Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29


on the topic "The Separation of Church
and State, or the A. p. A. and the
Jesuits," the Rev. William p. Swartz
took for his text Matthew xxi, 81;
"Render therefore unto Caesar the
things which are Cnsar's. and unto God
the things which are Gods"
The discourse was extremely lengthy,
but the following is fair synopsis of
it: The absence of religious strife and
jealousy is one of the happy elements
of our freedom. There is not a country
on the face of the earth where Frederick
the Greats principle that "everyone
should be allowed 10 60 to Heaven his
own way" is SO fully applied as in our
own.
This is one of the striking things to
the European student of our national
life. In his great work, "rho Ameri-
can Commonwealth" Mr.. Bryce says:
"There are, moreover, other rancours
besides those Of social inequality whose
absence from America brightens il to a
Europeans eye. There are no quarrels
of churches or of sects. Judah does not
vex Ephraim nor Ephraim Judah. No
established church looks down scorn-
fully ON dissenters from the height of
Its titles and endowments, nor talks of
them as hindrances 10 the work. No
dissenters pursue an Established Church
In spirit of watchful Jealousy, nor agi-
4 tate for its overthrow. Between Roman
Catholics and Protestants there is little
hostility, and sometimes cooperation
for philanthropic purpose. This sense
of religious peace, as well as of religious
freedom all around one, is soothing to
the weary European and contributes not
little TO sweeten the lives of ordinary
people,"
A remarkable tribute from remarka-
bic sourcei May railways remain true!
Such condition clearly depends for
Its existence upon the perpetuation of
that American principle "The Separa-
ton of Church and State"
The preacher then continued in de-
scribing how those "grand old icono-
clasts" our forefathers embedded that
provision in the constitution. They did
not hesitate, to shatter the rule Of an
earlier civilization hey had had ex-
perience under the relentless hand of
persecution by both State and church.
All history had taught them that re-
lgious freedom could not exist where
there was union Of the two. For such
union is an unholy wedlock.
To-day every American, that is every
man who is of like spirit with our fore.
fathers, whether he be Protestant, or
Catholic, or Nationalist or jew holds the
separation of State and Church US the
keystone of our freedom and peace.
Religion itself, instructed from Gods
word, and out of the lips of Christ has
learned that this separation is righteous.
There are duties which we owe to the
State and there are others we owe to the
. ot,n fRonIap fbarafort, .ntp
the things that are C@sars and unto
God the things that are Gods" When
the enemies Of Christ sought to bring
these two kingdoms into rivalry and
collision Christ himself declared to
Plate, "My kingdom is not of this
world" He straight.y forbade the
church to take up carnal weapons for
her warfare-as civil power sometimes
must.
Two other principles developed in the
great Reformation and without them no
real separation can exist. They are
freedom to speak and to think-and a
free and untrammelled ballot, in which
neither threats nor force, nor bribery,
shall be used to direct its casting.
This peace which we have so greatly
enjoyed seems, now in the second time
In our history, to be threatened. Con-
fronting forces array themselves upon
our soil. The Catholic World of January
speaks of the "Coming Contest" The
AmericdR journal Of Politics discusses
"rhe Catholic Church as n Factor in
Politics." while nearly every other paper
and magazine has given repeated utter
ances on this subject. These matters
have also come up in Congress and be-
fore the State legislatures.
Pamphlets have been sent out like
bugle blasts of sentry to warn the
people against real or fancied encroach'
ments upon the fundamental principles
of American institutions.
The parties which appear most promi
nent are the mysterious A. 2. A. (the
American Protective Association) and
the Romish hierarchy, the latter led by
. ihe Jesuits.
II is perhaps needless for me to say i
would be unfair to infer that our Roman
Catholic fellow-citizens are all in sym
pathy with the actions of the Jesuits OF
Of the assumptions of priests and Pope
On the contrary many of them have
proved their patriotism by conspicuou;
Services both in war and in peace. Ant
doubt not if it came to the issue to-day
many among them would say to thu
Pope, in matters of religion we yiclt
you all subsection, but in civil alfairi
we are freemen.
1t is probably more important to say
Il that the A. z. A. is not the American
Protestant Association. Many of it!
members are Rationalists, Jews, Theoso
phists, Spiritualists and the like; whil,
many Protestants refuse to affiliate will
Il, even many who are aware of th
,ncroachment of Ultramontauism, ant
have arisen to meet it with the spirit o
= liberty.
am neither Jesuit nor an A. P. A
Whatever 1 shall say, therefore, will b
is an unfettered American citizen, no
or the purpose Of stirring up religion
differences, but for the sake of arousin!
Tou to secure such constitutional safe
tuards for the perpetual separation o
state and church in the nation and il
Nj the States, as shall not only max
impossible for the future some abuse
ghIch have already appeared, but shal
lso remove all opportunity from ever!
hurch of securing ecclesiastical ad
Jancement or enrichment by pciitica
1pedients.
There are same points of similarit.