The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-03
OUGHT CHRISTIANS VOTE
IF God Is Not Recognized in the Constitu-
ton?

union this morning by Rev. A. j. Nc
Farland of Beaver Falls, Penn, preach
er of the United Presbyterian faith.
Mr.. Mcfarland seriously objected to
the fact that God seemed to
have been sighted in the drawing
up of the constitution, and no mention
was made of his holy name therein. He
| advised that all Christians get even by
refusing to vote, and let the government
get along the best way it could under
these circumstances.
He may have been a little surprised at
the opposition he found among the To-
peka ministers to his idea, but he was
careful to conceal it we'll.
After telling about the compacts en-
tered into by the founders of the govern
ment, our pilgrim fathers, in which at
least one half of the document was de-
voted to praise of Him, he began by
saying that the constitution was the
most important document ever issued by
! the government and the first that con-
tanned no reference to Christ or his
spirit.
sour beginning" he said, "was unlike
that of any other government of which
l ever heard. 1t was based on the faith
OF God and a desire to get away from
the prosecutions attendant upon it. 1t
was God sitting out the seed with which
to plant nation.
"You find the name of God in all pub
lie documents up to 1776. even to within
six weeks OF the time of the declaration
of independence. do not step behind
any one in patriotism, but do say
that our constitution is an atheistic one.
1t is devoid of Christian spirit, and yet
we as Christians have lived under it for
over 100 years without protesting.
| ats sentiment is growing and it will
| either tear down the Christian spirit en-
tirely, as the acorn bursts the vase, or
public sentiment must grow so that the
constitution will be changed We can
! observe its influence tearing down
/ our Christian institutions. Even today
you have spoken of violations of the
! Sabbath law in our city.
"The government shows its disregard
for the spirit of God in allowing its work,
postal and otherwise, to go on on His
day.
II speak for God and for the nation.
Christ is the king of nations, and he has
a right to be acknowledged.
"We must get out of it and refuse to
be a partner to this wrong doing.
81 see Luther step from the church of
Rome and from the outside begin the
reformation. Those inside who endeav-
ored to carry out the same plan were
| burned at the stake.
81 see VIM. Lloyd Garrison step from
the nation, and touch the spring of liber-
ty that never ceased to ,vibrate until the
shackles fell from the black man.
1--WE should not be a member of the
government society. We can't be con-
sistently."
At the close of this rather remarkable
speech questions were invited and they
were not lacking.
"Do you mean, then, that we should
refuse to vote?" asked Rev. A E. Wag-
ner
EYES," replied DR.. McFarladd, until
| congress shall pay attention to the petit
tions that will be presented asking that
the constitution be so changed"
But" suggested Rev. H. D. Fisher,
''would they pay any attention to petit
ton Of non-voters?"
"Yes" if thousands sent such petit
ton, they would consider it as serious
affair" replied the doctor.
Rev. c. Nj. Sheldon asked. "Would
you carry this idea into other branches
of our beliefs?"
| Yes"
'sThen you would refuse to patronize
the railroads because they run their
trains on Sunday"
mo. I simply would not patronize
them on Sunday"
Mr.. Fisher: 1--WE have an unwritten
constitution that upholds God and NOR
atty and is as powerful as the written
constitution of the United States"
Mr.. Mcfarland: "But when an alien
comes into this country he is asked to
uphold the written constitution"
Mr.. Wake: "Yes, but when he does it
he does it in the name of God. Official
oaths contain the words, SO help me
! God"
YOU have said that the constitution is
atheistic. Why?" asked Mr.. McNabb
because it does not contain refer
ence to God"
"Then," said Mr.. McNabb, sis not the
Book of Esther atheistic?"
mo- replied Mr. Mcfarland. "The
! Book of Esther contains the spirit of
God"
"Then the constitution does not con-
tain the spirit of God?"
81 do not consider that it does"
Mr.. Fisher again: "When was the con-
stitution adopted?"
Dr. McF arland: t1789, A. D."
Mr.. Fisher: "The year of our Lord"
Dr. Mcfarland: ''Ah, that was simply
put there by the clerk, and would have
no more weight than it would on an in
| fidel's deed.
Mr.. Wagner "Do you pay tax and &C.
cept the protection of an atheistic govern
ment?"
Dr. Mcfarland: al don't know as that
makes any difference. If l had proper
| ty to be protected and good strong man
would do it for me, would not ask him
whether he was an infidel or not.
"Then," said Mr.. Wagner, you would
sacrifice the principle for the protec-
tion."
! Mr.. Wake: eve have too much pro-
fession of godliness and too little godli-
ness, to my mind. We hold political con-
ventions and after opening them with
prayer do the most ungodly things"
81 know we d." admitted DR.. McFar-
land" and even congress is opened by
prayer"
Mr.. Wake-"You have said we could
not effect reform by voting. Did not
our votes elect Abe Lincoln?"
EYES," said DR.. Mcfarland, shut God