Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-28
me cnnIsrIAN AnENpnENL

TIT tHklNliAN ANh'"N''''
A movement is nj present vigorously
agitated Ia this country, which, on
account Of IT. great Importance Do
serves the careful attention Of every
Intelligent citizen. lis proposed To
amend the preamble of the Cous'i'u'
lion 90 o. to acknowledge ty that
document the supremacy OF me
Almighty In tho affairs Of the nation,
express gratitude 70 Him for The liberty
enjoyed ami recognize hc efficacy OF
mayer In the uumu oi the Mediator
Issu. Christ In case this proposed
amendment be adopted by Congfo'''
Z, will be- laid before the citizens Of the
various states Tor ratification.
The amended preamble sa' follo"a'
the additional clauses being Ia bra1E'
euj
We. tho pooplo " the United S'nios,
fdnvouily acknowledging tho supreme
authority aud Just government oi ~.
mighty God in all the affairs NJ men hnl
nations. grateful 10 Hin Tor our giVh hnd
religious libcr}i aud cng2ut.spl %! w..
assurances ~ His Word 20 ihf
woke Ills guidance, ns % Christian
netlon, according 20 His appointed WnF,
through Jesus Christi la 0fd0r o. form
moro perfect union, ps lhIish Justice one
sure domestic tranquility provide Tor
tho common dOiunsu, prumolu ihr Hou.
ofal welfare. and secure tho blessings OF
lihouy to ourselves and our poHouiy, Do
ofdMn and establish this Constitution ol
az. TFs.Nf.sN af.fNa lsH fnHHIHH
Attic convention " tho National
Reform association In Allegheny, Psr
November "a toiG, It was resolved .
send agents 10 Washington for the
purpose Of supporting any measure
that night come before Congress la
defense Of cur public schoolr, for the
Investigation or suppression Of the
traffic In drink or IN criminal publica'
tlons, on for divorce or any other
Christian reform; aud for the enact
munt Of national sabbath law aud
"icr the promotion Of such an amend
ment TO tho national Constitution ~
will Justify beyond all prnivcniure
the declaration Of our Supreme Court
that this h a Christian na,ion.'" Ao'
oordingly. DR.. IL. II. George was sent
to tho capital and tho "ChHsiian
amendment was framed. GA Janu'
ary 25 Il was introduced IA the House
by Congressman Morse, Of Mauachu'
setts, and Ia the Senate by Senator
Frye, Of Maine, and referred 70 the
Judiciary committees. lls promoters
are elalod over the suceois ~ far
achieved.
On February let subcommittee
Of the House judiciary committee
heard the Arguments Ia favor Of the
amendment, on which Uccasi9n DE-
McAlls,or explained ~ variouap2inu
lie contcnied that the clauses sough
10 be- introduced into the proamhl
were formulated by the three highes
departments Of our government OF
tepArato occasions. The hml claus
was taken from resolution intro
duced In the Senate on Mafcl
9, 1853, ard pnssei without q
dissenting vote the following day. Il
was adopted when the nation, through
its legislature, atked President Liueol
to appoint day Of confession OF ne
tonal ~ well as individual SIM nuN
the President promptly responded b.
proclaiming April 3Oih ms n day {
fasting aud prayer. rho second claus
was taken from tho constitutions u
large number of states, including tho'
OF ArkanBas, Minnesota, llNuoi
llanlaa aud Rhode Island. m
third clause, referring 10 this 90
"Chtlslian nation" tho speaker tai
was according 10 an expression us,
by Justice Brewer " the Sluuu
Court In bic decision iu a case beio
the court IN 1891. (Holy Iriui
Church Va the United states u, 3. i,
ports, Vol. li3, p. AL tho amen
mont has the support OF the lcaiiI
mon Of the Christian denomination
hp argued, ami cannot bG objected
by Unitarlauh HouyUws aud 0thu
who mny not believe in the divinity
the great Nszaronc.
The hearing Tor the day was Do
concluded ami the 9th VI March
pointed for a continuation Of tho NJ
sion. II IL expected that the amer
meut viii meet much opposition,
its friends are confident OF being al
both to carry Il In Congress aud
secure ils adoption by the yarl1
states Of tho Uni0n.