The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-22


toms Encyclol adia, article, Baptists,
says: "In England from the time of
Henry VIII. to William III, full cen
fury and half, the Baptists struggled
to gain their footing ana to secure
liberty of conscience for all. Yet until
the Quakers arose in 1860, the Baptists
stood alone in defence of soul liberty,
amid universal opposition. In the time
Of Cromwell they first gained fair
hearing, and under the lead of Milton
and Vane would have changed the whole
system of church and State but for the
treason of Monk. The share which the
Baptists took in snoring up the liberties
of England, and in infusing new vjg0r
and liberality into the Constitution of
that country, is not generally known.
Among the Baptists Christian liberty
found its earliest, its staunchest, its
most consistent and most disinterested
champions"
The first confession of faith ever pub
Iishod, claiming for all men the right Of
rellgio~ liberty, was published by con
vention 0} Baptists in England in 16lt,
Tue earliest and for generations the only
writers claiming and defining spiritual
freedom were Baptists. The first modern
treatise ever written upon religious lib
arty was by LeonaG busber, d Baptist,
and the most magnificent vjndication Of
freedom Of speech ever p6nned by the
hand of man WIS written by John Mil
ton, a Baptist.
Ia the code of laws established by
Baptists in Rhode Island, says Judge
Story, "we read for the frs, time, since
Christianity assembled the throne of the
Caesars, the declaration that conscience
should be free, and that men should not
be punished for wor5hipping God in any
way they are persuaded the law re-
quires."
No sooner had the first Continental
Congress met in Philadelphia in 1874
than the Baptists of New England sent
DR.. Isaac Backus there to memorable it
on behalf of civil and religious lbeI ty,
and for years, while the 81 atesmen of
Virginia were formulating the articles
of their Constitution, the General Asso-
citation of Baptists appointed three of
their wisest and ablest mer, who con-
stantly attended its sessions, who be-
came intimate with Patrick Henry, Madi-
son and Jefferson, and so indoctrinated
Mr.. Madison as to the true principles of
religious liberty that when George Mason
drafted their bill of rights, in which he
said 'the fullest federation in religion
WAS to be allowed" Mr.. Madison oh
jected to the word celebration, " and it
was struck out and liberty inserted
its place It IS also worthy of being re-
membered in this connection that when
the general committee of the Baptists Of
Virginia met in 1913 doubts were ex
pressed as o whether the Constitution Of
the nation had sufficiently guarded the
rights Of conscience, and, after consult
ing Mr. Madison, they memorial led
General Washington OH the subject, as
veil as Congress, and it was at the
united request Of the Baptists of the coun-
try that tho first amendment to the Con
stitution was adopted in September 1879,
guaranteeing to all full s0ul-liberty. l
have before me- as / write, Gen. Wash
ingtOn's letter to this comm ttce, in
which he speaks Of their devotion to
liberty, and promises to give his influ-
encc in favor of the measure they wished.
Another interesting fact, allow me TO
present; there was a small Baptist
church, which met monthly near Mr.
Jefferson's home, whose services he Oc-
casionally attended, before the Reyolu-
ton. On one occasion as the pastor was
going home to nncr with him, he ask
Mr. J. what he thought Of their church
Mr.. Jefferson replied that
lit had struck him with & eat force and
interested him uch; that he considered
it the only form Of true democracy then
existed in the world, and he had conclud-
ed that it would be the best form Of gov
ernment for American Colonies. "In
Jefferson's works is to be found a letter
addressed to the Buck Mountain Baptist
Church, in which after expressions Of
gratitude to them, he says We have
acted together from the origin to the end
Of a memorable Revolution, and we have
contributed, each ina inc allotted to US,
our endeay0rs to render its issues a per
manent blessing to our country" Lord
Chancellor King, of England, attributed
reig Gus libery to the celebrated phiEo-
sopher John Locke, but Locke refused to
wear the unmerited, but immortal honor
aed declared that ''the Baptists were
the first and only prop0unders Of alb
solute liberty" And Bancroft, vol, II,
p, sc, says, Freedom Of conscience was
from the first trophy Of the Baptists. "
That's my answer to DR.. Thompson's
charge, 50 far as the Baptists are con
cerned.
r. Ii. PRITCHARD.