago, said there was d for
ward movement every where in Illinois
particularly along the Organization's eau
cstIonsl line. At the conclusion of his TO
marks Illinois delegates rose aud CAV,
their representative the Chautauqua salute
Mr.. Peckem. OF Lafayette. spoke for In
diana. stating that the work in this STAT