The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-11
SEATTLE. scsDAr. rgB. n



THE THEOLOGICAL AMENDMENT.
Repeated efforts have been made since
the adoption of our Federal constitution
% .heologize Il By inserting a recognition
of God into the preamble. These efforts
have hitherto always been defeated be-
Cause the weight Of public opinion in this
country il not with them. Representative
Morse. OF Massachusetts,, has recently
urged congress TO submit 20 the several
states q theological amendment to the
constitution. The fathers Of the constitu-
ton RETAINED from doing this very thing
because 1t was their deliberate purpose 70
separate our institutions from all theoiog-
ical entanglements.
These fathers and trainers of the con sti-
tuition were by large majority men who
loved and recognized the church and were
ardent avowers of their faith In God. Even
Benjamin Franklin. who Is historically
rated - dcist OF the voitaire and Paine
type, whose opinions were so radical for
his day that even Unitarian DR.. Priestley
demonstrated with him-even Benjamin
Franklin arose in the First congress and
moved that proper invocation be made
to ''the Great Father of Lights" and
Jefferson. an interpreter of the constitu-
ton, though not a Trainer, also rated as a
deist in his day. expressly declares
his belief In GOD and immortal
ity: like Franklin, he was a
deist, or Unitarian. who rejected
belief in the supernatural birth of Christ,
while accepting his moral teachings, life
and leadership as worthy Of all praise and
universal imitation. But the great ma
jority Of the fathers or interpreters OF the
constitution were not merely deists like
Franklin and Jefferson. but were trinita-
rians Of the most approved orthodox type !;
they were Presbyterians. Episcopaiians.
Roman Catholics or Congregationalists--
THESIS Of the sternest quality. Neverthe-
less these orthodox theists who were the
fathers and trainers of our Federal consti-
tation deliberately set state and church
apart, and provided carefully for the en-
during separation of the two in the first
amendment TO the constitution.
Today to incorporate theism into the
constitution would be nothing but an
empty form; a mere profession. II would
not make the nation whit more religious.
more patriotic, more temperate, more de-
Won't or more theistic, IL would not make
the Ten Commandments nor the Sermon
on the Mount any more respected in prae-
tical craftsmanship than they are today /;
IL would help to solve no problem: touch
no portion of the public conscience.
Without any incorporation OF theism in
the oonstitutionwe are in no sense god.
less people. The principle OF religious
freedom is more completely exetnpli-
fed In practice in the United States
than in any country in the world. for
even Great Britain has state church
which has higher privileges under the law
than any other. 1t Is the privilege of any
man in America TO worship God In any
way he pleases, or not 10 worship nj all.
Any man who cannot find fellowship or
denomination. Christian or non-Christian.
whose tenets eecord with his conviction.
can establish one to please himself with.
Out danger of disturbance, unless the prac.
tice OF his faith is violation of the public
Law. 70 illustrate; A Chinamaa NAV
establish joss house. worship a wooden
hobby horse, bury dead comrade with
absurd funeral rites and ceremonies. but n
Mormon may not practice polygamy, be-
cause under our public law We have de.
eided that polygamy is contrary TO sound
public nolicy, and we prohibit its practice
in spite of the fact that the Mormon
pleads in its defense the example OF the
Hebrew theocfacy Of the Old Testament.
30 in India the English government al.
lows the various Hindoo faiths fali liberty
under law except the followers of Bob
wani. 'the Strangers" The British gov.
eminent hunted them down ike wild
beasts because Il was contrary 90 public
policy TO permit murder ana accent the
plea OF religion as adelense Tor IL. Fer the
came reason the British govern ment for.
babe ;he burning OF widows on the funeral
ryre of the H!ndoo husband.
Undes cur Federal constitution. in which
theology Is utterly absent. las diHerent
denominations of Christians enjoy Also
Lutte religious ircedom. Under our COY.
srnneot church aud state are so absolutely
separated that II rests entirely With the
individual whether he viii join a church.
when hs viii leave il and when he vii!
Organize Que Of his own. 1t he chooses 70
join the Catholic church. he submits 10 the
authority Of Rome by his own individual
vosstton. jasi as when lie Voluntarily AZ
cspts the limitations which come with
membership Of certain Protestant denola!.
nations. 81. George Msyart announce
certain opinions concerning he'll and
future punishment: the council at E9spea,4-
sisea htm that his opinions were not an
proved, and he submitted; Rev. Or. Rr..r~
preached osEtain y.ess concerning the
verbal inspiration Of the Scripture ,hat
the Presbyterian assembly has advised
him are heEesy under &ae Westminster
creed. pE. Hsiggs can do as he
likes, he can submit, Ike Ss. 6eorre
Mivart OF hs can step down snd
GU, Ike fse.. pav,a Ss.ns. er Ia eaa