The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-07-10

somewhat in the different States, but
all agree in establishing religious
equality and not in mere religious
liberation.
Judge Cooley enumerates the follow
ing things as not lawful under any OF
the American constitutions: First.
anv law respecting an establishment
Of religion; second, compulsory sup
mort by taxation or otherwise, of re-
ligious institutions; third, compulsory
attendance upon religious worship;
fourth, restraints upon the free exer-
else of religion according to the dictates
of conscience; fifth, restraints upon the
expression of religious belief. Under
the second head it may be said that
neither can the legislature favor one
sect more than another. In a Louisiana
case it was held that a city ordinance
granting one sect a privilege denied to
others was void. Under the third head,
a celebrated Wisconsin case decided
that the practice of reading the Bible
in the public schools is an act of wor-
ship, and that under the provision of
the Wisconsin Constitution, to the
effect that no man shall be compelled
to 4 + + erect or support any place
of worship, taxpayers who are COM
PEELED to contribute to the erection and
support of the common schools, havea
right to object to the reading of the
Bible therein, and further, that as read
ing of the Bible in the common schools
is religious instruction, the drawing of
money from the State treasury for the
support of such schools is prohibited.
There are several cases to the effect
that it is not unconstitutional to per
NIT school houses to be made use of for
religious worship when not wanted for
schools. Under the fourth head, it
may be said it is not permitted for one
to. break the law and plead in his de-
Tense, that his actions were in the exer
else of his religion and according to the
dictates of his conscience. Laws are
made to govern actions and not opin-
ions. To allow ones opinions to govern
would be to make the prOfessed doc
trines of religious beliefs superior to
the law of the land. 1t is no defense
to a prosecution for bigamy, to plead
that polygamous marriage is n of
the tenets of the defendants church.
Some few States still retain in their
constitutions, provisions disqualifying
for office certain classes Of persons on
account of their religious belief, o
want of belief. By the constitutions
of Arkansas, Mississippi, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina and Texas, a man
cannot hold office who denies the being
of Almighty God, or the existence of a
Supreme Being. On the other hand,
the constitutions of Delaware, Mary
land, Kentucky and Tennessee, make
ineligible to civil Office, all persons who
exercise the functions of clergymen
priests or teachers of any religious per-
suasion, society or school.
In some States the common law rule
rendering witnesses incompetent for
want of religious belief, has been abro,
gated. Where it still obtains, however,
it is said to be no violation of religious
liberty. Again, it has been repeatedly
held that laws Furnishing blasphemy
and prohibiting ordinary employment
on Sunday are not unconstitutional,
but Ringgold, the author of ''The Legal
Aspect of Sunday" says: 1T may be
doubted if Sunday laws can be sup
ported upon principle, even as an exer-
else of police power"
XErp nEE III cpAec