The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-08
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
Interesting and Instructive Discourse at
 Osborn Hall.

osborn Hall.
 A lecture in the Kent club course of
 lectures was delivered last evening in
 room A, 1 osborn hall, by the Hon.
 Oscar S. Straus of New York. The sub
 iect was "The Development of Religious
 Liberty in the United States"
 MT. Straus began with the first settle
 ments in the North American wilder
 ness, and said that although the Puri-
 tan settlement in Massachusetts was
 made by those fleeing from religious persecution in old England, these peo-
 pie were the last to give up the re-
 ligious liberty in the new world. They
 believed only in freedom of worship for themselves, and this gained they visited the severest punishment on all
 who refused to accept their creed and dogmas. For instance, their persecu- ton of Roger Williams, the Baptist, who, MT Straus said, did more than any other man to start rolling the ball of freedom of worship which has kept accommodating strength until now it is recognized as a principle of the utmost importance in free government.
 The speaker mentioned the religions which were predominant in the various colonies, Congregationalism in Massa- chusetts, Calvanism in Delaware, Catholicity in Maryland, Quakers in Pennsylvania and in Virginia strict ad- herence to the Church of England, while in the other colonies minor differences of creed existed.
 When the constitution was framed the fact that no article providing for freedom of worship was inserted was recognized by the most eminent men of the time as a deplorable omission, and one liable to lead to the worst consequences. At that time it was the custom, in fact, the law, in most of the colonies, that all public officials must subscribe to the established religion of their colony.
 In 17S9, through the efforts of Thomas Jefferson, an amendment was inserted, according to which there should be no religious test required of officials under the national government. This was sent to the several states and was the first amendment ratified, but concerned the national government only. Tn the several states these same tests were continued for many years, but were finally abolished in all the states ex- cept New Hampshire, where the law that no one should be governor who could not subscribe to the Christian re- ligion as his faith remained on the statutes until 1877.
 The men most instrumental in bring ing about the abolition of these religious laws were Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Ma son, Madison and Hamilton. It has been claimed by certain fanatics that this Is a Christian country but In re- ality this is not so. It is a country of all religions, and each one is on an equal footing with all.
 An example of the religious toleration of this country is shown in the treaty with Tripoli while Washington was president, This treaty provided that as the government of the United States was not founded on the Christian relig- ion, and as there was no especial antip- athy against the Moslems, no difference of religion should ever make trouble be- tween the two countries. The clause in the constitution of the United States as- serting that all men were born free and equal was formulated in direct opposi- ton to the customs of all governments of the world at that time. Yet the American people have built up pros perity far beyond the hopes of their most ardent admirers.
 It is the duty of every American cit ] lzen to free his mind from hereditary 1 prejudices. It should be borne in mind | that just as sacred as religion is every | one's right to chose the religion by | which his hopes shall be guided. In | the United States all churches are on | an equal level before the law.
 Despite the blinding snow storm and | he cold large audience was present | md all expressed themselves as highly | by the instructive discourse. l